Meghan Markle has taken a subtle swipe at her time as a working royal, admitting she didn’t feel like herself when forced to wear tights during official duties.
The Duchess of Sussex, now 44, stepped away from her senior royal role in 2020, relocating to the US with Prince Harry.
In a candid interview with Bloomberg’s Emily Chang, Meghan expressed her discomfort, saying she was expected to “wear nude pantyhose all the time” — something she admitted felt “a little bit inauthentic.”
Feeling Inauthentic in the Royal Role
The former actress, who joined the conversation to promote the second season of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, explained that things are very different now compared to her time in the royal fold.
“It was different several years ago where I couldn’t be as vocal and I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time,” she said.
“Let’s be honest, that was not very myself. I hadn’t seen pantyhose since movies in the 1980s. That felt a little bit inauthentic.”
She continued: “That’s a silly example but it is an example of when you want to dress the way you want to dress and say the things that are true and you’re able to show up in that space really organically and authentically — that’s being comfortable in your own skin. That’s had different chapters in my life.”
Adding to that, she reflected: “Right now, I don’t feel that I need to prove anything.”
A New Chapter with Netflix
Meghan’s remarks came shortly after Netflix released eight new episodes of her lifestyle series.
The second season mirrors the format of the first, offering tips on home entertaining, cooking, and lifestyle practices. This time, Meghan is joined by celebrity friends such as Chrissy Teigen, Tan France, Jay Shetty, and others.
Despite the excitement of its launch, the new season has already faced heavy backlash from British critics.
The Telegraph gave the show just two stars, calling it “needy” and “marginally less mad” than season one.
The Times of London dismissed it as “a series in search of a meaning, fronted by a woman in need of some cash.”
The Sun’s Royal Editor, Matt Wilkinson, branded the project “self-indulgent,” while The Guardian described it as “so painfully contrived.”
Celebrity Chef’s Reaction
Celebrity chef Jameson Stocks, who has previously cooked for the royal family, also weighed in with his disappointment.
“I tried to keep an open mind, hoping it might be an improvement on the first series,” said Stocks, 41. “But just two minutes in, I was already done with this bulls–t.”
The chef criticized the Suits alum’s latest venture, suggesting she should leave behind her cooking ambitions and “stick to acting,” concluding that her series felt “rather insincere.”