Meghan Markle has taken a fresh dig at her time in the Royal Family, calling one particular expectation she had to follow “inauthentic.”

Speaking on The Circuit podcast with host Emily Chang, the Duchess of Sussex reflected on a period when she admitted she was “really not myself.”

Struggles with Balancing Relatability and Royal Duties

During their conversation, Chang asked Meghan whether she felt a conflict between remaining relatable and holding the title of Duchess.

Meghan replied, “I’m just being myself,” though she acknowledged this wasn’t always true in the past.

“I think probably it was different several years ago where I couldn’t be as vocal and I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time,” she explained.

“Let’s be honest, that was very not myself. I hadn’t seen pantyhose since movies in the eighties where they came in a little egg. That felt a little bit inauthentic.”

Although Meghan admitted the example may sound “silly,” she said it symbolized a time before she could freely dress how she wanted and express her true thoughts. Now, she shared, she feels able to “show up in a space really organically and authentically, that’s been comfortable in your own skin.”

Royal Tradition and Respect for the Late Queen

Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter later clarified that the tradition of wearing nude pantyhose among royal women stemmed from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal preference.

“The late Queen’s preference was for nude pantyhose. Out of respect for her, royal ladies wore them in her presence,” Arbiter noted on X.

“During their solo engagements or in their own time they typically didn’t. Nude tights were a mark of respect.”

Meghan on Social Media and Authentic Self-Expression

The Duchess also touched on her approach to social media and how she chooses to present herself.

Chang asked whether it was difficult for Meghan to show her full self online.

Meghan admitted she sometimes second-guesses her posts, referencing the twerking video she shared earlier this year while pregnant with Princess Lilibet.

“I waffle with some of my choices before I make them. I’m generally very decisive, but social media is a great barometer for me, because putting out a video of myself, nine months pregnant, was a really big choice,” she explained.

“But I also wanted people to see themselves in my story and our story. And to be able to show that with all the noise that might happen in the world on a day-to-day basis, real life is still happening behind the scenes, really real life,” she added.

The podcast, released on August 26, explored multiple aspects of Meghan’s personal life and current projects.

It coincided with the launch of the second season of her Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan.