Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, reflected on the challenges of early motherhood during the latest episode of her podcast series, saying her parenting journey was "not the way I envisioned it." The remarks came as she spoke with Kitsch founder Cassandra Thurswell on Confessions of a Female Founder, a podcast released Monday.
"I've always wanted to be a mum. I was like, 'Oh gosh, I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip,'" Meghan said. "I had a whole vision - and then you fast forward... granted I had a lot of external things happening by the time I had both pregnancies and both babies. But it was not the way I envisioned it."
Her comments offered a rare public glimpse into her personal expectations around motherhood versus the reality she faced during and after her pregnancies with Prince Archie, born in 2019, and Princess Lilibet, born in 2021.
The duchess alluded to the pressures that accompanied life as a working royal. "Especially when they are baby babies and, yes, the crying, before I was mum... I've always wanted to be a mum," she said, adding that her professional and personal life were heavily impacted during that period.
In 2019, Meghan and Prince Harry took their infant son Archie on an official royal tour of South Africa. At the time, Meghan told reporters: "We're making it work. It's worth it." That trip included a public appearance with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, where Meghan held Archie before the cameras.
Behind the scenes, however, the Sussexes were navigating growing tensions with the royal family and increased scrutiny from the British press. The couple ultimately stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020.
On the podcast, Meghan emphasized the importance of her role as a working parent. "It's so important my kids see me as a working mom," she said. She also shared that she receives support from "an amazing" nanny who has been with the family for five years.
During the conversation, Thurswell referred to the duchess as "Meghan Markle," a name Meghan did not object to despite previously noting on her Netflix series that she preferred "Sussex." Meghan replied, "It's like Meg or M. It's the same thing. It's how we met all those years ago."
Meghan revealed she met Thurswell in 2009 through the businesswoman's cousin, who was a friend of hers while she was auditioning for roles in Hollywood. Thurswell helped her style outfits, including for her final audition for the TV series Suits.
Later in the episode, Meghan compared business development to gardening, saying: "Some seasons are for blooming, others are for planting seeds, but most of the work, especially early on, it's tending to the soil."
"You've got to make sure the roots are strong enough to carry what's coming next," she added. "And you can't expect a harvest to happen overnight. Eventually, with a strong vision and all of that care on the details, oh, that garden will grow."
The gardening metaphor came one day after King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the Chelsea Flower Show, where a rose was named in the King's honor.
