At a cozy book event in California, Meghan Markle offered a rare glimpse into her family life with Prince Harry and their two children, sharing rituals that mix mindfulness, music, and meaningful conversation.
Speaking at the Godmothers Bookstore in Montecito alongside her longtime friend and fellow Northwestern University alum Courtney Adamo, Markle said her family's day begins with music. "First thing I do when I wake up in the morning is turn the music on in the house," the Duchess of Sussex told the audience. She added that even when traveling, she brings a portable speaker and a candle to recreate a sense of home. "I always travel with a candle," Markle said. "I am so conscious and sensitive to fragrance, and I associate that with home."
The 44-year-old Duchess appeared at the event to support Adamo's new book The Family Home: Inspiring Ideas for a Home Filled With Joy. Moderated by the store's co-founder, Victoria Jackson, the conversation touched on family rituals, parenting, and creativity - themes Markle said resonate deeply in her own household.
One tradition she described has become a nightly staple: the "rose and thorn" ritual with their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. "It's, essentially, at the end of the day where you can say, 'Here's my rose, here's the best part of my day, and here's my thorn,'" Markle explained. "Because every day is not going to be perfect - no day is. But what are the things that are your highlights and also the things that maybe didn't feel so good?"
Markle said the practice helps her connect more deeply with her children, especially as they grow more independent. "And, especially with young children, it's a great opener for, you know, when you get to that stage where your kids just give you a yes or no answerand you go 'OK, what's your rose and thorn?'," she said. "You really can start to peel back the layers and find ways to connect."
She added that her daughter Lilibet often delivers unexpected answers. "Our daughter, she's four and she's a very strong personality and she's incredible," Markle said, laughing. "Now she's in this moment where I say, 'What's your rose and your thorn?' And she goes, 'My day was just a blast.'"
Another family tradition centers on comfort and care. Markle said the family uses a "healing blanket," a gift from Jackson, whenever one of the children feels unwell. "Whenever one of the kids isn't feeling well, they reach for the blanket," she said, describing it as a symbol of reassurance and closeness.
During the conversation, Markle also reflected on her long friendship with Adamo, recalling their shared college years and a road trip they took together after the September 11 attacks. "The two of us ended up driving 30 hours over three days. Ten hours a day. From Los Angeles to Chicago together at one of the most fragile, tender times in this country," she said.
After the event, guests mingled on the bookstore's patio, where Markle served Sauvignon Blanc from her own wine label, As Ever. The gathering marked another glimpse into Markle's expanding lifestyle ventures, which include her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. "The series is about doing what you can do, and doing it with love," she told People earlier this year.
Reflecting on motherhood, Markle said her work is deeply personal. "Being able to have my own little girl, as I've spent so much of my life championing the rights of girls and women, and to see this as a multigenerational story - that's everything," she said. "This is something that hopefully can be part of her legacy too."
