Meghan Markle has revealed why she always goes barefoot to greet guests at her Montecito mansion during a book event in California, adding the act ‘demystifies’ her to people.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, also gushed about her ‘incredible’ daughter Princess Lilibet, four, while chatting with close friend Courtney Adamo at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland.
During the conversation, which was livestreamed online, Meghan revealed her go-to move for making her guests feel comfortable was to open the door of her and Prince Harry‘s $29million home while ‘barefoot’ with an ‘apron on’.
Despite her enviable collection of stilettos, the Duchess’s love of going barefoot is well-documented, with the mother-of-two often preferring to go shoeless in her As Ever promo shots.
The former actress has even managed to convince her family members to follow in her footsteps; the Duke, 40, was famously mocked online for baring his ‘dirty’ soles in the photo that announced Meghan’s second pregnancy in February 2021.
For many fans, the sight of the Prince’s bare feet proved too much as they urged the King’s son to ‘buy some shoes and put them away’. Meanwhile, Lilibet has also been spotted barefoot in her garden in sweet snaps with her mother.
Explaining the rationale for opening the door without shoes on, Meghan said: ‘It demystifies. People walk in and go, “Oh, she’s in this with me.”
‘And what are they drawn to? Your kitchen. They come right in, and suddenly everyone’s a little bit softened.’
Meghan Markle has revealed why she always goes barefoot to greet guests at her Montecito mansion during a book event in California , adding the act ‘demystifies’ her to people
The Duchess of Sussex , 44, also gushed about her ‘incredible’ daughter Princess Lilibet, four, while chatting with close friend Courtney Adamo at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland.
Like her father, Lilibet also appears to be following in her mother’s footsteps – with fans pointing out the red-headed toddler is almost always barefoot in photos and videos posted by Meghan.
Most recently, Lilibet was seen happily running around the backyard of the Sussexes’ home in a video clip shared on Meghan’s Instagram profile on the occasion of International Day of the Girl.
The former Suits actress also uploaded a sweet image showing her holding hands with Lilibet as the pair explored the grounds of the house together.
Lilibet, who was dressed in an all-pink outfit, was carrying the £35 ‘rainbow bag’ from British toy brand Jellycat but seemingly decided against slippers or shoes.
She went barefoot again during the family’s Disneyland holiday to celebrate Lilibet’s fourth birthday in June, as seen in one of Meghan’s snaps on her Instagram account.
At Thursday’s event, which was titled Compare Notes on Creating a Home That’s Filled With Joy’, Meghan also shared intimate details of how she and Prince Harry are raising Lilibet, four, and son Archie, six.
She opened up about the parenting tips and techniques her children respond best to – including the ‘rose and thorn’ ritual that is a particular favourite of Lilibet’s.
The ‘rose and thorn’ exercise – sometimes referred to as ‘rose, bud, and thorn’ helps young children open up and reflect on their lives by sharing a positive experience (rose), difficult moment (thorn), and something they are looking forward to (bud).
The former actress has even managed to convince her family members of following in her footsteps; the Duke, 40, was famously mocked online for baring his ‘dirty’ soles in the photo that announced Meghan’s second pregnancy in February 2021
In the pregnancy announcement, Meghan and their then-one-year-old son Archie were also spotted barefoot
Like her father, Lilibet also appears to be following in her mother’s footsteps
The clip, featuring the beaming Duchess filmed by her husband in Montecito, where the couple live with their two children, marks a ‘shift toward a California-inspired, influencer identity’
Prince Harry and Meghan during their 16-day tour of Australia in 2018, with the Duke opting for a more relaxed chat at South Bondi Beach
Prince Harry has once again showed how well he’s embracing his relaxed LA lifestyle by going barefoot in a trendy Christmas photoshoot
Lilibet went barefoot again during the family’s Disneyland holiday to celebrate Lilibet’s birthday in June, as seen in one of Meghan’s snaps on her Instagram account.
Meghan during a still from the second installment of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, as she is spotted walking barefeet on the beach with guest and Queer Eye star Tan France
Meghan said the activity can be particularly helpful when they only give ‘yes and no answers’.
‘Our daughter, she’s four and she’s a very strong personality and she’s incredible,’ Meghan said. ‘And 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.’
Yesterday’s event was organised at Godmother’s bookstore that is backed by Oprah Winfrey, who famously interviewed the Sussexes after they quit the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have close ties to Godmothers, with a photo of the pair at its grand opening in 2024 displayed prominently inside the bookshop.
Both Harry and Meghan’s books, including the prince’s 2023 memoir Spare and his wife’s children’s book The Bench, are also on sale in the ‘local authors’ section.
Meghan was invited to participate in the event by Courtney, with the pair having first crossed paths at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois back in 2001.
‘We’ve been friends since college just so you know,’ Meghan eagerly told the crowd in reference to her decades-long friendship with Courtney.
The Duchess added that she and Courney met ‘when [they] were 17’ and shared how their upbringings differed.
On the same day as Meghan’s bookstore appearance, the Duchess teased a major As Ever announcement while asking fans to ‘save the date’ amid rumours she is gearing up for a new product launch
‘She grew up on a tulip farm. I did not grow up on a tulip farm,’ said Meghan, who referred to ‘growing up in a small duplex’ in Los Angeles soon after.
‘I learned so many things from Courtney,’ she continued.
She then recalled a time when she and Adamo, who were in the same sorority at Northwestern University, had planned to make a trip from their home in California back to school in Chicago, Illinois back in 2001.
‘We were meant to fly [to Chicago] but here’s why we didn’t: because 9/11 happened on that same day,’ she shared with the stunned audience.
‘So the two of us ended up driving 30 hours over three days. 10 hours a day. From Los Angeles to Chicago together at one of the most fragile, tender times in this country.’
After their chat, Markle put on her hostess hat and whisked lucky attendees to the bookstore’s patio, where she served up glasses of ‘beautifully crafted’ Sauvignon Blanc from her wine line, As Ever.
On the same day as Meghan’s bookstore appearance, the Duchess teased a major As Ever announcement while asking fans to ‘save the date’ amid rumours she is gearing up for a new product launch.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, took to Instagram on Thursday night to share a video featuring her strolling casually amongst trees, dressed in a black dress and white cardigan.
Accompanying the clip, which was set to piano music, were the words: ‘Save The Date 10.28.2025… As Ever’, and an excerpt was also posted to her Instagram story.
She is seen reaching up towards a tree before the screen fades to show the As Ever logo, a palm tree with two birds.
It is thought the date could mark a new product announcement or campaign by Meghan, although there is no hint as to what it could be.
It is rumoured her latest foray into the business world, following a troubled partnership with Netflix and the release of her podcast Archetypes, could lead her into the beauty industry.
