Meghan Markle is reminding her critics that she’s come a long way from where she started.
“Don’t they know my life hasn’t always been like this?” the Duchess of Sussex, 43, said while referring to her Montecito home in an interview with the New York Times published on Wednesday, April 2.
Before tying the knot with Prince Harry in 2018 and becoming a household name, Meghan grew up in Los Angeles and was raised by her mother, Doria Ragland. Despite Ragland, now 68, working long hours, Meghan grew up with her family’s meal traditions being passed on to her — including her grandfather’s love of spice.
“My father carried a bottle of Red Rooster hot sauce everywhere he went,” Ragland told the outlet.
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Meghan came from humble beginnings, managing to work her way up while pursuing an acting career. While in her early 20s, the Duchess of Sussex attempted to create a cozy life for herself with what she could scrape up on her limited budget.
“At 20, in a tiny little apartment in Evanston, serving that sandwich and a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck — that was when Trader Joe’s was getting big — we all thought it was so fancy,” she told the outlet.
Meghan went on to find success with her lifestyle blog The Tig and as an actress, eventually starring in Suits as Rachel Zane. During her time on the beloved drama, she fell in love with the Duke of Sussex. Meghan retired from acting after she and Harry, 40, wed in 2018 and became a member of the royal family. Two years later, Meghan and Harry stepped down from their positions as senior working royals and moved to Montecito, California, where they remain as a family with their two children: Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
Since the relocation, Meghan has taken on a variety of roles, including starring in her and Harry’s Netflix documentary and working on her “Archetypes” podcast venture. Now Meghan has entered the lifestyle sphere as well, with her show With Love, Meghan debuting on Netflix last month. She also launched her brand As Ever, which includes a variety of goods from teas to jams.
While Meghan has been warmly welcomed to the wellness world by other leaders like Gwyneth Paltrow, the duchess has received plenty of pushback online.
“There are professionals who do that better than I ever will,” Meghan told the outlet on Wednesday of her time in front of the camera showcasing her favorite recipes and hostessing techniques.
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Meghan isn’t sweating the online critics, though, as she maintains her focus on integrating her professional and family life.
“I need to work, and I love to work,” she said, noting that she has had a job since she was 13. “This is a way to connect my home life and my work.”
Despite what critics have said, Meghan has found success. Her Netflix series was already renewed for a second season and her As Ever product line sold out immediately after launching on Wednesday.
