Meghan Markle has reflected on a royal rule that didn’t sit well with her during her time as a working royal.
In a candid new interview on The Circuit with Emily Chang, which aired on August 26, the Duchess of Sussex discussed various aspects of her life in California with Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, as well as her business ventures and the freedom she now enjoys.
When asked about balancing relatability with her role as a duchess, the 44-year-old responded with confidence, explaining that she’s simply "being myself" these days. However, she admitted that this wasn’t always the case when she was part of the royal fold.
One specific rule that Markle recalled with a laugh was the requirement to wear nude pantyhose.
"I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time," she said. "Let's be honest, that was not very myself. I hadn't seen pantyhose since the '80s, when they came in the little egg? That felt a little bit inauthentic, but that's a silly example."
Despite the lighthearted tone, Markle's comments highlight the tension she felt as she tried to fit into the royal family’s strict traditions.
“But it is an example of when you're able to dress the way you wanna dress and you're able to say the things that are true and you're able to show up in the space really organically and authentically, that's being comfortable in your own skin,” she reflected.
Authenticity is something the former actress has been able to embrace more fully since stepping back from her royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California with Harry.
In the past, Markle has spoken about the pressure to blend in with the royal family’s understated style. For example, in the 2022 Harry & Meghan docuseries, she revealed how she avoided wearing bold colors to avoid drawing attention.
"To my understanding, you could never wear the same color as Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth] if there's a group event, but then you also shouldn't be wearing the same color as one of the other more senior members of the family," she said, referring to Princess Katherine and the then-Queen Camilla.
Markle explained that her royal wardrobe choices were made with the intention of fitting in and blending into the background, saying, "I wore a lot of muted tones, but it was also so I could just blend in. I'm not trying to stand out here. There was no version of me joining this family and me not doing everything I could to fit in. I don't want to embarrass the family," per PEOPLE.
Markle's comments on The Circuit with Emily Chang coincided with the premiere of season two of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, which launched on the same day, August 26.
The series offers an intimate look at the former royal's life as a mother and wife, featuring segments on cooking, crafting, and personal moments with celebrity guests like Chrissy Teigen and José Andrés.
Additionally, her Netflix show has sparked renewed interest after she made a playful comment about Prince Harry’s food preferences.
In a conversation with chef José Andrés, Markle revealed that her husband doesn’t like lobster. Andrés responds with, “And you married him?” prompting her to laugh at the lighthearted exchange.
This comment has drawn attention due to the longstanding rumor that members of the royal family avoid shellfish to prevent the risk of food poisoning, a practice explained by royal butler Grant Harrold in the past.
“We don’t want a member of the Royal Family having a serious reaction to food poisoning,” Harrold said, per Express. "Especially if [they] are on an overseas tour. Therefore you will not normally find this on the royal menu."
Despite this widely believed rule, there have been exceptions, such as King Charles enjoying oysters at a festival.