The Duchess of Sussex has said she would “ask people to tell the truth” if she was able to rewrite her public narrative from scratch.
Meghan referred to a “lie” told eight years ago, saying “a lie can’t live forever. Eight years is a long time, but not forever”, in a new podcast interview.
Eight years ago, in 2017, former actress Meghan was dating and became engaged to the now-Duke of Sussex, and began preparing for life as a member of the royal family.
The year also included Meghan’s first meeting with the now-Princess of Wales and the beginnings of the Prince of Wales’s fall out with Harry after William urged his brother not to rush into the relationship.
Enterpreneur Emma Grede asked Meghan on her Aspire podcast: “I want to say this to you in the best way, because I wonder if you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch, is there anything that you would do differently?”
Meghan replied calmly: “Yes, I would ask people to tell the truth.”
The duchess gave no specifics about to whom who she was referring, but later referred to a “lie” told eight years ago.
Grede, a founding partner of Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Skims, said: “You’re very measured about it. I would just get so angry if I felt like everyone was lying about me all the time …”
Meghan said: “Peaks and valleys… Of course, I’ve gone through those chapters and you do a lot of work, you do a lot of self work and go, what’s the why? It’s happening for a reason.”
She added that her “dear friend” tennis champion Serena Williams told her “a lie can’t live forever”.
The duchess said: “She told me years ago, a lie can’t live forever. Eight years is a long time, but not forever.”
In her 2021 Oprah interview, Meghan said she could not be expected to stay silent if “the Firm” “is playing a part in perpetuating falsehoods” about her and Harry.
She also publicly singled out Kate as having made her cry in the run-up to her wedding and said it was important for people to “understand the truth”.
It was a disagreement over flower girl dresses, but according to Harry’s memoir this happened in 2018 in four days before the wedding, with Meghan saying the Palace failed to correct reports which said she left Kate in tears.
In the YouTube footage of the podcast, which was peppered with numerous ad breaks fronted by Grede, Meghan acknowleded her life now was “very different” from when she was an actress.
She also addressed her recent twerking video, which showed her dancing to the Baby Mama song in a bid to bring on labour with Princess Lilibet, describing it as a reminder of a “real authentic fun life.”
The duchess said it felt liberating to back on social media where she can share things on her own terms.
“That wasn’t yesterday. That was four years ago so it’s also a really great reminder that with all the noise or whatever people do, there’s still whole life, a real, authentic, fun life that’s happening behind the scenes,” Meghan said.
“I’m just grateful that now, being back on social as well, I have a place where I can share it on my own terms.”
She added: “It feels liberating.”
Grede asked Meghan: “Would you ever do something just for the money?”
Meghan replied: “I have turned down a lot of opportunities that do not feel value-aligned.
“It’s very easy to say no, no matter the price, if you aren’t gonna be able to sleep well at night.”
The duchess was also asked whether she any sense of imposter syndrome, but she said she had no fear of failure.
“I don’t feel imposter syndrome. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be right now,” Meghan said.
She added: “I don’t see the possibility of failure, not when you can learn from everything you’ve done.”
Meghan also said she wanted to speak to Grede, who co-founded the denim company Good American, about diversifying her own brand into fashion at some stage.
The duchess said: “I think there’ll certainly be a time for fashion. You and I can talk about that later.”
Her As Ever brand is due to restock and launch new products on Friday.
