At Oprah Winfrey’s book launch, Meghan said she ‘felt uncomfortable going out’ and ‘longed for safety’ as a royal.
The Duchess of Sussex’s remarks came at a book club meeting hosted by Oprah at Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland – a few miles from the couple’s mansion – on September 7. At the event, Meghan wore a £315 jumpsuit, with her hair parted in the middle and tied low.
According to Town & Country, the 43-year-old duchess told the story of visiting a bookstore in New York in 2019 – when she was still a working member of the royal family. It wasn’t until early 2020 that Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, left the UK and moved to the US.
At that time, Meghan secretly went to New York to watch her close friend, Serena Williams, play at the US Open. Meghan then walked to a bookstore to “find safety”.
“For me, sneaking into New York five years ago was a big deal. I felt very uncomfortable walking out on the street. The safety that I craved could only be found in a bookstore”.
Meghan then thanked the founders of Godmothers, Rudolph Walsh and Victoria Jackson, for “creating a space for so many people to look back at their joys and sorrows through the pages of books and to make people feel less alone”.
Meghan had also previously said she was “grateful” for being in a happy period of her life. The 43-year-old Duchess confided: “I consider this time to be my happy chapter. The more you look at life, the more you understand it. You have to be grateful for life, grateful for every aspect. I want to enjoy this chapter and love every little thing in the best way I can”.
At the end of the event, Meghan reportedly “ran out the door” and told guests, “I have to go home and make dinner for the kids.”
In addition to Meghan, other high-profile guests at the book launch included Glee actress Jane Lynch, actor Marco Leone, astrologer and psychologist Dr. Jennifer Freed, and writer, teacher, and psychic Laura Lynne Jackson.
The day before, Meghan and Harry also attended the bookstore’s grand opening with Oprah Winfrey. When asked if he had any book recommendations for readers, Harry quietly pointed to his memoir, Spare, on display in the store.
According to Town & Country, Harry himself named the bookstore. At the launch of his memoir in Beverly Hills earlier last year, Harry thanked Oprah Winfrey, Victoria Jackson, and Rudolph Walsh for their support, calling them his ‘Godmothers.’ So, while planning to open the bookstore, Oprah Winfrey told the two founders: “There’s really only one name you can call it, and that’s Godmothers.”