The question on everyone's mind is why? Almost five years ago, the newly minted Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, made history.
This moment stirred controversy among Fleet Street conservatives and TV pundits. It marked the first significant milestone in her royal career. So, what exactly did Meghan do to cause such a rebellious stir?
Well, she daringly wore an off-the-shoulder bespoke Carolina Herrera dress to her first trooping the color ceremony.
It was a move that caught everyone's attention. Reflecting on June 2018, we witnessed the height of "Megan Mania." She was incredibly popular, to the point that even if she had contracted TB, it would have become the latest trend. This is what makes her current disappearance so baffling and hard to explain.
Throughout this year, Meghan has vanished from the public eye, except for a few sporadic paparazzi sightings, an overly dramatic trip to New York, and an outing for fried food and sports. In contrast, Harry has been visible everywhere. Megan's Instagram account, which some speculate is hers, has gone dormant. She hasn't announced any confirmed podcast, TV, or book projects for this year. While she has participated in a couple of charity events, it's worth mentioning her cake recipe contribution to a cookbook benefiting the World Food Kitchen.
Perhaps it's time to call in the detectives. Where is Sherlock Holmes when you need him? It's time to solve the mystery of the disappearing duchess. Around this time last year, Megan was back in London, attending another one of the Royal Family's official engagements. She was seen wearing an expensive hat, enduring the spotlight while TV cameras captured her every move.
Despite being seemingly ignored by the family and celebrating her daughter's first birthday with only a few close friends, things appeared to be going well for the couple. In April, they visited the queen and then proceeded to the Hague, where Megan stunned in reported $70,000 worth of clothing, radiating joy and laughter under the sunny skies. It was a moment that captivated many.
This was the highly anticipated Meghan we had all been waiting to see—her fashion choices, close-ups, and the pretense of care. More importantly, Megan and Harry had numerous projects in the works. Harry was delving into the intricacies of semicolons as he penned his memoir, or rather, as his ghostwriter figured that out. Then there was their excessively flattering and sympathetic Netflix docu-series, filmed in soft lighting that highlighted the expensive sofas.
Additionally, Megan's Spotify series, "Archetypes," was set to be released shortly. When Megan and Harry attended the trooping the color ceremony last year, even from their seats in the cheap section, things seemed to be going well for them. The following day, they appeared at the service of celebration for the late Queen at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Even amidst the queen's passing in September, the harshest criticism Megan received was for holding hands with Harry, though some believed she was simply comforting him. While she may not have garnered many fans in Britain, she had plenty of supporters in the United States.
In early December, Megan and Harry jetted off to New York to accept the Ripple of Hope award from the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation. Megan exuded elegance in her exquisite diamonds, donning a sleek off-the-shoulder white dress and an immaculate updo. She was hailed as the epitome of modern cool, celebrated for her supposed saintly work, although the specifics of that work remain unclear. Let me get back to you on that one.
And then came their Netflix docu-series, the debut of Harry's tell-all memoir, and his series of interviews. The whiny, petulant Duke sat in some generic California rooms, offering up some pathetic justifications for thoroughly trashing his family in print.
Just like that, as if a Fairy Godmother had flicked her wand, Megan basically disappeared from public life altogether. When Megan and Harry's popularity in the U.S. plummeted, it was best summarized by a Newsweek headline: "The more Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say, the less Americans like them." Okay, their numbers have improved slightly since then, but they are nowhere near where they were last year.
While the California paparazzi seemed to keep finding Megan out and about, whether it was having lunch, enjoying sushi with Harry, or going hiking, she hasn't given a single interview this year. The only two charity outings she participated in were photographed by her team and revealed afterward. In February, there was news that longtime California Senator Dianne Feinstein would retire, despite years of discussions about Megan possibly venturing into politics.
However, we haven't heard anything more about it. In May, after the coronation, there was speculation that Megan was on the verge of relaunching herself, attempting to rebrand. People wondered if she would get back into blogging or perhaps start a digital business similar to Goop. But so far, there hasn't been any news on that front.
Now, it has been over 20 months since Megan and Harry signed their deal with Netflix, and Megan only has their docu-series to her credit. There was a children's cartoon she was supposed to produce for the company, but it was cut last year as part of broader cost-cutting measures that affected several star hires. Since then, we haven't heard anything else from Megan.
In 2023, the world has certainly heard a lot from Harry in various capacities—interviews, books, chat shows, courtroom appearances—but Megan's notable absence from the public eye is quite shocking. So, what is behind all of this? How can we explain it? Well, perhaps Megan is simply busy working on her plans for websites, political endeavors, or even a line of preservative-free moist towelettes.
Or maybe she prefers to stay at home, focusing on being a mother to their two invisible children and baking lemon cakes for Archie, a favor that I can't imagine being appreciated by any four-year-old child. But even so, I think you understand—the idea of lots of baking, making organic cookies, and reading children's books about gender-neutral turtles.
Alternatively, perhaps Megan has realized that it's best to lay low for a while. As former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter stated this week about Megan and Harry, "If you're out there too much, the public has a chance to get sick of you." So, here's another theory: after signing with the Hollywood talent agency WME, there's a group of suit-clad men with hair transplants busy devising thrilling plans for this new and improved Megan. For now, this reclusive version of Megan stands in stark contrast to the woman who catapulted herself from being sixth on the call sheet of a cable TV show to a global mononym in less time than it took Fergie to open her tax bills.
