Meghan Markle picks strawberries with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in new Instagram post – after sending handwritten note to critic

Meghan Markle has celebrated the first day of spring with a new Instagram post showing her picking fresh strawberries with her children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, took to her social media page on Thursday to show off a snap of the delicious-looking fruits she’d collected, likely from the garden at her Montecito mansion.

Gathered in a metal-wire basket, the strawberries were thought to be held by either Archie, five, or three-year-old Lilibet – although neither of their faces were pictured in the image. 

Instead, one of the little ones showcased a strawberry towards the camera while their other hand held tightly onto the container. Someone else standing barefoot in the grass could be seen in the background of the snap. 

‘Cheers to the first day of spring!’ Prince Harry‘s wife captioned the sweet photograph.

Meghan’s post comes after she sent a podcaster an extraordinary handwritten letter following the critic suggesting the former Suits star came across as ‘inauthentic’ and not ‘relatable’ on her new Netflix show.

Amanda Hirsch had said she was ‘scared’ about the reception to With Love, Meghan.

In a video showing her watching the teaser trailer after it was released in January, Amanda cringes as Meghan bakes a cake.

Meghan Markle has celebrated the first day of spring with a new Instagram post (pictured) showing her picking fresh strawberries with her children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet

‘Cheers to the first day of spring!’ Prince Harry’s wife captioned (pictured) the sweet photo

‘Oh guys I’m genuinely concerned for Meghan. I’m not a Meghan hater at all. It feels like a Blake Lively situation,’ she said.

‘I understand that some people think she’s inauthentic. I get that. I’m so scared for her that this Netflix show will make those claims stronger. From the trailer, it looks like it might’, she added.

With her fist almost in her mouth Amanda added: ‘In the trailer at least she doesn’t come across as relatable. I’m just scared for you Meghan. Why did you have to do that? Consult with me, I would have told you!’.

Ms Hirsch, who runs the popular ‘notskinnybutnotfat’ podcast, was ‘absolutely flabbergasted’ when the card topped with Meghan’s regal logo arrived with the message: ‘Don’t be scared. Let’s enjoy it’.

She also shared an image of the note, which has immaculate calligraphic handwriting and was signed ‘As ever, Meghan’ – a nod to the Duchess of Sussex’s new lifestyle brand. 

Amanda says she is now a ‘fan’ of Meghan ‘for life’. 

Meghan’s message from Montecito was sent in response to a video Ms Hirsch had made in which she expressed fears that Meghan did not appear authentic in her Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan.’ She said: ‘You guys I’m scared for Meghan.’ 

The Duchess dug out Ms Hirsch’s address and sent her a letter reassuring her, in what is being considered a wider riposte to criticism With Love, Meghan, which has been widely panned but is coming back for a second season. 

The Duchess of Sussex (pictured with her family), 43, took to her social media page on Thursday to show off a snap of the delicious-looking fruits she’d collected, likely from the garden at her Montecito mansion

It comes after Meghan sent a podcaster a handwritten letter urging her ‘not to be scared’ after the woman expressed concerns over her new Netflix show

The letter was in response to a video Hirsch made in which she expressed fears for Meghan ahead of the release of her Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’

‘Dear Amanda, I heard you were feeling scared’, the letter read. ‘Don’t be,’ it continued. ‘This is the fun part – let’s enjoy it.’ She signed off with the phrase ‘as ever, Meghan.’ 

Meghan’s penmanship has sparked a stir among Hirsch’s 893,000 followers, many who said they couldn’t believe the ‘beautiful’ styling of the short note.

Hirsch herself said she’d ‘frame’ the letter. ‘Obviously framing this. Beyond shook. Beyond spiralling. Did I smell the paper? Yes. Do I want my own monogram? Yes,’ she said.

‘Am I absolutely flabbergasted and obsessed? F**k yes. Meghan, you have a fan for life.’ 

Since With Love, Meghan launched, the Duchess has faced significant backlash after critics said it made her look out of touch and ‘tone deaf.’

But Hirsch’s following was largely impressed by Meghan’s correspondence, theorizing that she may be angling to become a guest on the podcast.

Dozens of fans responded to the post saying her decision to reach out to the podcaster made them ‘like her even more.’

‘I hated the show but I genuinely like her. This makes me like her even more,’ one supporter said.

Hirsch’s (pictured in 2024) following was largely impressed by Meghan’s correspondence, theorizing that she may be angling to become a guest on the podcast

‘That handwriting is rich,’ another said, while a third added: ‘I find myself Team Meghan all of a sudden.’ 

Others questioned why the Duchess continues to use ‘stationary with a crown’ given her longstanding terse relationship with the royal family.

‘Stationary with a crown when you fled the royal family is crazy work,’ one critic said. ‘Doesn’t wanna be “Royal” but has a crown on her personal stationary?’ another asked.