Unseen home videos give rare glimpse into Meghan Markle’s outdoorsy Californian lifestyle with Prince Harry
Meghan Markle has been sharing archive family footage and her own childhood photos as part of her new Netflix series released today – revealing her love of an outdoorsy Californian lifestyle.
The Duchess of Sussex opened up about her time as a Girl Scout, while reminiscing during a hike through California with her so-called ‘polo wife’.
The eight episodes of her cookery show called With Love, Meghan, included a clip filmed by husband Prince Harry as she made a balloon arch for their son Archie’s first birthday back in May 2020.
The programme also captured the moment Harry jokingly jumped out and scared her during a hike.
And Meghan shared shots of her pictured as a Girl Scout during her teenage years, when part of a troop headed up by her mother Doria Ragland.
The reminiscences came as viewers worldwide were given full access to the much-anticipated new series which went live at midnight California time, 8am in the UK.
The duchess was filmed sharing favourite recipes while mingling with friends including The US Office sitcom star Mindy Kaling as well as celebrity chefs.
Some of her reflections on the past came in the fourth episode which featured photographer Delfina Blaquier, who is married to Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueres who had become friends with Harry following their shared love of the sport.
The new Netflix series With Love, Meghan includes this moment when the Duchess of Sussex breaks into laughter when surprised by her husband Prince Harry during a hike
She also shared photographs from her childhood days as a member of a Girl Scouts troop
Episode two included home video footage of Meghan preparing for son Archie’s first birthday
Meghan described how she and Delfina enjoyed hiking together – adding: ‘Sometimes we let our husbands join us.’
That remark was accompanied by the moment Harry jokingly hollers at her as a surprise during a hike, to laughter from Meghan, Delfina and Nacho.
The earlier second episode of the heavily trailed series went back to May 2020 and Meghan’s efforts to celebrate son Archie’s birthday.
Harry, who is filming, can be heard asking, ‘What are we doing, my love?’ – to which replies: ‘We are making a balloon arch.’
When the prince remarks, ‘It doesn’t look like an arch’, his wife retorts: ‘It’ll get there.’
Episode four, titled ‘Love Is In The Details’, focuses on the friendship between Meghan and Delfina.
Blaquier and Figueres had been among the guests invited to Harry and Meghan’s wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018.
Meghan tells Netflix viewers in the new show how she and Delfina instantly bonded when first meeting, after meeting following Harry playing polo alongside Figueres.
Footage include a hike across California by Meghan and her friend Delfina Blaquier
The pals were seen dancing together as they made their way across the mountain trail
And as the two women are filmed enjoying a hike together across the sunny Californian countryside, Meghan opened up on her love of nature – and the influence paid by her time as a Girl Scout and later a brief spell working in Delfina’s homeland.
The duchess said: ‘When I lived in Argentina, I think the reason I loved it so much was it reminded me of California in a lot of ways.
‘You have the mountains, you have just the joy of life and the joy of being outside. I was only there for a few months, interning at the US Embassy but I loved it.’
Delfina prompted further recollections, by asking: ‘You did the scouts when you were a little girl?’
As Polaroid-style photos of her childhood were shown on screen, Meghan is heard responding: ‘I was a Girl Scout for so many years.
‘I started as a Daisy, which is when you’re five or six, and I sold a lot of cookies. And my mom was my troop leader – Troop 949.
‘To get kids out in nature – that in and of itself is worth its weight in gold. It just breeds curiosity and you never forget that stuff that you learned.’
The two women are seen dancing together as they ‘enjoy a hike in the great outdoors’, as the Netflix description attached to the episode puts it.
Meghan Markle reminisced in conversations with Delfina Blaquier during their filmed hike
Meghan (centre), pictured with married couple Delfina Blaquier (left) and Nacho Figueres (right), joked that sometimes the two women let their husbands join them when hiking
The second episode of the new Netflix series shows Meghan making a ‘balloon arch’ for Archie
The release of With Love, Meghan today comes after its previously-scheduled launch in January was delayed due to the California wildfires.
Meghan fans with tattoos that read ‘As ever’ in honour of her lifestyle brand were left stunned when she made a surprise appearance in New York City ahead of the series going live today.
The Duchess of Sussex greeted a group of her shocked followers last night at private members’ club Ludlow House on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Meanwhile, Meghan’s husband Prince Harry and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet made her a handwritten card along with a bouquet – telling her: ‘Congratulations mumma! We love your show, and we love you!’
The series has been filmed inside an $8million (£5million) mansion on a sprawling estate just two miles from the Sussexes’ Montecito home which she and husband Prince Harry share with Archie, five, and three-year-old Lilibet.
It emerged last week through trademark filings that the Duchess planned to sell biscuit and pancake mixes under her rebranded lifestyle company As Ever.
‘With Love, Meghan’ landed on Netflix on Tuesday morning – touted as showing a new side to the Duchess of Sussex
The fourth episode showcases Meghan’s friendship Delfina Blaquier, pictured here with polo player husband Nacho Figueras at the Duke and Duchess’s 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle
Prince Harry and Meghan are seen here embracing in one scene from With Love, Meghan
Now listings and pictures on the firm’s website have indicated more about what is on offer – also including herbal peppermint team, ‘limited edition’ honey and raspberry spread.
Meghan had announced on February 18 the renaming of her venture from previous title American Riviera Orchard, which she said had limited her to locally-produced goods.
It was then revealed how a new application was made to the US Patent and Trademark Office on the same day, indicating a series of products she is looking to sell under the ‘As Ever’ brand.
On the list were goods set to compete with major brands such as Betty Crocker and Dr Oetker, including ‘mixes for bakery goods; cookie mixes; biscuit mixes; crepe mixes’.
These come under international trademark class 30, a category for food products.
The application was made by ‘2022 Trademarks LLC’, a firm established by Meghan’s representatives.
The Duchess had unveiled her lifestyle brand as American Riviera Orchard last year, sending out 50 jars of jam to her friends as a soft launch.
The ‘American Riviera’ is a nickname for Santa Barbara, where Meghan lives with husband Prince Harry and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Duchess of Sussex’s new eight-episode cookery series went live at 8am British time
The series has been filmed inside an $8million (£5million) mansion on a sprawling estate just two miles from the Sussexes’ Montecito home
A website set up for Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever shows products being offered for sale
But US officials told Meghan geographical locations could not be patented and she therefore could not trademark the brand – prompting the switch to ‘As Ever’.
Meghan confirmed the change of name in a video posted to her Instagram on February 18, shared with her 2.2million followers on the social media platform.
She also told how Netflix was not only the streaming platform for her forthcoming series going live today, but also a partner in her business.
Speaking ahead of the new Netflix series’ release, the 43-year-old royal this week described how making it had helped her to ‘find herself’ again.
She told People magazine: ‘I see myself as an entrepreneur and a female founder and if the brand ends up influential, then that’s great.’
