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    Meghan Markle Reveals One of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's Favorite Meals Along With Her Simple, "Fun" Back-To-School Tips

    "The first week can have a lot of big feelings, and a little nod to let them know you see them is so special."

    Kristin Contino's avatar
    By Kristin Contino
    Published 2 September 2025 In News

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    Meghan Markle wearing a striped shirt standing in a kitchen; Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet wearing headphones looking at a screen
    (Image credit: Netflix/Meghan Markle, Instagram)
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    The second season of Meghan Markle's Netflix series With Love, Meghan, premiered on August 26, and throughout the lifestyle show she demonstrates how to make everyday moments just a bit more special.

    The Duchess of Sussex—who shares kids Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, with Prince Harry—gives viewers a look at some of her kid-friendly cooking and crafting projects on season two. But now that vacations have come to an end, she's turning her creative cooking to school days and how to extend that summer magic into September.

    Below, check out the Duchess of Sussex's favorite back-to-school tips, as shared with Marie Claire.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Princess Lilibet sitting in a directors chair turning to look at Daniel Martin peeking from a doorway

    On September 1, the duchess shared a photo of Princess Lilibet visiting the set of With Love, Meghan.

    (Image credit: Meghan Markle/Instagram)

    Never Underestimate the Value of a Handwritten Note

    "Scribble something for your little one and tuck it in their lunchbox—a joke, a little poem, your own version of Mad Libs, or just a sentence telling your child what your favorite thing about them is or how much you love them," the duchess shares.

    "Who doesn’t appreciate being thought of? And that validation from a parent when they’re going back into school may be just the boost your child needs, whether in pre-K or as a teen," she adds. The Duchess of Sussex, who often shows off her signature calligraphy in With Love, Meghan, continues, "If it’s in your handwriting, even better. Just take one minute to do it; it can go such a long way!"

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    Backpack Surprise

    "Nestle a sweet something (not suggesting candy) into their backpack on the first Friday back to school," the Duchess of Sussex says. "The first week can have a lot of big feelings, and a little nod to let them know you see them is so special." She suggests slipping in "a tiny pack of stickers, a funny photo of your family, or an unexpected surprise like something you used to find in a Cracker Jack box."

    "It doesn’t have to cost much at all, just a little trinket to celebrate the first week, tucked in as a surprise," she adds. "Love is in the details."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Meghan Markle wearing a maroon sweater looking at Chrissy Teigen, who is wearing a pink shirt laughing in a white kitchen

    Chrissy Teigen stars in one of the new episodes of With Love, Meghan.

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    Lunchboxes

    Meghan shares that Archie and Lili enjoy switching up their lunches for breakfast treats from time to time. "If your kids are like mine, they love 'breakfast for dinner,' just as I did when I was young," she says. "Swap out a sandwich for waffles or pancakes (you can use the frozen ones), a mini packet or scoop of jam, some bacon, and hard-boiled eggs with salt."

    The duchess, who uses her As ever flower sprinkles liberally throughout her Netflix show, continues, "You can have fun with this and decorate the lunchboxes in unique ways every day, but if there’s no time, just the novelty of breakfast for lunch can sometimes be a welcome win! And when in doubt, a few flower sprinkles are fun too!"

    Rose and Thorn

    Wrapping up her tips, Meghan suggests sharing both the highs and lows of the school day. "It’s a classic, but sometimes we forget about this easy prompt," she says. "Taking the time at the end of the day to connect as a family and talk about your ‘rose’ and ‘thorn’ at dinner can be a wonderful way to bring everyone closer. You can even do this on the car ride home after the school day is over."

    "Your rose is a highlight of your day, and your thorn is something that maybe didn’t feel so good or that hurt a little bit," the duchess continues. "Sharing both is a great opportunity to talk about your days together. It’s also better than the one-word answer you can get if you just ask, '"How was your day?'"

    However, she shares that Archie and Lilibet have a new go-to phrase to describe their days, adding, "Truth be told, our children have now started saying, 'My day was just a blast!' and that makes us smile to no end!"

    Explore More
    Meghan Markle
    Kristin Contino
    Kristin Contino
    Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

    Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

    Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

    Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.

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