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    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Meghan Markle Shares a Rare Insight Into 4-Year-Old Princess Lilibet's "Strong Personality"

    The Duchess of Sussex opened up about her kids during an event at Godmothers bookstore.

    Kristin Contino's avatar
    By Kristin Contino
    Published 24 October 2025 In News

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    Meghan Markle holding a mic; Meghan Markle holding hands with Princess Lilibet next to trees
    (Image credit: Getty Images; Meghan/Instagram)
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    Other than the occasional glimpses on Instagram, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry keep their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, out of the spotlight. But on Thursday, October 23, the Duchess of Sussex shared some insights into her life at home with Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, during an event at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, California.

    Meghan was on hand to support her college friend Courtney Adamo, who was promoting her new book, The Family Home—and the book's theme prompted the duchess to share some of her own rituals at her Montecito home.

    "First thing I do when I wake up in the morning is turn the music on in the house," Meghan shared. The Duchess of Sussex also spoke about how she likes to ask her kids about the high and low points of their day through a "rose and thorn" routine, which Lilibet seems to be especially enthusiastic about.

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    Meghan Markle sitting in a chair in a brown outfit next to author Courtney Adamo

    Meghan joined her friend Courtney Adamo (second from left) to celebrate the publication of her book, The Family Home.

    (Image credit: Godmothers/Substack)

    Princess Lilibet running through grass

    Meghan shared a new photo of Princess Lilibet to mark the International Day of the Girl.

    (Image credit: Meghan/Instagram)

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    "Our daughter, she's four, and she's a very strong personality and she's incredible," Meghan said. "And now she's in this moment where I say, 'What's your rose and your thorn?' And she goes, 'My day was just a blast!'"

    The duchess also told the audience at Godmothers about their "healing blanket," a gift from the store's co-founder, Victoria Jackson. Meghan shared that Archie and Lilibet cuddle with the cozy blanket when they aren't feeling well.

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    With the holidays coming up, Lilibet and Archie are surely getting ready for plenty of family fun. When hosting, Meghan said that she likes to greet guests while wearing an "apron" and no shoes. "It demystifies," she said. "People walk in and go, ‘Oh, she’s in this with me.’ And what are they drawn to? Your kitchen. They come right in, and suddenly everyone’s a little bit softened."

    Last fall, the duchess told Marie Claire that "every year it gets better" celebrating Christmas with her kids. "At first, I think as a mom with children you’re just enjoying having them there, but they’re not understanding everything that’s happening yet," she said. "But now we’re at the age where I just can’t wait to see it through their lens every year."

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    Meghan Markle Princess Lilibet Prince Archie Prince Harry
    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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