In a recent interview, Meghan Markle opened up about how she felt silenced during her time as a working royal, revealing that she didn’t feel “empowered to speak.”

Speaking with British entrepreneur Emma Grede on the Aspire podcast, the Duchess of Sussex shared candid insights into reclaiming her voice and the meaning behind her fashion choices.

Finding Her Voice Again Through Social Media

Grede began the conversation by asking Meghan about her new Instagram account, launched on New Year’s Day. Meghan, 43, described it as a powerful personal step.

“It was a great way to get my voice back,” she said, suggesting that social media gave her a renewed sense of agency following her exit from royal duties.

The conversation then turned to Meghan’s global fashion influence. She admitted her feelings about it have “ebbed and flowed.”

“They say imitation is the best form of flattery,” she explained, “but at the same time, you start to watch how it’s being monetised at such a huge level globally — oftentimes not giving credit to the brands and the designers who actually made those pieces.”

She reflected on the dilemma she faced — whether to name designers and risk coming off as promotional, despite having no financial stake, or stay silent and risk having her clothing misidentified.

“When I didn’t feel as though I had as much of an opportunity to speak,” she added, “what can you say with what you’re wearing? You can say a lot.”

Fashion That Made a Difference

Grede asked if Meghan’s wardrobe choices were deliberate, to which Meghan answered without hesitation: “Of course.”

“There’s an intention,” she continued. “In moments where I found I wasn’t as empowered with my voice, I still wanted to be heard in other ways. I still wanted women to know that I was supporting them.”

She emphasized how wearing clothing by female-founded or local designers during royal tours became a meaningful act. “I always tried to tap into local designers to really see their business just do so well as a result,” Meghan said, noting how this support helped brands grow and give back to their communities.

One moment stood out for Meghan — when she wore jeans made by a company that employed women rescued from human trafficking.

“To be able to help that company and get letters from those founders saying we were able to help save 25 women because of you wearing these jeans — that is a huge privilege of influence, and I never took that lightly.”

Choosing Passion Over Profit

The interview ended with a discussion about Meghan’s latest venture, her lifestyle brand As Ever, which features products like jams, honey, and flower sprinkles.

“Had I chosen to just maximise the opportunity of the financial element of having a business, doing fashion would have been very obvious,” she said. “But I wanted to go with what my heart was really responding to in this moment.”

Meghan’s reflections painted a picture of someone striving to reclaim control over her narrative — using fashion, business, and intention to express herself in a world where her voice once felt muted.