As has become almost routine, Meghan Markle is once again at the center of criticism over her behavior.
The latest wave began on Wednesday (November 19), after Harper’s Bazaar released a new cover story describing an unusual moment during the interview process.
According to the article, when the journalist arrived at a friend’s Upper East Side brownstone to meet Meghan, the house manager formally announced, “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” even though the only person there to hear it was the interviewer.
Online reactions ranged from disbelief to ridicule, with some mocking what they saw as unnecessary theatrics. The New York Post seized on the moment, declaring that Meghan had reached “truly comic levels of self-importance.”
Harper’s Bazaar Portrays a Woman Reclaiming Her Story
The Harper’s Bazaar feature, titled “Meghan’s Moment,” aimed to present Meghan as stepping confidently into a new chapter—free from the influence of critics and the expectations of others. But for many who already view her skeptically, the scene of her being formally announced in an empty house undercut that message immediately.
“We’re in a grand brownstone on the Upper East Side that belongs to one of Meghan’s friends. When I enter, the house manager announces, ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,’ even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house,” the article reads.
To some readers, the formality felt staged; to the Post, it served as confirmation of “Markle’s inflated ego.” A commenter summed up the sentiment bluntly: “She has just been a failure and her moment has long passed.”
Readers Question Both Harper’s and the Post
While the Post was slammed for leaning too heavily into mockery, others felt Harper’s Bazaar was not being entirely neutral either.
“In all this big coverage the articles take a lot of subtle and also obvious digs at her,” one reader noted. “Are they all laughing at her?”
Another speculated that Harper’s softened its tone for strategic reasons: “I’m guessing they were trying to be subtle with the tone so that Meghan would allow it to print.”
Harper’s Attempts to Reinforce a Familiar Narrative
Despite the criticism, a close reading of the Harper’s profile shows that the magazine portrays Meghan in a mostly positive light—as a humanitarian, feminist, and founder “meeting her moment.”
Much of the story returns to themes long present in Meghan’s public identity. It revisits:
• Her childhood letter to Procter & Gamble challenging se.xist language
• Her memories of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles
• The early days of dating Prince Harry, when public fascination mixed with “vitriol,” a dynamic she has described many times
“She was a working actress from a modest family, and he was a royal; she was biracial, and he was a symbol for an imaginary monoracial Britain,” the article states.
To support this framing, Harper’s includes praise from well-known supporters. Serena Williams discusses Meghan’s warmth, while former producers from Oprah’s team highlight her work ethic and command over her own voice.
A Carefully Crafted Image vs. Current Realities
The glowing portrait in Harper’s stands in sharp contrast to the mixed reception Meghan’s recent ventures have received. While the magazine paints her as entering a new era filled with purpose and authenticity, many of the projects built around that narrative have yet to live up to the optimism.
