'RHONY' Star Calls Meghan a 'Genius,' Says She 'Picked Up the Prince and Left' The Monarchy
Reality TV favourite calls the Duchess ‘genius’ as she heads to Australia.
Former Countess Luann de Lesseps has spent much of her life moving comfortably through the worlds of glamour, fame, and aristocracy—so when she weighs in on royalty, it comes with a sense of familiarity. And this time, the Real Housewives of New York City star offered her verdict on Meghan Markle, which cut against the prevailing noise and common opinions, placing her straight on the Duchess’s side. Speaking to SkyNews.com.au, the American television personality and cabaret star praised Markle’s decision to step away from royal life, describing the move as nothing short of inspiring.
Lesseps described Meghan’s exit as “genius,” saying the Duchess “came in, swooped up the royal and left.” “She gets hounded by the press all the time, and their lives are constantly under a microscope,” she added. “Personally, I think it’s great. She makes me proud to be an American—she picked up the prince and left.” Asked whether the Duchess of Sussex could ever find herself sharing the stage in Luann’s cabaret show, 'Welcome to the Lu-Niverse,' the reality star was quick to say Markle would fit right in. “I mean, listen, she’s an actress, so I’m sure she’d be great,” she quipped.
While Lesseps has never met the disgraced ex-Prince Andrew, she said she has had personal encounters with other members of the British royal family. “They’re the nicest people you could ever meet,” she said. “I’ve never met Prince Andrew, but I’ve met Fergie and her daughters on a vacation somewhere with their friends, and I went to the baptism of the godson of Prince William.”
Luann explained that the invitation came through her long-standing connections within royal circles. “So (King) Constantine was a friend of mine from Greece, so I got invited because I know Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, and so I got invited to the baptism of their grandchild, and Prince William was the godfather,” she said. “So I have met them. I met a lot of the royal families from around Europe because they lived in Europe for so long, and they’re the nicest people. Because, guess what, you have to greet people and say hello to people all the time, right? And so they’re very respectful people as well. And that’s what class is all about—respect.”
Earlier, de Lesseps had also shared her views on Sarah Ferguson, offering a calm but sympathetic take on the former Duchess of York. She suggested that public fallout follows the same emotional pattern everywhere—whether it happens in a Manhattan penthouse or behind palace walls. Speaking to Fox News Digital ahead of a new run of holiday cabaret performances, she stated, “I feel for her, and I feel for the daughters as well. It’s a very hard thing to go through… and it’s holding your head high because there’s going to be talk, there’s going to be, it’s not pretty,” she said.
She placed the blame on Ferguson’s former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, adding, “I mean, and [Mountbatten Windsor] was not honest about it. And I think to have the man that was in your life, the father of your children, not be honest about something like that, is very painful."
