How Meghan Markle Reacted as a Child to Harry’s Letter on Diana’s 'Royal Coffin'
It's hard not to think about Princess Diana's untimely and devastating death when we look back at her legacy. On August 31, 1997, the world mourned as the Princess succumbed to her injuries. Meghan Markle, who at the time was 15, was among the many who were deeply impacted by Diana's death. A year later, at 16, she met Diana's younger son, Prince Harry, completely unaware she would one day not only find herself in the royal fold but would also be subjected to the same media scrutiny that caused the Paris crash.
Royal biographer Andrew Morton, in his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, shared how Markle responded to the heartbreaking news. He wrote, “She and her friends watched the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in early September 1997, tears coursing down their cheeks at the poignant moment when the camera zoomed in on the royal coffin. Perched among the white flowers was an envelope with the one word ‘Mummy’ containing Harry’s last note to his beloved mother.” Markle is said to have admired Diana not only for her fashion sense but also for her independent efforts in humanitarian work.
Morton also spilled that Markle, along with her friend Suzy Ardakani, found a unique way to process the devastating news. He wrote, “After she heard about the tragedy, she and her friend Suzy Ardakani had sat and watched old videos of the 1981 wedding between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.” Additionally, following Diana's example, Markle and her friend gathered clothes and toys for underprivileged children.
Meanwhile, Harry, in his memoir Spare, recounted the experience of taking Markle to visit his mother's grave. He recounted, “We hesitated, hugging, and then I went first. I placed flowers on the grave. Meg gave me a moment, and I spoke to my mother in my head, told her I missed her, and asked her for guidance and clarity. Feeling that Meg might also want a moment, I went around the hedge and scanned the pond. When I came back, Meg was kneeling, eyes shut, palms against the stone.” He added, “I asked, as we walked back to the boat, what she’d prayed for. Clarity, she said. And guidance.”
Diana and Markle have a lot in common — other than being huge fashion icons, they share a commitment to humanitarian causes. Markle has always fought for women's rights, even as a child, while Diana supported a myriad of causes, including helping the homeless, AIDS awareness, and demining Angola. It is this similarity in passions that had former royal press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, claiming Diana would have offered guidance to Markle — a view supported by Patrick Jephson, Diana's former private secretary.