Royal motherhood was nothing like Meghan Markle ever imagined! Check out what she said

Becoming a duchess might sound like a fairy tale, but for Meghan Markle, the transition into royal life came with a reality check, especially once motherhood entered the picture.On the May 20 episode of her Archetypes spinoff podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, Markle reflected candidly on her expectations versus the reality of raising a child while navigating royal duties.

Speaking with Cassandra Morales Thurswell, founder of beauty brand Kitsch, Markle shared a surprising glimpse into her early vision of motherhood.“I will say, for myself, especially when they are baby babies and before I was a mom, I've always wanted to be a mom,” Markle said. “Before I was a mom, I said, ‘Oh gosh, I’m going to give a speech with a baby on my hip,’” she said. “I had a whole vision. And then, you fast-forward — granted, I had a lot of external things happening by the time I had both pregnancies and both babies — but it was not the way I envisioned it.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are parents to two children: Archie, now 6, and Lilibet, 3. The couple tied the knot in 2018 and continued their roles as senior working royals until after Archie’s birth in 2019. By early 2020, they announced their decision to step back from royal duties, expressing their intent to become financially independent and split their time between the U.K. and the U.S.Harry later spoke publicly about the toll constant media scrutiny had taken on his mental health, a factor that contributed heavily to their departure from royal life.

In 2021, while settled in California, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter they named Lilibet—an affectionate nickname used for Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.Now, as parents, the Sussexes appear to be prioritizing a different kind of parenting—one that isn’t bound by protocol or tradition. And while Markle has yet to give that speech with a baby on her hip, she seems at peace with it.Interestingly, as Markle joked in the episode, she’s not the only royal mom who hasn’t done that.

“Kate Middleton hasn’t exactly done that either,” she noted—proving that even royal mothers often choose to leave the little ones at home.Meghan, recentlyOn May 19, Meghan Markle marked her seventh wedding anniversary with Prince Harry by posting a heartfelt message on Instagram. Alongside a series of personal family photos, she wrote, “A lifetime of stories. Thanks to all of you (whether by our side, or from afar) who have loved and supported us throughout our love story — we appreciate you. Happy anniversary!”

Just days earlier, Markle also shared a sweet tribute for Mother’s Day, posting a photo of herself holding Archie and Lilibet in her arms.

“Cheers to juggling it all with joy!” she wrote.She continued the post with a touching message to her children: “And to these two gems — who still attempt to climb ‘mama mountain,’ smother me with kisses, and make every day the most memorable adventure. Being your mom is the greatest privilege of my life.”