Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, recently shared insights into how she copes with challenging times, attributing advice to her husband, Prince Harry. Speaking at a screening of her documentary "Cookie Queens" in Los Angeles, Markle, an executive producer on the film, discussed her husband's perspective gleaned from his decade-long military career.
"My husband told me this ages ago, because we all go through experiences and life is full of surprises, but he was a helicopter pilot in the British army for ten years," Markle said during a Q&A session with director Alysa Nahamias and journalist Jessica Radloff. "Sometimes, on really hard days, I remember once he said, 'But my love, you know, even if there's a storm happening, above the storm, the sun is always shining."
She added that Harry taught her to "zoom out" to maintain perspective. "And that's a perspective that only comes when we think about zooming out a little bit," she continued. "So, it's so important to maintain that perspective that, no matter what feels insurmountable, there's just always that sun shining above it."
The screening marked Markle's first public appearance since her recent visit to the UK. "Cookie Queens" explores the tradition of Girl Scouts selling cookies to raise funds. Markle, a former Girl Scout herself, expressed her admiration for the film's portrayal of the fathers involved. "My husband and I were moved by how the dads are portrayed in Cookie Queens," she noted. "It's just such a brilliant portrayal of an important part of Americana and our life here."
The Duke of Sussex's military service included four months as an Apache helicopter pilot during his second tour of Afghanistan from September 2012 to January 2013. Markle's appearance came as she continues to promote various ventures, including her lifestyle brand, As Ever. On the same day as the film screening, she unveiled a new blackcurrant jam flavor for the brand.
For the Los Angeles event, Markle wore an ensemble valued at over $31,100, featuring a white blazer and wide-leg jeans. Her accessories included a jeweled sleeve for her Oura ring fitness tracker, reportedly worth over £2,100, and jewelry from Logan Hollowell, including a Leo constellation ring and a diamond and emerald necklace retailing for $21,150. She wore her wedding band and a five-carat ring on her right hand, which she described as a symbol of "independence, self-love, and personal power."
Later in the week, Markle attended another screening in Ojai, California, where she opted for a more casual outfit: white shorts paired with a tan cashmere sweater and suede mules.
When asked if her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, had seen the documentary, Markle stated they had not yet had the opportunity but acknowledged their enjoyment of the cookies featured in the process. Journalist Jessica Radloff later shared her positive review of "Cookie Queens," calling it "my favourite documentary I've seen in years."