The Duchess of Sussex made a quiet appearance in California over the weekend! She went to the opening of a local bookstore in Summerland, not far from Montecito. The bookstore is called Godmothers! Oprah was in attendance too, and both Oprah and Meghan made short speeches. Hilariously, Godmothers has a “local author” section and Meghan’s The Bench and Harry’s Spare were both featured prominently in that section.
Meghan Markle stepped out to support fellow authors at a bookstore opening in Santa Barbara. On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, spoke at the grand opening of Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, Calif., near Montecito — where she and husband Prince Harry have lived since 2020.
Meghan sported a chic, business-inspired look for the event. She wore a sleeveless navy blue tuxedo jumpsuit from Club Monaco, and kept her hair back in a ponytail. She completed the ensemble with a simple pair of diamond earrings.
In a photo shared by author Laura Lynne Jackson on her Instagram Stories, the Duchess of Sussex is seen standing onstage at the bookstore speaking into a microphone. Jackson captioned the photo: “Most light-filled evening of speakers…”
Also in attendance at the star-studded bookstore launch were Meghan’s friend and neighbor Oprah Winfrey, author Shaka Senghor, astrologer Jennifer Freed and the new bookstore’s co-founders, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Victoria Jackson.
Although Meghan’s husband Prince Harry, 39, was not in attendance at the bookstore event, a display featuring books written by “hometown authors” included his 2023 memoir Spare. The display also included some titles by other famous local authors, including Gwyneth Paltrow’s It’s All Easy, as well as Meghan’s children’s book The Bench.
“We celebrate our hometown authors as if they were our hometown heroes, because to us they are,” Rudolph Walsh said in a video promoting the new store.
This is the kind of thing I expect from Meghan – like, of course she showed up at a local bookstore opening. Of course the bookstore is called Godmothers. Of course there’s a section devoted to recognizing the literary and feminist godmothers who came before us. Of course The Bench and Spare are featured in the local authors section. It’s just perfect. And of course, there are already British commentators crying about how Meghan was outside on the eve of the anniversary of QEII’s passing.
“An evening with Oprah.” Duchess Meghan attended an Oprah book club session in Montecito.#DuchessofSussex
📸Marco Leone pic.twitter.com/LKU60YYltI
— ChrisBaronSmith (@ChrisBaronSmit1) September 8, 2024
Meghan at the opening of Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, CA last night.
She is wearing a black jumpsuit from @clubmonaco – https://t.co/d8iOp7souq (end of season – no longer available).#whatmeghanwore #MeghanMarkle pic.twitter.com/YvtzPNlDPg
— What Meghan Wore (@whatmegwore) September 8, 2024
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
-
- Handout photos of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle during their official visit to the school of drums of the cabildo in Cartagena. Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: Cartagena, Colombia When: 17 Aug 2024 Credit: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of SussexAbaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
-
- Handout photos of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle during their official visit to the school of drums of the cabildo in Cartagena. Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: Cartagena, Colombia When: 17 Aug 2024 Credit: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of SussexAbaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
LOVE the jumpsuit…I’m sad it’s sold out, I was about to whip out the credit card!
Meghan looks rich, rested and joyful. The BM and derangers are crying, throwing up and collapsing because she spoke at a private event and is not wearing sackcloth and ashes. Meanwhile the leftovers are barely registering with the public. The queen is dead. Long live the joyful queen.
It’s only available in tan, size 14. That’s all that’s left (I looked, too!).
Go to thredup, drag and drop the photo and see if you can find a dupe!
The eve of the anniversary.
Y’all the EVE OF the anniversary? I just can’t.
The eve…?
Seriously. Talk about a reach. How many muscles did they pull over this? Oh no. Not the evening before the anniversary of a person who died two years ago. Meghan has no soul, obviously.
How long should their lives stop before each anniversary? Next year’s shocker: Meghan wears self bought designer dress and has dinner with friends only a week before the anniversary of QE’s death. Laughs at the monarchy while she laughs with friends.
Why can’t she be outside on the eve of the anniversary, I’m British and I don’t even know the date she died, I know the date she was born, it was the same date as my MIL’s birthday.
Haven’t you heard? Its a new thing, Date of Death Eve must be “honored” too. These lunatics with their moving goalposts kill me.
It was in the Daily Express, they are constantly finding any excuse to criticise Meghan, no need for it to be sensible.
Isn’t that the event they wouldn’t allow Meghan to attend with Harry to support him in his grief? So, they want to restrict her actions but not allow her to participate as an actual family member? If they had their way, Meghan would get all the disadvantages but none of the benefits. That sounds fair. I think the Sussexes sacrificed enough by being with these people for longer than they anticipated when the queen died while they were passing through England, then they had to delay their projects for weeks.
They’re so pathetic.
Anyone remember the Left-Behinds last year standing next to a photo in the middle of somewhere? Harry actually went to Windsor to pay his respects in the crypt — after Well Child, on his way to Düsseldorf — catching everyone by surprise. And it only came out because tourists saw him. I’m sure overshadowing or attention-seeking was mentioned.
Of course. It doesn’t matter what he does, he is always wrong!
I remember @Nanea. Saved some links to share.
The Wales staring at a picture of the late Queen. Catherine/Kate colour coordinated with the pillow on the bench (after a late arrival) https://people.com/kate-middleton-looks-emotional-lays-flowers-queen-elizabeth-death-anniversary-7967237.
Prince Harry leaving the late QE2’s final resting place. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/prince-harry-windsor-castle-queen-grave/
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Date of Death Eve, hahahahah! And during the CANCER. How dare she? And then our girl had the gall to say something about it being a period of joy in her life.
I guess M&H are supposed to put a black wreath on their door and stay home and cry. A second date will be added after Chuckles croaks. Queue the outrage. I hope they throw a party next year.
Those liars used Meghan’s speech from Colombia, claiming she said it at the bookstore.
Yes she had the nerve to be seen outside her home looking like the true Princess she is and that truly twisted their panties on that Isle.. and they totally forgot the leftovers desperate for attention on the eve of the 2 year anniversary of the Queen’s death.. like the quarterly briefing article about how Bones 🦴 isn’t going to work anymore this year or the Tindall kids beating the crap out of each other in public and acting like undisciplined heathens for the world to see.. guess those things are all ok on the eve of the second death anniversary, good to know🤔..
Ummm, there was a whole freaking story about Kate in the Times on Sunday from Roya Nikka. Shouldn’t they have held that story till after the queen’s anniversary then? If we’re going by that kind of logic. They can gtfoh.
This is right on brand for Meghan, supporting a small female-owned business. And so much for the “experts” who claimed Oprah was now snubbing H&M.
The story sold advertising space, that is the only thing that is important.
Jamie Kern Lima and Tracy Robbins were there too.
It really looks like Meghan’s circle of friends in Montecito is quite close-knit and *very* successful. And rich.
Admire how Meghan supports and celebrates other female entrepreneurs
Looking good Meghan! I’m sure it was an enjoyable event. Her happiness has got to be so, so painful for some folks. Good.
Was the Death Date Anniversary even a thing?
Cute jumpsuit.
In some christian communities, it is not unusual for older women to wear mourning attire (including black veil and gloves) for years..
Death Date Anniversary *EVE* mind you 😹
I love the fact that this local author among other things, who wrote a children’s book (enjoyed by kids during their early years), and is married to a fellow author among other things is surrounded by other local women and friends to support a local women-owned business!
Go Meghan!
I just love that Meghan is able to live her life now. Victoria Jackson is one her friends so I get why she wanted to be there. I think it’s hilarious that the press and royalists are upset that Meghan went to an event on the eve of the anniversary of the Queen’s death. These people are unhinged and still believe that they can control her life.
It’s such a reach to be mad about someone attending an event that was not advertised ahead of time and was private with no media present. Are they saying she must not leave her house, even to attend private functions because a woman died two years ago?
Yes@ Julia on the surface that is what they are saying.
In actuality the press just want to blame Meghan for the fact they will be breathlessly covering her attending a private book store opening instead of Betty’s death anniversary. Watch them make a meal out of a handful of IG videos and photos.
Yeah, I love Meghan going to a cute bookstore. I hope she is doing all the things she wants without the media ever knowing.
Er………M is there in her own right – a fellow home-town author and valued, active member of the community. She’s not just there to celebrate her friends.
Wasn’t Egg out and doing things on the Death Anniversary Eve? Why is Meghan the only expected to weep in a dark corner at home? The RR are so pitiful. They really are starved of clicks and money, aren’t they?
Racism and misogyny.
The answer is always one or both when it comes to what they say about Meghan.
How convenient that these people forget how gleeful they reported that Chuck told Harry not to bring Meghan to Balmoral because she was not family? Now she is supposed to not leave her house or even breathe because it’s the “eve” of the anniversary of Qe11’s death?
Lord have mercy on these people, they have totally lost their frigging minds!
Excellent point.
She looked fabulous and I love that she is living her best life in a community where she has friends and is respected and treated well.
Some rag sent Jan Moir to Monteceito and she missed this. Proves the neighbors don’t talk.
I love the irony of this. After Jan went all that far…. to come home empty handed…
And Meghan and Oprah were right there, in public! I love it!
So now we can’t go outside on the eve of the anniversary of someone who died two years ago? I’ll say it now, I don’t go to cemeteries to ” visit” dead people. I don’t remember the day my Father died and am only reminded when it pops up on FB. I guess I’m a terrible person . Oh well.
I thought I was terrible person because I couldn’t remember the date of death of the few that mattered to me. I’m very glad to have met you:)
The official morning period for a grandparent is one year so Meghan was fine and let’s not forget her nod to the queen by wearing black.
This was a low key private event with other authors at a bookstore opening. Isn’t that the type of discreet, quiet event they want the Sussexes going to? Apparently these people are nonentities and Meghan is terrible for being in her joy era on the anniversary of the Queens death. What utter nonsense. She is out with her friends supporting her local community and it looked like a relaxed friendly gathering. That bookstore is gorgeous, like too perfect for reality.
I really do like these small intimate gatherings, Meghan looked happy and fabulous 😍
I always have to remind myself that Meghan’s Victoria Jackson is not the other (formerly SNL) Victoria Jackson LOL.
Meghan looks lovely … and that bookstore looks amazing. I’m happy she’s thriving and loved in her chosen community.
Yes defo not SNL Victoria J. She’s a complete right wing kook now.
I don’t know who this V Jackson is. Can someone enlighten me please?
I think she’s the make-up mogul. Seems to me that she and Meghan have been friendly for a while. I should check this, but I think she has spoken about Meghan and the children either in an interview or on the Netflix documentary. I think she was at the Hamptons meeting along with Meghan.
As someone who loves books with too many on my shelves, I loved she went to support the opening of a local bookstore! I’m sure Oprah asked her to come out too. She looks great.
As for the whole being out and about two years on the eve of the queen’s death anniversary, the British media will always grasp at straws to try to make her look bad. The one thing they could nitpick in supporting the opening of a local bookstore which is pretty pathetic.
To clarify: Marking the anniversary of a loved ones death actually is “something” in Judaism. It’s known as Yahrzeit. People.light a memorial candle the evening before the anniversary and go to the gravesite the next day. Some people even fast. The observance begins at sundown the evening before the actual date because ALL Jewish holidays begin that way. That said, the closest these people (the Royals) even remotely get to Judaism is visiting with Holocaust Survivors. (That always makes me cringe because I can’t imagine my Survivor dad interacting with such insipid people.)
But it is okay for Kate and Egg to put out a slick video on the new death day holiday, I guess.