Meghan Markle speaks at Oprah Winfrey’s book club in California on the eve of Queen Elizabeth’s death… with ‘hometown hero’ Harry Spare’s memoirs proudly on display

Meghan Markle spoke last night at her good friend Oprah Winfrey’s book club meeting in California, where her husband’s controversial memoir, Spare, was proudly on display.

The 43-year-old duchess was one of the speakers who addressed the crowd under a floodlight at the Goodmothers bookstore and conference space in Summerland, just a few miles from her home in Montecito.

The star-studded event was attended by actor Marco Leone, astrology and psychology expert Dr. Jennifer Freed, and author, lecturer and psychic medium Laura Lynne Jackson, all of whom featured Meghan in their Instagram stories.

Godmothers, co-owned by literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, recently celebrated its opening weekend with a host of events and “conversations” with celebrities and authors.

The bookstore appears to be advertising several popular celebrity books, including Prince Harry’s memoirs, which can be found at the front of the store on the ‘hometown heroes’ shelf.

Meghan Markle spoke last night at her good friend Oprah Winfrey’s book club session at the Goodmothers bookstore and meeting space in Summerland, California

Prince Harry’s controversial memoir, Spare, was proudly on display at last night’s event

Meghan attended the event last night, the eve of the second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

While it’s unclear what the duchess said in her speech, the audience seemed to love it, with Jackson calling Meghan one of the evening’s “light-filled speakers.”

Godmothers, which is closing its festive opening weekend with events today, is clearly proud of Meghan and Harry, who are being hailed as “city heroes” by the owner.

In a video promoting the store, Walsh showcased Harry’s memoirs, along with a collection of books by local writers.

“This is our local author shelf when you first walk in,” she said of the exhibit. “I want it to be there when you first walk in, so authors who are local to the area know that this is their local bookstore.”

“And we honor our local authors as if they were our local heroes, because to us they are.”

Meghan watches as her good friend Oprah Winfrey seemingly promotes a book during her book club session at Godmothers yesterday

Meghan is embraced as she takes the stage at the event

It’s no surprise that Meghan, who lives in the same city as Winfrey, was invited to the talk show host’s book club session yesterday.

Winfrey has been close friends with Meghan for a number of years and was a guest at the royal wedding in May 2018. Their relationship appears to have grown stronger over the years after the Sussexes moved into a $14 million mansion in Montecito, which is a stone’s throw from Oprah’s own sprawling home.

In March 2021, she sat down with the couple for a shocking 85-minute interview that aired on primetime, in which the couple made a series of highly damaging allegations about the royal family.

She has even spoken out publicly about whether she thought the is expected to attend the coronation of King Charles in May 2023.

“I think they should do what they think is best for them and their family. That’s what I think,” she said on the CBS Mornings show ahead of the event, adding, “They didn’t ask me for my opinion.”

Harry ultimately attended the coronation without Meghan, leaving immediately after the ceremony to return to California.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021

Oprah Winfrey attended Meghan and Prince Harry’s wedding in 2018. She is pictured arriving at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the ceremony

In January 2020, the Sussexes fled the royal family and the United Kingdom to start their new life in America, ostensibly to get away from press interference and media attention. But it didn’t take long for the spotlight to return.

As they chatted in the sun-drenched garden of a California mansion that turned out to be owned by a friend of Oprah’s, the then heavily pregnant Meghan described her time with the royal family as a nightmare she had barely survived.

She claimed she was forced to surrender her passport, driving licence, keys and other personal belongings when she moved into the cramped Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

“I’ve left the house twice in four months,” she told Oprah on March 7, 2021, adding, “I couldn’t feel lonelier.”

She compared herself to Ariel, the main character in the Disney animated film The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid princess trades her voice for legs in order to marry her prince.

“She falls in love with a prince and loses her voice,” said Meghan, who claims her family “silenced” her.

She further claimed that the situation had deteriorated to such an extent that she even contemplated suicide.

Meghan claimed Palace staff offered her no help when she begged them for support, even though she was six months pregnant with Archie at the time.

A tearful Meghan tells ‘her truth’ to Oprah Winfrey in the shocking March 2021 interview watched by 50 million people

As they chatted in the sun-drenched garden of a California mansion – which turned out to be owned by a friend of Oprah’s – Meghan described her time in the royal family as a nightmare she had barely survived

The other bombshell was the Sussexes’ suggestion that the royal family was collectively racist, pointing the finger at an (unnamed) member who, they claimed, had speculated racistly about the colour of their son Archie’s skin when Meghan was pregnant.

Harry, who looked tense during the interview, confirmed Meghan’s accusation, saying he was the one who heard the comments and told his wife.

Harry and Meghan said they would not reveal who made the statement. Meghan said: ‘I think it would be very damaging for them. [to reveal].

But later, particularly when Harry published his memoirs Spare, this controversy seemed to have been forgotten.

The Duke and Duchess also raised eyebrows when they claimed they were officially married by the Archbishop of Canterbury three days before their actual wedding day in May 2018.

Whatever happened before the official ceremony at St George’s Chapel, the Archbishop of Canterbury denied it was a wedding.

Meghan used the interview to debunk rumors that she had made her sister-in-law Catherine, the then Duchess of Cambridge, cry in the run-up to her wedding over the outfits of Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaids.

In fact, the Duchess of Sussex said, it was the other way around: the Duchess of Cambridge was the one who made her cry.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at San Basilio de Palenque during The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s visit to Colombia on August 17, 2024 in Cartagena, Colombia

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Escuela Tambores de Cabildo during The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s visit to Colombia on August 17, 2024 in Cartagena, Colombia

When it came to the royal family, Harry didn’t hold back either.

He accused members of The Firm of being jealous of Meghan because of the “effortless” way Meghan had captivated audiences during their Commonwealth tour and “how good she was at her job”.

And for the first time, he made it clear that he and Prince William were not on the same page, saying he “loved him very much” but that “we’re both on different paths.”

He also described then-Prince Charles and William as “trapped.” “They don’t get the chance to leave and I feel sorry for them,” he said.

What members of the royal family think of the interview is unknown, as most of them have remained silent about it. However, Prince William responded curtly to a reporter: “We are absolutely not a racist family.”

The Queen, who has since died, only released a statement suggesting that the Sussexes’ story may not be the same as her own.

“The whole family is saddened to hear how difficult the past few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” Queen Elizabeth II said at the time.

“The issues raised, particularly those of race, are concerning. While some recollections may differ, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed privately by the family.

‘Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.’