Meghan Markle’s Charm: Bridging the Gap with Daytime Drinking
My initial reaction to the Duchess of Sussex’s latest Netflix venture, With Love, Meghan, was that it felt somewhat distant from my reality. The divide between Meghan, tending her bees in a stunning Californian garden, and me, lounging on an Ikea sofa in an overpriced south London shared house with a glass of cheap wine, seemed insurmountable. The show’s layers of millennial cringe come off as overly sweet, fussy, and whimsical, making it hard for a more cynical British viewer like myself to connect. It simply feels too American.
The cultural chasm between us Brits and our American counterparts regarding the Sussexes is palpable. Americans often struggle to grasp why the British public and press don’t shower adoration upon their seemingly perfect Instagram life, while Brits can’t quite comprehend why Meghan didn’t do a deeper dive into her now-husband’s family history before their first encounter back in 2016.
However, beneath the surface of “naked cakes” and whimsical kids’ party bags filled with miniature gardening tools lies what I believe is Meghan’s secret weapon to winning over the hearts and minds of the British populace: her unabashed love of daytime drinking.
Throughout several episodes, she’s seen enjoying a drink or two, whether it’s cracking open a cold beer while brining chicken with the crew or savoring a crisp glass of rosé with chef Alice Waters. Unsurprisingly, some humorless critics on social media have taken issue with her enjoyment of a tipple before the sun has fully risen.
It seems that the party-loving spirit of her husband has rubbed off on her. This is particularly evident when comparing her approach to alcohol with that of her American guests. In one memorable episode, she shares a breakfast mimosa with Mindy Kaling, who remarks, “This is the earliest I’ve had alcohol in a long time.” Meghan, embodying a vibe that wouldn’t be out of place in a bustling London pub on a Thursday night, quips back, “Welcome to Montecito.”
My friends and I, who were watching together, had a telling response. One of them rolled his eyes and joked, “Well, obviously sparkling wine is a breakfast drink.” This sparked a lively discussion about our own experiences of indulging in drinks at ungodly hours. While Meghan may have said “welcome to Montecito,” we’ve all made similar jokes over brunch, on festive occasions, or while enjoying a cheap pint at a Wetherspoons in a major UK airport before boarding a 6am flight to Europe.
I believe a part of the reason many Brits haven’t warmed to Meghan is our innate tendency to be begrudging. We often feel a pang of jealousy when we see someone thriving. However, her love for a casual drink is one aspect that even the fiercest critics of Meghan can’t begrudge her.
The jury is still deliberating on whether With Love, Meghan serves as a mere PR exercise in portraying a #relatable lifestyle, and whether such an extravagant way of living can still feel aspirational to the average viewer. Yet, this is the very strategy that has allowed a traditionally anachronistic Royal Family to maintain its popularity and relevance. They may live lives far beyond our wildest dreams, but we remain invested because they allow glimpses of their personalities to shine through, making them feel more human.
In the world of public figures, the ability to be perceived as someone you’d enjoy sharing a drink with is highly coveted. Would I want to share a pint with the Duchess after watching With Love, Meghan? I’d lean on a friend’s assessment: “Meghan would relish a beer garden pint and a cigarette. I can just feel it in my bones.” And that, I must say, is the highest compliment a British person can offer.
