Martha Stewart has voiced scepticism about Meghan Markle moving into the lifestyle television space, saying the duchess’s career path from actor to royal and now to a television homemaking personality "doesn’t sort of follow." The comments came during a cover interview with PEOPLE, in which Stewart reflected on a recent, brief encounter with Markle.
Short meeting, sharp observation
Stewart told PEOPLE she and Markle were both guests at a dinner party in California. The lifestyle entrepreneur said the duchess had recently returned from a trip to the United Kingdom and that the pair did not speak at length, but that Markle had been discussing her visit.
"If you’re an actress, it’s hard to then transition to a princess and then from a princess into a homemaking guru on a television show. It doesn’t sort of follow. So go from there."
That remark was Stewart’s central critique of Markle’s pivot into the domestic-lifestyle arena. Markle launched her Netflix series With Love, Meghan in 2025, and has indicated plans to release seasonal episodes going forward.
Context of the royal visit
Stewart’s observation came shortly after Markle’s return from a family trip to the U.K. The source notes that the duchess travelled with Prince Archie, then aged 7, and Princess Lilibet, aged 5, to visit King Charles and Queen Camilla. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles and Camilla hosted the family at Highgrove House, and described the meeting as a "private family occasion".
It was the first time the couple had travelled to the U.K. together since 2022, when they attended the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The visit also marked the first in-person occasion in more than four years that Charles reportedly saw his grandchildren.
Why the comments matter in lifestyle coverage
Stewart is widely regarded as a defining voice in North American domestic culture, and her views carry weight within lifestyle publishing and broadcast circles. Her critique highlights a broader conversation about authenticity, branding and audience expectation when public figures change roles — particularly when those roles cross from entertainment to institutional royalty and back into consumer-facing lifestyle work.
- Stewart’s comment: Questions the plausibility of moving from actress to royal to homemaking TV host.
- Markle’s TV work: With Love, Meghan debuted in 2025 with plans for seasonal offerings.
- Family visit: The duchess returned from a private family visit to King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House.
The exchange described by Stewart was brief, and she said she did not have an extended conversation with Markle at the dinner. There has been no public response from Markle’s representatives to Stewart’s comments in the account provided to PEOPLE.
Potential implications
In lifestyle journalism, endorsements and critiques from established figures like Stewart can shape both public perception and industry reception of new shows. While the duchess’s move into lifestyle television links her to an entertainment format familiar to many viewers, Stewart’s remarks underscore the delicate balance public figures must maintain when navigating multiple, very different public identities.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Show | With Love, Meghan (launched 2025) |
| Stewart’s setting | Dinner party in California |
| Royal visit | Private family occasion at Highgrove House with King Charles and Queen Camilla |
| Children | Prince Archie, 7; Princess Lilibet, 5 |
For readers interested in lifestyle media, the exchange is a reminder that the genre is shaped not only by cooking segments and home tours, but also by the reputations and backstories of the people who present them. Stewart’s reputation as a homemaking authority means her comment will likely be noticed by both viewers and industry peers, even as the duchess continues to chart her own path in television.
Entertainment Weekly reported that the outlet had reached out to Markle’s representatives for comment; no further statements were reported in the source material used for this story.
