Meghan Markle is reportedly being more selective about her media appearances after years of intense scrutiny surrounding her and Prince Harry. The Duchess of Sussex is said to receive plenty of invitations to appear on podcasts but has reportedly turned down a number of opportunities.
Source claims Duchess avoids long-form interviews
A source claimed to Star magazine that Meghan is reluctant to put herself in situations where she has less control over the direction of an interview. "She's afraid to go on other people's shows where she'll get asked tough questions in a long-form setting," the source claimed.
They went on to describe the Duchess as "too guarded and too self-controlled" for the more relaxed nature of some podcast interviews. The source added: "Everything she says and does is so manicured and rehearsed that nobody will ever look to her for authentic moments. In podcasting, that's a death sentence."
History of tension with the press
The claims come after years of tension between the Sussexes and sections of the British press following Meghan's marriage to Prince Harry in 2018. Harry has repeatedly spoken about the impact press coverage has had on his wife and their family.
During his testimony in a privacy case against Associated Newspapers earlier this year, the Duke of Sussex became emotional while discussing Meghan. He told the court: "By standing up here and taking a stand against them, this has continued to come after me." Harry added: "And they have made my wife's life an absolute misery, my Lord."
Meghan's own words on public scrutiny
Meghan herself has previously spoken about dealing with difficult periods while in the public eye. Speaking during an April 2025 episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, she said: "No matter what scale you're at, there's going to be a point where you're going to take a hit." She continued: "There's a point where you're going to decide if you're going to cower, conquer, or rise above it."
While Meghan has not publicly said she is declining podcast invitations because of press scrutiny, the latest claims suggest she may now be particularly selective about the platforms where she chooses to speak. The Duchess has continued to make public appearances and work on her own projects, but reportedly remains cautious about longer interviews where questioning could move into less predictable territory.
