Meghan Markle has addressed the nickname 'Duchess Difficult' in the latest episode of her podcast Archetype, hinting at the 'pain' caused to her and other ambitious women by being dismissed as 'difficult' or as 'b****es'. The Duchess of Sussex appeared to suggest she has adopted a strategy to stop the term from affecting her and instead use it to push her into embracing her new life.
Speaking on the podcast, Meghan said: 'For some women, it's all about embracing and reclaiming the b-word, taking the power out of it, maybe even using comedy to defuse it. And for others, it's standing in there knowing and being unaffected by the implication of the word or its cousin, difficult. Powering through in spite of the pain, or even the insecurity it may cause. And sometimes using the dig for drive, getting them closer to their goal, building a business, a career.'
The Duchess suggested the terms 'difficult' and the b-word are often used as a 'deflection' from the 'awesome' traits some women have. She also admitted to having been inspired into exploring the specific archetype by friends who pushed her to tackle the issue head-on. Meghan had previously addressed the nickname by clarifying she is 'not difficult, I'm particular'.
Royal expert Victoria Arbiter suggested the Duchess has been using her podcast to 'push back' against the attacks on her reputation. She said the agreement with streaming giant Spotify has offered Meghan an enormous platform to change the narrative about her and Prince Harry's departure from the Royal Family. The nickname was coined in 2018 following rumours Meghan was quite difficult to work with, including claims of 5 AM emails and staff being reduced to tears.
Speculation about the Duchess's conduct towards staff sparked an investigation into claims of bullying made by former aides. A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex branded the allegations a 'calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation'. Buckingham Palace conducted an inquiry which concluded over the summer but declined to release the findings to the public, though it confirmed 'revised policies and procedures' have been adopted.
