Over the course of her life, Meghan Markle has regularly used her public profile to advocate on behalf of women and girls, highlighting the importance of representation not just in the media but also in numerous areas of society from monarchy to politics.
Since her return to the U.S. in 2020 with husband Prince Harry, the duchess has continued this work. She has produced docuseries and podcasts with connected themes and pursued philanthropic projects aimed at helping women through her Archewell Foundation.
One area that Meghan has carefully approached during her resettlement in America is politics.
Perhaps in-line with the British royals' position of not expressing political bias, the duchess has not yet come out to endorse political candidates or encourage voters to align with a particular party, though her personal affiliations may be guessed.
In 2020, Meghan and Harry released a Time 100 video statement encouraging citizens to register to vote.
"Today is National Voter Registration Day. Every four years, we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is," Meghan said.
In an additional video, the duchess sat down with feminist icon Gloria Steinem to discuss the topic of suffrage and the role women play in politics. It was in this interview that Meghan publicly discussed for the first time Kamala Harris' role in American politics.
As Harris launches her bid to win the Democratic Party nomination to run for president, Newsweek looks at what Meghan said about America's next potential commander in chief.
What Meghan Markle Said About Kamala Harris
In August 2020, three months before Americans headed to the polls to vote in the presidential election between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump, Meghan released a Q&A interview with Gloria Steinem through the Makers women's advocacy network.
During their conversation, Steinem highlighted the significance of having the first non-white female vice-presidential candidate on the ballot: Kamala Harris.
"The heart of the Democratic Party has been Black women," Steinem said. "And now there is a potential vice president who is Black, and that's exciting,"
Meghan responded, saying she was "excited" by Harris' inclusion on the ticket.
"I'm so excited to see that kind of representation," she said. "You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity.
"As many of us believe, you can only be what you can see. And in the absence of that, how can you aspire to something greater than what you see in your own world?"
What Kamala Harris Said About Meghan Markle
Not only has Meghan Markle spoken publicly about Kamala Harris, but the politician also made statements about the duchess prior to taking on the office of vice president.
In 2019, when Meghan gave an emotional interview during a royal tour of South Africa while still a working member of the monarchy, Harris sent her a supportive message via social media.
During her interview, Meghan publicly discussed the impact the tabloid press had been having on her mental health for the first time.
"Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I'm OK," Meghan famously told interviewer Tom Bradby. "But it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes."
Harris reposted this clip of the interview, writing on X (formerly Twitter): "This is incredibly important. We must remember that it's a sign of strength to show emotion."
"Meghan, we are with you," she added.
Harris again sent a social-media message to the duchess in June 2020, responding to a speech the royal had recorded for the graduating class of her old high school in Los Angeles.
In it, Meghan discussed the very recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the public reaction and movement they had inspired. She said she was nervous to comment on the topic but that she realized "the only wrong thing to say, is to say nothing."
Harris reposted the speech, thanking Meghan for speaking out.
"'The only wrong thing to say is to say nothing.' Thank you, Meghan, for this powerful statement," she wrote.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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