Meghan Markle Makes Quick Exit from Bookstore Event in a Totally Relatable Parenting Mo…see more

Meghan Markle Makes Quick Exit from Bookstore Event in a Totally Relatable Parenting Moment
The Duchess of Sussex was on hand for the two-night grand opening of Godmothers, a new bookstore near her home in Montecito, California

When it comes to priorities, parenthood comes first for Meghan Markle.

That was evident over the weekend when Meghan, 43, had to make a quick exit from the Sept. 7 grand opening of Godmothers, a bookstore near the home in Montecito, California she shares with husband Prince Harry and kids Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

After sharing remarks herself and listening intently to others’ messages from the front row, Meghan “made a dash for the door,” according to Town & Country.

“Wasn’t that incredible?” she said of the evening’s program, before adding apologetically as she left, “I’ve got to make dinner for the kids.”

Both Spare and Meghan’s 2021 children’s book, The Bench, are featured in the store’s “Our Local Authors” display. The book, which she wrote to “depict another side of masculinity — one grounded in connection, emotion and softness,” according to a blog post she wrote at the time — became a New York Times bestseller, as did Spare upon its release in 2023.

For the Sept. 6 event, Meghan wore an ivory Ralph Lauren tank, long trousers and black Aquazzura shoes and greeted people with kisses to both cheeks as “Harry turned handshakes into back-slapping hugs,” Town & Country reported. “The Sussexes then spent an hour deep in several conversations, moving seamlessly from one group to the next.”

The couple’s ease meant a lot to Jackson, who has known the couple since shortly after they stepped back as working royals and relocated from the UK to Montecito in 2020. “Seeing them be able to come here and be in a safe space,” she said. “It’s what we want it to be.”