Meghan Markle Signals Support for UK at Key Moment

Meghan Markle’s newest As Ever product was made in Britain—a rare show of support for the country just as commentators have been debating a rumored visit this summer.

The Duchess of Sussex teased an announcement from her online shop on Tuesday which turned out to be a leather bookmark that sold out in minutes and sported the message, “fell asleep here,” in Meghan’s calligraphy. It sells for $18.

Interestingly, though, they are made by a small U.K. business and shipped to America for onward sale to her U.S. customers. Her store does not currently ship internationally.

Why It Matters

Meghan was hugely popular in Britain as a working royal with an approval rating that politicians would die for, but crashed in the polls after first quitting the U.K. and then criticizing the Monarchy in her Oprah Winfrey interview in March 2021.

The duchess has been back three times since 2020, and the British press is now reporting on a possible new trip with Prince Harry to promote the Invictus Games this summer, depending on a Home Office decision about whether she would be afforded police protection.

If it goes ahead, it will be the first time she has stepped foot in Harry’s home country since September 2022, when Queen Elizabeth II died.

What To Know

Meghan’s As Ever newsletter promoted the bookmark and stated: “Our ‘Fell Asleep Here’ Leather Bookmark was made in collaboration with Sbri, a small UK-based female-owned workshop specializing in handcrafted, made-to-order keepsakes.”

It may be tempting to assume the U.K. origin of her leather bookmark is pure co-incidence and not particularly intended to indicate support. It is also worth noting that the duchess has spoken before of how much attention she pays to clothing choices.

“Times where I know there is a global spotlight,” Meghan told The New York Times in 2024, “and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention that they should be getting. That’s one of the most powerful things that I’m able to do, and that’s simply wearing, like, an earring.”

The fact that the newsletter took the time to note the business is “female owned” does appear to suggest Meghan did want customers to pick up on the story behind the bookmark.

It is certainly not the only time Meghan has supported a British business since quitting the palace, but the timing is intriguing in light of a drive by Harry in the latter half of 2025 to re-enforce his relationship with his country.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Possible U.K. Visit

The Sun was among publications to report Meghan is planning a trip to the U.K. this summer with Prince Harry to promote the Invictus Games, due to take place in Birmingham, England, in 2027.

Such a move would come as a no surprise as Harry does usually stage a “one year to go” PR event in the host nation, and Meghan generally accompanies him, as they did in Germany and Canada in recent years.

In fact, if Meghan did not go that would buck a tradition established in the two previous iterations of Harry’s Olympics style tournament for wounded veterans.

The more eyebrow raising speculation in Britain at the moment is connected to a threat assessment being done on behalf of the Home Office, which Harry hopes will lead to his police protection team being restored while he is in Britain.

Harry and Meghan’s Metropolitan Police bodyguards were stripped from them in 2020 when they quit the palace for a new life in America.

The prince has been arguing ever since that Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are not safe in the U.K. without gold standard police protection.

If the new threat assessment were to lead to the family getting their team re-instated then that could pave the way for them to spend more time in Harry’s homeland.

Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.