Praise for estranged Dad, Tom Markle… Big love for ditched BFF Jessica Mulroney… And sharp words about ‘fairy tale weddings’! What Meghan’s hit blog, The Tig, tells us today on the anniversary of its closure…

She’s already a well-respected blogger, having experienced great success with The Tig before meeting – and marrying – her Prince Charming.

So, it might have come as no surprise when, just a few weeks ago, the Duchess of Sussex unveiled a new lifestyle site named American Riviera Orchard.

The new brand is expected to sell a range of tableware, recipe books and jams created by Meghan Markle. Not to mention edible pet treats, make-up and bird seed, all among the products now listed with the American patent office.

On this day, in April 2017, the former actress closed down the Tig – referred to as her ‘passion project’ – ahead of the wedding to Prince Harry the following year.

Meghan Markle showing off her clutch bag while promoting her personal lifestyle blog The Tig
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Meghan Markle showing off her clutch bag while promoting her personal lifestyle blog The Tig

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend an official photo call to announce their engagement at Kensington Palace in November 2017
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend an official photo call to announce their engagement at Kensington Palace in November 2017

For three years, The Tig, which was named after her favourite ‘Super Tuscan’ Tignanello wine, featured Meghan’s writings on travel, wellness, fashion and beauty.

It also shared insights into the Duchess’ personal life and relationships with her now estranged father and her best friend at the time, Jessica Mulroney.

The former actress launched the blog in 2014, while she was working on the legal drama, Suits.

Recalling her first sip of the red wine, she wrote: ‘It was an ah-ha moment at its finest. For me it became a “Tig” moment – a moment of getting it.’

Here, on the anniversary of its closure, we look back at some of her most colourful and insightful posts.

Being ‘kind’ to herself brought true happiness

Meghan declared that she had found true happiness on her 33rd birthday, simply by being ‘kind’ to herself.

The actress was open about her school life, explaining that she hadn’t fitted in.

During her time in high school, Meghan signed up for as extra curricular activities to avoid sitting alone in the canteen.

Writing on her blog, she explained: ‘My high school had cliques: the black girls and white girls, the Filipino and the Latina girls.

‘Being biracial, I fell somewhere in between. So every day during lunch, I busied myself with meetings – French club, student body, whatever one could possibly do between noon and 1pm – I was there.

Meghan Markle attends the ELLE’s Women in Television Celebration at Soho House on January 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California

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Meghan Markle attends the ELLE’s Women in Television Celebration at Soho House on January 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California

‘Not so that I was more involved, but so that I wouldn’t have to eat alone.’

Meghan said that her ’20s were brutal’ and her ‘teens were even worse’ as she agonised over ‘how to fit in’.

While auditioning for roles at the age of 24, a casting director told her to wear ‘less make-up’ and be ‘more Meghan’.

This mantra stuck with the former actress as she strived to be ‘more Meghan’ throughout the rest of her twenties and thirties.

She told her fans that they did not need anyone else to ‘complete’ them because they are ‘enough’ themselves.

At the time of writing the blog post, Meghan was divorced from ex-husband Trevor Engelson and yet to meet Prince Harry.

Warm posts about her father

Meghan shared countless happy memories with her now estranged father, Thomas Markle, on The Tig.

In one Father’s Day tribute, she reminisced about quality time spent together as a young girl.

‘Our club sandwich and fruit smoothie tradition post my tap and ballet class – classes, which by the way, he religiously took me to on Saturday mornings after working 75+ hours a week as a lighting director.’

She also recounted how committed Thomas was to ensuring her school musicals had the best lighting so they felt ‘as grand as a Broadway show’.

Meghan praised her father for the ‘blood, sweat and tears this man invested in my future so that I could grow up to have so much’.

The post concluded by saying: ‘To my dad – my thoughtful, inspiring, hardworking Daddy – Happy Father’s Day. “If I had all the water in the world, I’d give all the water to you…” (You won’t get that quote, but he will. And for Father’s Day, that’s all that matters).’

Sharp words for William and Kate’s fairytale wedding

Meghan claimed to know very little about the Royal Family before meeting Prince Harry, but she was seemingly aware of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

A 2014 blog post, offering a commentary on the royal wedding, made a rather scathing reference to ‘grown women’ who entertain ‘childhood fantasies’ about fairytale princesses.

Meghan reflected on the ‘pomp and circumstance’ of the wedding of ‘Princess Kate’ and spoke about her own childhood dream of becoming ‘She-Ra, Princess of Power’.

‘We’re definitely not talking about Cinderella here,’ she wrote, before mentioning the ‘endless conversation’ about Kate Middleton’s lavish wedding to Prince William in 2011.

Prince William and Kate Middleton stand outside of Westminster Abbey after their royal wedding on April, 29, 2011
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Prince William and Kate Middleton stand outside of Westminster Abbey after their royal wedding on April, 29, 2011

Speaking of her own childhood fantasies, Meghan said: ‘Little girls dream of being princesses. I, for one, was all about She-Ra, Princess of Power.

‘For those of you unfamiliar with the 80s cartoon reference, She-Ra is the twin sister of He-Man and a sword-wielding royal rebel known for her strength.

‘We’re definitely not talking about Cinderella here.

‘Grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy. Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the royal wedding and endless conversation about Princess Kate.’

A birthday wish inspired by her mother

Meghan believes that every birthday acts as ‘your own personal New Year’ where you can make resolutions for the year ahead.

Each year, she makes the same wish, inspired by her mother, Doria.

Meghan and her mother Doria arrive at Cliveden House Hotel the night before Meghan wed Prince Harry
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Meghan and her mother Doria arrive at Cliveden House Hotel the night before Meghan wed Prince Harry

In August 2016, around the same time she met Prince Harry, Meghan wished for ‘a big old happy blank filled with more surprises, more adventure, more opportunities to grow, more days filled with giggles and cheeky jokes, more delicious meals, and more inspiration’.

The modest £36 outfit that transformed Meghan’s life

The Duchess documented how her life changed for the better in January 2015.

Meghan had auditioned for a television show pilot, called A Legal Mind, which was later known as Suits.

However, the experience didn’t go to plan as Meghan told her agent: ‘I kept forgetting my lines, I was distracted, and I blew it. Which sucks because I really wanted this one. I really like Rachel.’

The actress explained: ‘I went home and ate my feelings (likely some iteration of bread and cheese – pizza, quesadilla, it didn’t matter) because I wasn’t in a place to be able to let it go. I wanted it, and I lost my shot at it. Or so I thought.’

A promotional image of Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane in series one of Suits
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A promotional image of Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane in series one of Suits

But to her surprise, the casting directors invited Meghan back to audition in front of the studio and network bosses.

She was advised to be ‘more conservative, think hair pulled back and business attire’, which encouraged her to buy a $45 outfit and have her ‘hair blown out at DryBar because it was close to my house’.

The audition was a great success, despite how ‘nervous’ and ‘hungry’ Meghan said she was at the time.

‘I had no idea that this late August morning of 2011 would change my life,’ she wrote.

‘That I would get the part. That I would live in a little apartment in Manhattan to shoot the pilot. That over a lunch of lentil salad and muhammara on Beverly Drive, I would get a call saying we were picked up. That I would film the series in Canada.’

In the lengthy blog post, she also gushed about her friends and castmates Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty.

‘I didn’t know that the regal looking woman was Gina Torres, who would end up feeding me picadillo and white, burgundy in her home,’ she wrote.

‘Or that Sarah Rafferty would become not just my Suits sister wife, but my sister – the one I hike with, and vent with, and laugh ’til it hurts with.

‘I didn’t know my cast would become my family, and that so many #suitors would welcome us into their homes.’

‘She’s savvy and fashionable and très cool, and also va va va voom pritaaaaay’

While living in Toronto, Meghan developed a close relationship with stylist, Jessica Mulroney.

The pair met on the set of Suits and were reportedly inseparable for many years.

In December 2015, Meghan praised her friend on The Tig, writing: ‘She’s savvy and fashionable and très cool, and also va va va voom pritaaaaay.

‘And here’s the other thing – she also happens to be an incredible stylist, clothing the likes of Canada’s First Lady, Sophie Trudeau.’

The piece went on to list Jessica’s style tips for the festive period.

Jessica Mulroney and Meghan Markle attend the Instagram Dinner held at the MARS Discovery District on May 31, 2016 in Toronto, Canada
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Jessica Mulroney and Meghan Markle attend the Instagram Dinner held at the MARS Discovery District on May 31, 2016 in Toronto, Canada

In the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, the Suits star appeared to video call Jessica on the night that Harry proposed.

She could be seen saying: ‘Oh my God, Jess, it’s happening. He told me not to peek.’

The women remained close over the following years and Jessica was included in Meghan’s bridal party, while her three children served as a flower girl and page boys.

The stylist was given a starring role as she entered the chapel alongside the Princess of Wales.

On the day of the royal wedding, Jessica shared several snaps, captioned: ‘Proud friend. Proud mom.’ However, these have since been removed.

The friendship appeared to deteriorate in 2020, after the stylist was criticised by lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter for comments she made regarding ‘white privilege’, during a conversation about the Black Lives Matters movement.

Following the claims, Jessica issued three public apologies but was dropped by a number of television networks, including Good Morning America, where she worked as a fashion contributor.

Her ‘unladylike’ habits and New Year’s resolutions

On January 1, 2016, shortly before meeting Prince Harry, Meghan shared her New Year’s resolutions with followers.

They included running a marathon, re-learning French, to stop swearing and to stop biting her nails.

‘These make my New Year’s resolution list nearly (AKA actually every) single year. The marathon hasn’t happened. The swearing comes in lulls triggered by being overworked or feeling mighty cheeky after a couple drinks,’ she wrote.

Writing to fans on The Tig in January 2016, the future Duchess disclosed her goals for the year
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Writing to fans on The Tig in January 2016, the future Duchess disclosed her goals for the year

Meghan’s favourite red wine, Tignanello, inspired the name of her first lifestyle blog The Tig
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Meghan’s favourite red wine, Tignanello, inspired the name of her first lifestyle blog The Tig

However, the Duchess decided not to be so hard on herself if she failed to complete these goals.

She added: ‘This year I resolve to not have a resolution. If I can’t run a marathon, that’s okay. (I’m getting older – my knees are bothering me.) If it takes me a couple more years to lock down that French tutor and nail the language j’adore oh so much, that’s cool too.

‘My nails will be fine, and if I toss out a four letter word once in a blue moon, well frankly I think it adds character.

‘And when it comes to the biting of the nails – well, it still happens with a turbulent flight or a stressful day. It’s unladylike. But then again, so is the swearing. Dammit.’

Meghan’s aim for the year ahead was to ‘approach life playfully’ and ‘leave room for magic’, as advised by her Suit’s co-star Gina Torres.

Meghan’s ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ hiatus

In one of her final posts on The Tig, Meghan shared how she had spent the month of August living like the main character in Elizabeth Gilbert’s novel, Eat, Pray, Love.

The Duchess had one mission for her four-week hiatus from filming Suits: ‘Eat everything, pray (meditate) often, and simply love her (my) life, every ounce of it’.

She indulged in extravagant getaways, accompanied by ‘trusted friends who met her (me) along the way for my various adventures’ and helped her ‘celebrate’ her life.

Meghan’s final post on social media thanked her followers for their support
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Meghan’s final post on social media thanked her followers for their support

However, Meghan clarified that she was not born into such luxuries.

‘It wasn’t long ago (cough – about ten years ago – cough) that I only had $40 in my bank account, that I could barely book an audition, and that my circle of friends was even smaller,’ she wrote.

‘But even then, without all the pomp and circumstance, I made time to celebrate my life. Maybe it was pizza and a bottle of two buck chuck from Trader Joe’s with a couple girlfriends, tucked in for the night sitting on my living room floor.

‘Or maybe it was a dance party in my tiny apartment or a sobbing session to purge all of those feelings with my nearest and dearest.’