Meghan Markle revealed that she frequently serves her children frozen chicken nuggets for dinner, despite recently discussing her dedication to being a hands-on parent and sharing about preparing elaborate fruit platters on a television program.
The Duchess, 43, said she ‘often relies on chicken nuggets, veggie burgers and Tater Tots’ to feed Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
In an interview with the New York Times before the debut of her As Ever collection, Meghan mentioned that her freezer is filled with ready-made meals.
It again calls into question Meghan’s claims about both her lifestyle now and what she ate growing up.
In her recent Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, the Duchess revealed her children ‘love eating crudites’ and made fresh fruit platters for them’.
During a conversation with Hollywood writer and actress Mindy Kaling on an episode of With Love, the Duchess opened up about spending a lot of time alone as a child due to her parents’ work commitments, referring to herself as a “latchkey kid” who managed after school until her parents returned.
She tells Mindy: ‘I grew up with a lot of fast food and also a lot of TV tray dinners. It feels like such a different time but that was so normal with the microwaveable kids’ meals.’
The Duchess continued: ‘I grew up with that, watching Jeopardy! and having a lot of fast food.’
The Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix series With Love, Meghan, has raised some questions about Meghan’s upbringing and the stories she tells of her childhood. Pictured with Mindy Kaling
Meghan’s stint on Chopped Junior as a judge (pictured) saw her describe her diet in childhood as ‘farm to table’
However, Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, took issue with his daughter’s portrayal of her childhood and insisted her memory of how she ate as a youngster did not match his own account.
Mr Markle also said he would personally pick Meghan up every day from school – or send a car to fetch her if he was too busy.
And the Duchess’s father, 80, is not the only person to have questioned Meghan’s backstory as told in the series – with viewers suggesting the Duchess has previously spoken very differently about her upbringing.
Meghan’s stint as a judge on US children’s TV competition, Chopped Junior, saw her giving feedback to mini kitchen maestros as they tried to impress with their culinary skills
In one clip, that has begun circulating online after the Duchess’s Netflix show aired, Meghan tells a young cooking prodigy that her meal triggers memories of childhood.
The Duchess says of the dish: ‘This dish reminded me of the kind of food that I grew up eating in California, like that real… farm to table, sort of fresh, really simple ingredients.’ She then praised the girl, telling her she’d done a ‘good job’.
Meghan’s historic admission that she ate ‘farm-to-table’ food in California is a stark contrast to the image she projects on her Netflix series, as the child raised on TV dinners and fast food.
In perhaps a reference to the criticism, Meghan told the New York Times: ‘Don’t they know my life hasn’t always been like this?’ before gesturing at the sweeping views and sleeping dogs of Montecito.
Meghan Markle has given her Instagram followers a glimpse into her Montecito mansion in a new video where she makes banana pudding at home with her mother Doria
Elsewhere in the interview, Meghan revealed she started the business because ”I need to work, and I love to work,’ and added she ‘hadn’t been without a job since she was 13’.
Her Instagram, she says, is a ‘way I can connect my home life and my work.’
She also admitted she has ‘a lot to learn,’ while her famously private mother Doria Ragland, 68, defended claims her daughter was out of touch and using things that are too expensive, by saying ‘everyone is coming in hot these days’.
Later today, the former actress will launch As Ever, her lifestyle brand selling jams, honey and tea. The jams will be priced at $12-$15 (£9-£12).
Earlier today, she gave her Instagram followers a glimpse into her Montecito mansion in a new video where she makes banana pudding at home with her mother Doria.
The Duchess revealed she made a ‘Chantilly Lili’ – named after her daughter.
In a clip shared with her 2.6M followers, the former actress whipped up a banana pudding in cocktail glasses before adding cream, mint and raspberries.
‘Whipped up a special dessert with @nytcooking as we celebrate the launch of @aseverofficial today! Goodness is moments away,’ Meghan wrote.
‘In the meantime, enjoy the recipe for our ‘Chantilly Lili’ — a delicious dessert named after our darling daughter. So so so good. As special and sweet as she is’.
The recipe was also shared with the New York Times, who say it is based on a banana pudding recipe of Meghan’s grandmother.
‘In the Southern classic, vanilla pudding is layered with cookies and sliced banana;
‘Meghan’s version adds the sweet-tart sting of strawberries macerated with lemon.
