What Happened with Meghan Markle & Martha Stewart?

Since stepping back from her royal duties in 2020, Meghan Markle has focused on building a career in the lifestyle industry. The former actress launched her food and home goods brand, As Ever, in 2025 and hosted Netflix’s lifestyle show With Love, Meghan that same year, though it was canceled in January 2026.

Meghan’s ventures into the lifestyle space have drawn plenty of criticism, especially from lifestyle icon Martha Stewart. In July 2025, Stewart commented on Meghan’s budding career, telling Yahoo News Australia, “Meghan, I don’t really know very well, and I hope she knows what she’s talking about. Authenticity, to me, is everything, and to be authentic and knowledgeable about your subject matter is extremely important.”

A year later, on Aug. 5, 2026, People published a cover story featuring Stewart. During the interview, Stewart expressed doubt about Meghan’s transition into the lifestyle realm. “If you’re an actress, it’s hard to then transition to a princess and then from a princess into a homemaking guru on a television show. It doesn’t sort of follow. So go from there,” she said.

In the same article, Stewart also claimed she had recently dined with Meghan and alleged that the Duchess of Sussex was discussing her and Harry’s meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla during their July 2026 visit to the UK. However, a source later disputed Stewart’s account, telling People that Stewart’s recollection of the night was “simply untrue.”

Related: Meghan Reportedly Blocked from Taking Photo with Charles During Secret Meeting as Source Reveals What Really Happened Behind Closed Doors

“I sat next to Meghan at the dinner party, and this account of what happened is simply untrue,” the insider told People. “Meghan didn’t talk about her European vacation other than to say the family had a great time.”

Recently, Hollywood insider Rob Shuter claimed that People’s conflicting reports about Meghan and Stewart have forced both the outlet and Hollywood at large to pick a side.

“People has spent years cultivating trust with both Martha and Meghan,” a source told Naughty But Nice. “The challenge isn’t reporting the facts—it’s doing it in a way that doesn’t look like they’re taking sides. And that’s almost impossible.”

Another insider added, “They’re walking a very fine line. Martha is one of their most beloved cover stars, while Meghan has delivered some of the magazine’s biggest exclusives. They can’t afford to alienate either woman.”

Still, Shuter reported that Stewart’s doubts about Meghan’s credibility reflect what many in Hollywood have been thinking for years. He wrote, “Since Meghan launched her lifestyle brand and Netflix series, one question has come up repeatedly in conversations with television executives and branding experts: Do audiences believe this version of Meghan?”

A veteran TV executive told Naughty But Nice, “Nobody doubts Meghan can be successful. The question is whether viewers see this as who she really is or simply the next chapter she’s trying on.”