Meghan Markle recently made headlines for unexpectedly attending a bookstore opening in Montecito, California.
The event, organized by her close associates, including the notable Oprah Winfrey, drew significant attention. Prince Harry and Meghan have often been seen mingling with celebrities, and this appearance was no different—what many called a "master class" in name-dropping at a seemingly highbrow literary event. In the midst of laughter and casual exchanges, Meghan took the opportunity to deliver an impassioned speech about the value of books and their role as safe spaces. However, no Meghan Markle event would be complete without a bit of drama.
Enter Oprah Winfrey—fashionably late and awkwardly joining the scene like an uninvited VIP at a children’s birthday party. Oprah’s discreet arrival was captured in a viral video, with attendees describing the moment as surreal. Despite Oprah’s iconic presence, she seamlessly blended into the crowd, as though her entrance was intentionally downplayed. According to Elizabeth Holmes, an attendee more engrossed in filming Meghan’s speech than noticing Oprah, the media mogul’s arrival was so subtle that she nearly missed it. "She came in so quietly that I didn’t even realize. I was filming and then suddenly, Oprah was right there saying ‘sorry,’" Holmes recounted.
The real question, however, is why Meghan, who has been criticized for lacking a sense of timing and self-awareness, was so eager to capture Oprah’s attention. The answer seems rooted in Meghan’s faltering business ventures. Rumors suggest her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, is struggling, with no concrete products or sales mechanisms in place. Desperate to secure investments, Meghan appeared to be using the bookstore event as a platform for an appeal to Oprah—an approach as transparent as it was awkward.
According to whispers in Hollywood, Meghan’s attempts to draw support from Oprah’s inner circle have been met with little interest. Faced with radio silence, Meghan reportedly gatecrashed the bookstore opening, hoping for some face time with the media titan. It’s likely Oprah was unaware of Meghan’s intentions, given Meghan’s well-documented history of mismanaging funds and depleting Prince Harry’s inheritance on lavish lifestyles, security details, and high fashion.
Meghan’s previous business ventures, including deals with Spotify and Netflix, seem to have relied more on her celebrity connections than on delivering substantial results. This latest bookstore appearance felt like a last-ditch effort to salvage a struggling brand, using Oprah’s fame as a crutch. Meghan’s repeated visits to the bookstore—from initial paparazzi-filled walks to later appearances with friends and family—seemed more about self-promotion than literary celebration.
In the end, far from elevating her image or securing valuable investments, Meghan’s performance at the bookstore only attracted more negative attention. Her desperate attempt to remain relevant in the public eye has backfired spectacularly, leaving her looking more like a star-struck fan than a credible entrepreneur. Meghan Markle’s stunt at the bookstore was less about supporting literature and more about making a last-ditch bid for relevance and investment. Oprah’s indifferent response, coupled with the public’s reaction, only highlights Meghan’s ongoing struggle to keep pace with those who have achieved genuine success through meaningful public service and contributions.
