Thanksgiving has always been a celebration of gratitude, togetherness, and occasionally, a touch of drama.
But rarely does it take on a narrative quite like this. In what seems like a storyline lifted directly from a Hallmark movie, Meghan Markle reportedly shared an idyllic tale of her Thanksgiving with Prince Harry, their two young children, and none other than Gloria Steinem—the feminist icon and activist. Yes, according to Meghan, their holiday table featured none other than the legendary Steinem.
In a conversation with Marie Claire, Meghan painted a glowing picture of their family tradition: a welcoming Thanksgiving meal designed to include friends who may not have families of their own to celebrate with. She described it as "magical." However, eyebrows raised and whispers followed when she revealed this year’s guest list, which included Steinem, a woman who hardly seems to lack for companionship or invitations. Meghan’s description of the day included the usual holiday tropes: a hearty meal, lively games, and, apparently, someone strumming a guitar. The scene felt less like Thanksgiving and more like the opening of a Netflix rom-com.
Let’s take a moment to dissect this. Who exactly is playing this mysterious guitar? Is it Prince Harry, Meghan herself, or perhaps their toddler Archie showing off prodigious musical talent? The image conjured by Meghan’s words feels less like real life and more like the imagination of someone who just binge-watched a string of feel-good holiday movies.
And then there’s the notion of “making room at the table” for friends without families. While commendable in theory, the inclusion of Gloria Steinem in this narrative raises questions. This is the same Gloria Steinem who recently celebrated a birthday surrounded by loved ones, including her stepson, Christian Bale—yes, the Batman. It’s hard to imagine her sitting alone with a frozen turkey dinner, waiting for Meghan’s invitation. One can almost hear Steinem’s polite chuckle at being cast as a charity case in Meghan’s holiday story.
It’s not just the guest list that feels contrived—it’s the entire atmosphere Meghan describes. Every holiday is “a new adventure,” she gushed. But is it? Or is each one another carefully orchestrated public relations moment for a couple who seem to live in a bubble of NDAs, paranoia, and highly curated photo opportunities? The idea of a casual, heartwarming Thanksgiving dinner feels about as believable as Prince Harry suddenly becoming a die-hard American football fan. Oddly enough, Meghan neglected to mention football—a Thanksgiving staple for millions of American families—perhaps because the image of Harry trying to grasp the rules wouldn’t quite fit the romantic narrative she’s spinning.
The irony doesn’t stop there. Meghan, who has been accused of being an expert in estrangement, spoke glowingly about creating a “family-like atmosphere.” This comes despite her own fractured relationship with her father and Harry’s ongoing tensions with his family. If there was a guitar playing during their Thanksgiving, perhaps it was accompanied by the faint notes of cognitive dissonance.
The internet, as expected, had its say. Critics quickly pointed out that Meghan’s Thanksgiving tale seemed more like a rom-com fantasy than reality. The harmonious gathering, the impromptu musical session, and the sprinkle of altruism all felt like a script. Some even noted the irony of using Steinem, a lifelong advocate for challenging traditional family norms, as a symbol of Meghan’s curated vision of a perfect nuclear family Thanksgiving.
Ultimately, whether Gloria Steinem truly joined the Sussexes for Thanksgiving or whether this was simply another imaginative chapter in Meghan’s expanding scrapbook of tales, one thing remains clear: Meghan knows how to keep herself in the headlines. As the turkey cools and the guitar gathers dust, one can’t help but wonder if the true Thanksgiving tradition here isn’t gratitude—but embellishment.
