Meghan Markle is said to be at peace quietly creating a business empire in California, but she has a few regrets following her royal exit.
"Meghan does regret certain statements that she made," Kinsey Schofield, host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast. "They weren’t received in the way that she had expected and several of her comments have backfired."
"She and Prince Harry deeply regret the royal racist controversy," Schofield claimed. "Meghan wanted the takeaway from their Oprah interview in 2021 to be about her mental health. And I think Meghan regretted sitting down with The Cut in 2022 because she provided endless commentary for her critics."
The former American actress has her eyes set on the future. The mother of two recently told the New York Times that she’s invested in Cesta Collective, a female-founded sustainably sourced handbag brand.
As an investor, the outlet reported that the 42-year-old has between five and 10 brands in her portfolio. She also has her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in the works.
"Investing in them has helped me line up for this chapter where I’m investing in myself," she said.
Few people have been allowed to enter Meghan’s world as she thinks about expanding her brand beyond the royal family, Schofield told Fox News Digital.
"I would describe Meghan’s personal life in California as isolated but structured," she said. "The qualifications to be her friend are no secret… she typically gravitates towards people that can offer her something, contribute to her personal goals. She also requires trust and privacy. Her friends group is small. She is friendly with Montecito locals as you never know someone’s connection or status. Everyone in Montecito has accomplished something significant to be in a position to call it home."
"It is important to Meghan that it appears she has moved on, and the drama is beneath her," Schofield continued. "But that is not the reality. There is still a resentment that fuels a lot of the work she has done over the last three and a half years."
Harry has had a strained relationship with his family and has seen his father infrequently since he and his wife quit royal duties in 2020. At the time, the couple said the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British press were what had prompted them to step back as senior royals.
Us Weekly reported in their latest cover story that Meghan has wrapped up filming a Netflix series, which will focus on cooking. While Netflix reps have stayed mum on the subject, sources claimed that the series will coincide with her lifestyle brand.
The couple has also been focusing on philanthropic projects, with Harry already planning a trip to New York City in September to raise awareness of some of their causes.
"Meghan has transitioned from actress to royal to entrepreneur," an insider told the outlet. "She’s worn many hats, but she believes age and experience have prepared her for a bigger purpose in life. She’s very happy with the role she’s carved out."
Schofield said she doesn’t expect Meghan to return to the U.K. anytime soon.
"Harry and Meghan returning to the U.K. without meeting with the royals or acknowledging them just reminds the world of their estrangement," she said. "It attracts hostile headlines. I think there is a desire to win back that audience [in the U.K.], but Harry recently said himself that he doesn’t feel safe enough bringing his wife back to his home country."
"If American Riviera Orchard becomes a well-oiled machine and keeps Meghan busy, she will find joy in that work," said Schofield. "Meghan will use her lifestyle brand, Netflix show and Lemonada podcast to try to create a community to drown out her critics. But Meghan must show more commitment and discipline than we’ve seen from her… if she wants that to work."
Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," said that Meghan "would be perfectly happy never setting foot in the U.K. again."