Meghan Markle's Biggest Regret — And It's About Princess Diana
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex at South by Southwest Conference, Austin, Texas, March 8, 2024. Photo by Fuzheado under CC BY 4.0.
She never met her. But she feels her — everywhere.
In a moment that stunned listeners and touched royal watchers across the globe, Meghan Markle finally shared the one wish she's kept closest to her heart.
And it's all about Princess Diana.
A Dream Left Unfulfilled
Meghan Markle has said many things over the years — about royal life, motherhood, and finding her voice. But in her first-ever podcast interview, she finally revealed the deepest, most emotional desire she's rarely spoken aloud.
"I wish I could have met her," Meghan said quietly, when asked about her late mother-in-law, according to PEOPLE.
The revelation came on "The Jamie Kern Lima Show," where Meghan, now 43, spoke candidly about Princess Diana — a woman she never knew but has felt forever connected to.
Harry Sees the Similarities
For Prince Harry, the connection is crystal clear.
"So much of what Meghan is and how she is — so similar to my mum," Harry has said in multiple interviews over the years, reported by Harper's Bazaar. "She has the same compassion. She has the same empathy. She has the same confidence. She has this warmth about her."
Hearing those words again during the podcast made Meghan emotional.
"It’s beautiful," she said.
It's not just Harry who sees it — many royal watchers have long noted the echoes. Two women from outside the royal bubble. Both strong, independent, deeply empathetic. Both adored — and relentlessly scrutinized.
The Ghost in the Palace
Princess Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997. She was 36. Harry was just 12.
And yet, her legacy has shaped nearly every decision Harry's made since — including who he chose to marry, and how he's chosen to raise his children.
In his memoir "Spare," Harry admitted he first connected with Meghan on July 1, 2016 — his mother's birthday.
"It occurred to me how uncanny, how surreal, how bizarre, that this marathon conversation should have begun on July 1, 2016," he wrote, according to PEOPLE. "My mother's fifty-fifth birthday."
A Visit to Diana's Grave
In 2022, Harry brought Meghan to Althorp — the Spencer family's ancestral home and Diana's final resting place.
It was Meghan's first visit to the grave.
"Meg's first time. At long last, I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mum," Harry wrote in "Spare," as reported by PEOPLE.
He described the visit with aching intimacy: "We hesitated, hugging, and then I went first. I placed flowers on the grave. Meg gave me a moment, and I spoke to my mother in my head, told her I missed her, asked her for guidance and clarity." He continued, "Feeling that Meg might also want a moment, I went around the hedge, scanned the pond. When I came back, Meg was kneeling, eyes shut, palms against the stone."
When he asked what she had prayed for, her answer was simple: "Clarity. And guidance."
The Ring Carries Diana's Memory
Harry's tribute to his mother didn't end there — it began with the ring.
When he proposed to Meghan in 2017, the ring he gave her wasn't just beautiful — it was deeply symbolic.
The two side stones? They belonged to Diana.
"It's beautiful, and he designed it, it's incredible," Meghan said in their engagement interview with the BBC, InStyle reported. "Everything about Harry's thoughtfulness and the inclusion of [Princess Diana's stones] and obviously not being able to meet his mom — it's so important to me to know that she's a part of this with us."
Would Diana Have Liked Meghan?
Harry has no doubts.
In a 2017 BBC interview, he said they would've been "thick as thieves, without question," Harper's Bizarre reported.
That belief has become a cornerstone of his life with Meghan — a kind of invisible blessing from the past.
A Living Legacy
Today, pieces of Diana remain everywhere in their world.
There's a photo of her in their son's room. A Cartier® watch Meghan wears that once belonged to Diana. And an eternity ring Harry gave her on their first anniversary, inscribed with all three of their birthstones: emerald for Meghan, peridot for Harry, and sapphire for Archie.
Diana is not just remembered — she's honored. Daily.
And maybe that's why Meghan's wish stings a little more than most. Because some meetings, even when impossible, still leave an ache.
A Final Thought, Not a Goodbye
What makes Meghan's admission so powerful isn't its drama — it's the simplicity.
"I wish I could have met her."
Five words. But in them? The entire weight of love, legacy, and longing.
References: Meghan Markle Shares Her Deepest Wish About Princess Diana | Duchess Meghan Comments on the Late Princess Diana in a New Interview | All About Meghan Markle's Engagement Ring and Its Connection to Princess Diana
