There are a lot of bad rich people in the news right now. Traditional diplomacy has devolved into livestreamed spats, World War Three feels uncomfortably close, and the Doomsday Clock has never ticked closer to midnight. There are some truly despicable men using their wealth and power to push their own selfish agendas.
But while the media spent days waiting for Ukraine to capitulate to Donald Trump after he pulled military aid, some of the most prominent columnists and cultural critics were distracted by something far more scandalous: a celebrity cooking show.
The Duchess of Sussex’s latest Netflix venture, With Love, Meghan, has been gleefully dissected and ridiculed. Her clothes are too pristine for pasta sauce. She is a modern-day Marie Antoinette, playing at beekeeping from the safety of her Montecito mansion. She doesn’t use the correct pot to make jam.
Let’s be honest—hell would have frozen over before Meghan’s new show was given a fair chance by her critics. She has become an easy target for whatever grievances people want to project onto her. But for those of us desperately seeking temporary relief from the apocalyptic news cycle, might I suggest embracing the simple joy of watching a beautiful woman teach us how to make canapés designed to look like bugs and flowers?
A break from the madness
When Trump was inaugurated at the start of the year, several friends and family members told me they were going on a personal news blackout. I envied them. Unfortunately, as someone who works in a newsroom (and, frankly, as someone who likes to see fascism coming), I don’t have that luxury.
That said, even the most politically engaged need downtime. And for me, With Love, Meghan fits the bill perfectly. I unearthed an unfinished jumper I started knitting during one of the pandemic lockdowns, spent a happy few hours untangling my yarn ball, and watched as Meghan carefully arranged crudités and glazed a cake with honey in that distinctly Californian way.
Yes, the show is very Goop-adjacent. Yes, her honey and ginger tea is an “elixir,” and she wouldn’t dream of adding cream to her “Single Skillet Spaghetti.” And yes, those cakes were clearly baked by a woman who prefers unsalted almonds to, well, anything fun. But as background viewing, it was soothing.
The art of hosting
I realise I am exactly the target audience. I follow an endless stream of women on TikTok who teach me how to host themed dinner parties and maintain a well-stocked present drawer. I genuinely enjoy hosting. If a guest left my home feeling even mildly peckish, thirsty, or uncomfortable, I would feel I had dishonoured my foremothers.
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But here’s the thing—this isn’t just frivolity. Kin-keeping—the practice of maintaining social and familial connections through acts of care and hospitality—is a crucial part of human relationships.
And yet, when Meghan Markle talks about the art of hosting (or “hostessing,” as she calls it), it is dismissed as shallow, out-of-touch, or worse, pointless. The backlash reeks of misogyny. After all, hospitality is a skill that cultures around the world have historically prized. Dismissing it as a silly, feminine hobby overlooks its importance—both in personal relationships and on the global stage.
Lessons in diplomacy
Right now, the world is full of leaders who could benefit from learning how to be good hosts.
Diplomacy is, at its core, about making people feel heard and valued. The ability to bring people to the table—whether for negotiations or just dinner—is a skill many so-called “strongmen” on the world stage seem to lack.
Bullying tactics, browbeating, and public humiliation might bring short-term victories—whether in politics, business, or even petty disputes over whose bins belong in the driveway. But if you want people to keep showing up—be it at your next dinner party or the negotiating table—you need to make them feel welcome.
Meghan Markle’s critics can scoff all they like, but there is power in grace, warmth, and hospitality. And in an era where so many men in power are more interested in dominance than diplomacy, it’s a lesson worth learning.
