Meghan Markle attends the 2025 TIME100 Summit on April 23, 2025 in New York City. Photo: Craig Barritt/Getty 

Meghan Markle’s Heartfelt Confession: ‘I’m the Happiest I’ve Ever Been’ 😊

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, radiated joy during her recent appearance in New York City, sharing a deeply personal “confession” that captivated the audience at the 2025 TIME100 Summit. On April 23, the 43-year-old returned to Manhattan for the second time in two months, accompanied by her husband, Prince Harry, at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The couple’s appearance underscored their ongoing connection with TIME, having previously been featured on the magazine’s Most Influential People list in 2021.

During a candid onstage conversation with Jessica Sibley, TIME’s Chief Executive Officer and host of the Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, Meghan was asked to share her own “confession.” Her response was both heartfelt and uplifting: “A confession for you today that I can very comfortably say is that I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” she said, her voice brimming with gratitude. “To have a partner and a husband who is so supportive and have healthy kids who are so joyful… I never would have imagined at this point I would feel so happy and grateful, and I really do.”

Meghan Markle attends the 2025 TIME100 Summit on April 23, 2025 in New York City. Craig Barritt/Getty 

Balancing Motherhood and Career 👩‍👧‍👦

Meghan, a proud mother to 5-year-old Prince Archie and 3-year-old Princess Lilibet, spoke warmly about her life as a working mom. The family resides in Montecito, California, where they’ve built a nurturing home environment. During the panel, Meghan shared a charming anecdote about Archie, who is on the verge of losing his first tooth. “It’s about to happen this week, and I just hope I’m back home in time for it!” she said with a smile, highlighting the delicate balance of her professional commitments and family life.

Her latest creative venture, the Netflix series With Love, Meghan, was filmed in their Montecito neighborhood but not in their actual home. “On this show, it’s a crew of 80 people,” Meghan explained. “People said, ‘Why didn’t you film the show in your house?’ I said, ‘My kids are coming home for their nap.’ Eighty people in the kitchen isn’t really the childhood memory I would love for them to have.” The series, which premiered on March 4, 2025, soared to the top of the charts and has been greenlit for a second season this fall, as exclusively revealed by PEOPLE.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the TIME100 Summit on April 23, 2025 in New York City. Craig Barritt/Getty

Entrepreneurial Triumphs 🚀

Meghan’s 2025 has been a whirlwind of creative and entrepreneurial success. On April 2, the first collection from her lifestyle brand, As Ever, launched and sold out in a staggering 45 minutes. “After a year of work and development and manufacturing, we had a feeling there would be some buzz surrounding it, but 45 minutes was not something I could have anticipated,” Meghan admitted during the summit. The rapid sell-out underscored the public’s enthusiasm for her brand, which draws inspiration from her love of cooking, entertaining, and creating.

On April 8, Meghan debuted her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, with Lemonada Media. This marks her second podcasting venture, following the award-winning Archetypes on Spotify in 2022. The new series features Meghan interviewing fellow female founders, including close friends, about their entrepreneurial journeys. “What’s been meaningful is being able to talk about my own entrepreneurial journey with other female founders who are either on their own trajectory of growth or have IPO’d, sold, or created high-impact brands,” she told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “There’s something very exciting and energizing about learning something new as we get older.”

Meghan Markle during the TIME100 Summit on April 23, 2025 in New York City. Jemal Countess/Getty 

A Return to The Tig Roots 🌟

Meghan’s recent New York visits have also been a nostalgic homecoming. In early March, she surprised fans of her former lifestyle blog, The Tig, at a special screening of With Love, Meghan in N.Y.C. The Tig, which she ran from 2014 to 2017 while starring on Suits, celebrated her passions for cooking, gardening, and entertaining. She closed the site as her relationship with Prince Harry deepened, but its spirit lives on in her current projects.

On March 6, Meghan appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show, where she and Barrymore bonded over shared experiences, from her love story with Harry to baking cookies with Archie and Lilibet for the studio audience. The conversation also touched on Barrymore’s childhood meeting with Princess Diana, adding a poignant layer to their exchange.

A Mantra for Success 💡

During the TIME100 Summit, Meghan shared a 10-word mantra that guides her in business: “Stay true to yourself, work hard, and embrace every opportunity.” This philosophy has fueled her multifaceted career, from acting to producing, podcasting, and now entrepreneurship. Her ability to connect with others—whether through her Netflix series, podcast, or lifestyle brand—reflects her commitment to authenticity and growth.

As Meghan continues to carve her path, her joy and gratitude shine through. “The entrepreneurial journey, for anyone, is a lot,” she told PEOPLE. “I’m really lucky that so many of my close friends are female founders that I can glean advice from.” With her family by her side and a slew of exciting projects on the horizon, Meghan Markle is undeniably thriving—and happier than ever.