Meghan Markle Is Proof That Setting Boundaries Will Improve Your Life (and Lewk)

Alongside Love Is Blind’s Lauren and Cameron, it’s safe to say that the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are having a moment right now. Not only are the royals our favourite couple right now (and let’s be honest, the decade), they’re also seriously thriving—and no one more so than the Duchess of Sussex herself.

After nearly a month out of the public eye, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were pictured on March 5 entering The Endeavour Fund Awards in London, kicking off a month of final events before they officially step back as senior members of the royal family on March 31. And they look like literal angels. Also, are they both Benjamin Button-ing or what?

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From Meghan’s gorgeous blue Victoria Beckham dress to that bold lip and more importantly the massive smile on her face, the former actor is *legit* glowing. And we shouldn’t be surprised, because she *should* be glowing.

ICYMI, the past few years have been pretty hard on the new royal. After a whirlwind romance with Prince Harry, Meghan married into the royal family and was an immediate target for tabloids, critics and racists alike. Tabloids painted her as hungry for fame and determined to turning Prince Harry against his family, usually injecting their criticism with some seriously racist statements about her. The reason for the backlash against Meghan—and the double standard when it comes to how she and her sister-in-law Kate Middledton are treated—has been pretty obvious; it’s often steeped in racism, that many suspect relates to a mixed race woman being part of the royal family. And honestly, it seems like because of this, she can’t do anything right.

And before anyone refutes this, let’s ask ourselves why the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton, hasn’t been subjected to the same kind of  scrutiny and harassment as her sister-in-law? The disparity was never *more* visible than when comparing their respective pregnancies. While Kate was applauded for cradling her stomach—and seen as nurturing—Meghan was accused of being a show-off and obsessed with her bump (which…OK?). And let’s not even get started on *that* racist brooch debacle or the never-ending saga that is the Markle side of her family.

Needless to say, it’s been tough. And while some may have just smiled through it, Meghan couldn’t (and shouldn’t have had to). In a clip from the October 20, 2019 ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, Meghan and Harry opened up to journalist Tom Bradby about the toll the scrutiny scrutiny had on them. Meghan’s response was especially heartbreaking. “Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging,” Markle said of the backlash while holding back tears. She then thanked the journalist for asking if she was OK, adding: “because not many people have asked if I’m OK.”

She looked absolutely miserable. But it was instances like these that made the couple’s January 2020 announcement that they were stepping back as  senior members of the royal family—outlining what they saw as a feasible way for them to move forward productively—that much more understandable and not at all surprising. It couldn’t have been an easy decision for the couple; but it was obviously something they felt was best for them—and more specifically, for the duchess.

Which isn’t to say that it was all rainbows and unicorns afterwards. As with any hard decision there was backlash and life got harder before it got easier; their decision even earned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a terse public statement from the Queen). After making their announcement, Meghan and Harry were subject to arguably even more criticism than before with known bully Piers Morgan blaming Markle for the so-called #Megxit. “People say I’m too critical of Meghan Markle—but she ditched her family, ditched her Dad, ditched most of her old friends, split Harry from William & has now split him from the Royal Family. I rest my case,” Morgan tweeted on January 8.

But Meghan stuck to her guns. She took the last month to adjust to this new arrangement on her terms, spending time out of the spotlight with her family and even going so far as to *not* come back to the U.K. with her hubby in the immediate aftermath of their announcement. She was doing what was best for her—and we absolutely love that.

Ultimately, as proven by our favourite royal (besides Kate in her new bangs, obvi), while setting boundaries may be difficult, you will come out on top. Meghan’s beautiful comeback is exactly the affirmation that anyone who’s trying to set boundaries needs. Because you can’t lose when you prioritize yourself and your mental health. Meghan’s now able to focus on her philanthropy, live somewhere where it doesn’t rain 106 days of the year (although TBQH, Vancouver Island is also *pretty* rainy) and focus on her little fam.

Plus, she has a hubby who looks at her like she’s the whole darn buffet table at your local Mandarin restaurant.

Oh, and Harry and Megs managed to get out of the royal family before the real scandal around Prince Andrew broke. That’s an “I don’t have to deal with this massive BS anymore” glow on Megs if I’ve ever seen one.

And we should all be taking note.