Meghan Markle Reflects on Gloria Steinem’s Final Weeks and Their Private Friendship

2 min read

THE RUNDOWN

• Meghan Markle posted a tribute to Gloria Steinem following news this morning of the activist’s death.
• The Duchess of Sussex wrote about their private relationship and how her mentor counseled her during hard times and loved her children, Archie and Lilibet.
• She also shared how Steinem “knew exactly how loved and admired she was” during her final weeks.

Shortly after Gloria Steinem’s foundation announced that the longtime feminist activist passed away yesterday, Meghan Markle posted a candid tribute to her friend and mentor. She reflected on both their public and private relationship, writing that behind closed doors, Steinem “was even better than you would imagine—spending Thanksgiving with our family, introducing me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship), loving our children, [Archie and Lilibet], with her whole heart, counseling me during hard times, and giving extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivaled cheekiness and wit.”

Meghan shared photos with Steinem, including a shot of the activist with her son, Archie. “Rest in peace, and rest in pride,” she concluded her post. “Look at what you’ve done for all of us. Thank you.”

Read Meghan’s tribute in full below:

Celebrating the life and legacy of my friend and mentor, Gloria Steinem, and also grateful to know that in these last few weeks and days she knew exactly how loved and admired she was.

You all know her many accolades and the way in which she helped shape the world for women and all people—“we are linked, not ranked” she would tell me, and the bracelet she gave me said exactly that. I still wear it with pride.

Publicly, we did interviews together, called young voters to encourage them to have their voices heard, attended award ceremonies, and brainstormed how to help this beautiful yet complicated world to become more equitable.

But privately, she was even better than you would imagine—spending Thanksgiving with our family, introducing me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship), loving our children with her whole heart, counseling me during hard times, and giving extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivaled cheekiness and wit.

But my very favorite story about GLO is when she was out one day in NY, and a woman approached her in absolute awe and said she wanted to introduce her young daughter to her (though she was embarrassed to say the young girl may not know who she was). Gloria replied: “It doesn’t matter if she knows who I am. What matters is that she knows who SHE is.”

Rest in peace, and rest in pride. Look at what you’ve done for all of us. Thank you

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