Meghan Markle Opens Up About Self-Doubt And Late-Night Worries While Building Her Brand

Meghan Markle may be a duchess, but when it comes to launching a business, she’s just like any other entrepreneur — full of passion, hope, and yes, moments of deep self-doubt. On the May 6 episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, Meghan opened up about what it really felt like to launch her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. 

She admitted that despite the spotlight and a powerful platform, there were moments she wasn’t sure it would work out.

“I had a moment last week,” she said. “I made a phone call, I said, ‘Is this gonna work? Like, is this actually gonna work?’ But I had that self-doubt.”

Talking with Hannah Mendoza, the founder of Clevr Blends — a brand Meghan has invested in — she shared just how intense it’s been to start from scratch while constantly being watched by the world.

“Whatever I put out will get so much attention,” Meghan said. “I go, yeah. And there’s a flip side to that coin, which we know. It’s a microscope that a lot of people don’t have to experience.”

And when you’re under that microscope, confidence can wobble. Meghan said she tries not to let her doubts affect her team, especially those looking up to her. “You can’t bring self-doubt to your team that’s junior to you. They have to believe in what you’re creating and the vision and how you hold the line. But you still have to be able to have someone you can go to to be human and say, ‘I don’t know. Can you just tell me that this makes sense?’” she stated.

Luckily, she has that someone. Meghan recalled calling her partner in a moment of panic, only to be met with reassurance. “He said, ‘Are you joking? We’re so energized, this is amazing!’”

Since stepping back from royal duties with Prince Harry and moving to the U.S., Meghan has been working on carving a new path — this time as a businesswoman and creative. With her two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, now ages 6 and 3, the Duchess is navigating family, fame, and entrepreneurship all at once.

She said the support of her friends has made all the difference. “The safety of stream of consciousness with someone who understands it … That is part of that sisterhood and that understanding of, ‘Okay, every day is not going to be the same. Some days are going to be harder to show up as your best and shiniest self,’” she shared.

The launch of As ever, her lifestyle brand, proved to be a game-changer. Every item sold out in just 45 minutes after its debut on April 2. Meghan said that moment was emotional and validating.

“Netflix coming on as my business partner is huge,” she said, adding, “Just having a global powerhouse that believed in me, and the site selling out in the first 45 minutes of launch – everything, every single piece that we had been working on.”