MEGHAN AND OPRAH: A MUTUAL WOOING
It’s common knowledge that Meghan had met Oprah only once before inviting her to her 2018 wedding. Oprah was one of 200 selected guests who attended the reception dinner while others, including close friends of Harry, didn’t crack the nod. Oprah’s inclusion paved the way for a fast-moving friendship. “It if had been a courtship, it’s been a mutual one, sometimes played out on social media,” says Tim Lewis of Britain’s The Guardian newspaper. When Archie was born, the talk-show queen sent “welcome to the world” gifts. In December 2020, Meghan sent Oprah a hamper of her Clevr Blends vegan super-lattes and O rejoiced, telling her 19,3 million Instagram followers it was her “new drink of choice for the morning and night”. When Harry and
Meghan bought their mansion in Montecito, it wasn’t far from Oprah’s Promised Land ranch.
Harry also partnered with Oprah for an Apple TV+ series on mental health.
“Maybe Oprah and Meghan just got on really, really well,” says Jonny Dymond, the BBC’s royal correspondent. “But this does appear to have been a friendship that thrived in a fairly short space of time. The interview was to their mutual benefit: Oprah is a great platform for Meghan, and Meghan is a fantastic get for Oprah.”
The two women have a lot in common: both are successful black women, both have strong personalities and driving ambition, both have charm and charisma, and both know how to play to the media.
“Meghan isn’t stupid,” a friend says. “Hitching your train to Oprah can come with a serious pay day.”
Oprah’s influence is legendary: an endorsement from her can turn little-known writers into bestselling authors and a diet she recommends can become a global craze.
“If Oprah decides to become Meghan’s mentor, well, she could very well be made for life,” the friend says.