Meghan Markle continues to open up about being under the royal spotlight. Even though she recently revealed her struggles in coping with the intense media scrutiny she has received since becoming a new mom and royal, Meghan says she is not seeking the public’s affection.

In a rare one-on-one interview with The Telegraph’s Bryony Gordon, who was invited by Meghan to join her at the opening celebration of the second location of Luminary Bakery, a sustainable grassroots organization empowering disadvantaged women, The Duchess of Sussex shared that she doesn’t want people to “love” her – but to “hear” her.

She also told Gordon how she wants to do away with formalities and protocol. “One of the things I have realized since being here [in the UK] is that people have an expectation when I’m coming somewhere, so I’m like, let’s just be really relaxed, keep everyone nice and chilled, because at the end of the day we’re all just women,” Meghan said.

According to Gordon’s observations throughout the visit, Meghan did everything she could to make the women at the bakery – many of whom have overcome struggles – feel relaxed and comfortable. He wrote about how the duchess offered tissues and a shoulder to cry on when necessary and gestures that Gordon described as not being “too Hollywood” but rather “too human.”

It was only two weeks prior to this interview that royal fans saw a very vulnerable side of Meghan in an ITV documentary highlighting she and Prince Harry’s official visit to Africa. When asked by interviewer Tom Bradby if she was doing OK, Meghan’s eyes welled up. She also spoke about being warned that the British tabloids would “destroy” her life.

Both the duke and duchess are certainly fighting back to make sure that doesn’t happen. In October, The Duke of Sussex released a powerful personally-written statement slamming the British media’s treatment of Meghan and announcing her lawsuit against The Sun for publishing what was supposed to be a private letter to her father.

“If I have learnt anything about Meghan in the time I have known her, it is that she is a doer, not a wallower,” said Gordon. “She lives in the solution, not the problem.”

Ultimately, it seems as though Meghan sees the solution in people connecting with one another on a real, human level.

“I find that when you strip all the layers away, as people, and especially as women, we can find deep connection with each other, and a shared understanding,” Meghan said. “Our lives may be different, our backgrounds, our experiences, all varied, but I find that in these moments of connection it becomes abundantly clear that our hopes, our fears, our insecurities, the things that make us tick…well, those are very much the same. And there’s comfort in that.”

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Earlier this week The Duchess of Sussex visited the women of @LuminaryBakery as they celebrated the opening of their new location. It was a special moment to acknowledge the spirit of Luminary and their remarkable business model that opens its arms to women from vulnerable circumstances (be it abuse, poverty, trafficking, marginalisation) and equips them with the job skills and confidence to succeed. Having sat down with @luminarybakery at their flagship location earlier this year and from that inspiring visit choosing to feature them as #ForcesForChange in the September issue of @britishvogue, Her Royal Highness was proud to be invited to attend the launch of their second bakery. This addition will enable the organisation to provide services, support and mentoring for four times the number of women. Luminary Bakery – a sustainable grassroots organisation in the heart of London – is a beautiful example of community and uplifting those during hardship for the greater good. If you find yourself in the area, please visit and support the women of @LuminaryBakery to enjoy their delicious baked goods and to see the impactful work they’re doing. Video © SussexRoyal

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