Meghan Markle speaks at Oprah Winfrey's book club in California on the eve of the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's death... with 'hometown hero' Harry's memoir Spare proudly on display

Meghan Markle spoke at her close friend Oprah Winfreys book club session last night in California where her husbands controversial memoir Spare was proudly on display. 

The Duchess, 43, was one of several light-filled speakers who addressed the crowd at Goodmothers bookstore and gathering space in Summerland, located just miles from where she lives in Montecito.

The star-studded event was attended by actor Marco Leone, astrology and psychology expert Dr Jennifer Freed, and author, teacher and psychic medium Laura Lynne Jackson, all of whom highlighted Meghan on their Instagram stories. 

Godmothers, co-owned by literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, just celebrated its grand opening weekend by hosting a slew of events and conversations with celebrities and authors.

The bookstore appears to be promoting several popular celebrity books including Meghans childrens book The Bench and Prince Harrys memoir, which can be found front-and-centre in the shop, on its hometown heroes shelf. 

Harry, the son of King Charles, spent his entire life in Britain before relocating to the US with Meghan in 2020.

Meghan Markle spoke at her close friend Oprah Winfreys book club session last night at Goodmothers bookstore and gathering space in Summerland, California

Prince Harrys controversial memoir Spare was proudly on display during last nights event

Meghan appeared at the event last night, on the eve of the second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth IIs death. 

While it is unclear what the Duchess said in her address, the crowd appeared to be eating it up with Jackson branding Meghan as one of the evenings light-filled speakers.

Godmothers, which is concluding its grand opening weekend with events today, is seemingly proud of Meghan and Harry, whom the owner has hailed as a hometown hero.

Walsh, in a video promoting the store, has put Harrys memoir on display with a collection of books penned by local writers. 

Meghans book The Bench, a picture book for children published in 2021, is also on the shelf. 

This is our local authors shelf when you first walk in, she said of the display. I want it to be when you first walk in so that authors who are local to the area know that this is their hometown bookstore.

And we celebrate our hometown authors as if they were our hometown heroes, because to us they are.

Meghan watches on as her close friend Oprah Winfrey seemingly promotes a book during her book club session at Godmothers yesterday

Meghan is met with an embrace as she takes the stage at the event

Meghans book The Bench, a picture book for children published in 2021, is also on the stores hometown heroes shelf

It is not surprising that Meghan, who lives in the same city as Winfrey, was invited to the talk show hosts book club session yesterday. 

Winfrey has been close friends with Meghan for several years now and was a guest at the royal wedding in May 2018. Their relationship appears to have grown even stronger over the years after the Sussexes moved into a $14million Montecito mansion, which is located just a stones throw from Oprahs own sprawling home.

Then, in March 2021, she sat down with the couple for a bombshell 85-miniute tell-all interview that aired on primetime TV, in which the couple aired a series of very damaging allegations about the royal family.

She even publicly weighed in on whether she thought the should attend King Charles Coronation in May 2023.

I think they should do what they feel is best for them and their family. Thats what I think, she said on the CBS Mornings show ahead of the event, adding: They havent asked me my opinion.  

Harry ultimately attended the Coronation without Meghan and left immediately after the ceremony to return to California.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021

Oprah Winfrey was a guest at the 2018 wedding of Meghan and Prince Harry. She is pictured arriving at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle before the nuptials 

In January 2020, the Sussexes fled the Royal Family and the UK to begin their new life in America, ostensibly to be far from press intrusion and media attention. But it didnt take them long to return to the public eye.

Chatting in the sun-kissed garden of a Californian mansion - which turned out to  owned by a friend of Oprah - then-heavily-pregnant Meghan described her time in the Royal Family as a nightmare that shed barely survived.

She claimed she had to turn over her passport, drivers licence, keys and other personal belongings when she moved into the cramped confines of Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

I left the house twice in four months, she told Oprah on March 7, 2021, adding, I couldnt feel lonelier.

She compared herself to Ariel, the main character in the Disney animated film The Little Mermaid, which sees a mermaid princess exchange her voice for legs in order to marry her prince.

She falls in love with a prince and because of that she loses her voice, Meghan said, alleging she had been silenced by the family.

She further claimed the situation had deteriorated to the point that shed even contemplated suicide. 

Meghan alleged that Palace staff didnt offer her help when she went to them begging for support even though she was then six months pregnant with Archie.

A tearful Meghan tells her truth to Oprah Winfrey in the bombshell March 2021 interview that was watched by 50 million people 

Chatting in the sun-kissed garden of a Californian mansion - which turned out to owned by a friend of Oprah - Meghan described her time in the Royal Family as a nightmare that shed barely survived 

The other bombshell was the Sussexes suggestion that the Royal Family was collectively racist, pointing the finger at one - unnamed - member who, they alleged, had speculated about the colour of their son Archies skin when Meghan was pregnant in a racist way.

Harry, who looked tense during the interview, confirmed Meghans accusation, saying he was the one whod heard these comments and had told his wife.

Harry and Meghan said they would not reveal who made the statement, with Meghan saying, I think that would be very damaging to them [to reveal].

Yet later on - in particular when Harry published his memoir, Spare - this particular controversy appeared to have been forgotten.

The Duke and Duchess also raised eyebrows by claiming to have been officially married by the Archbishop of Canterbury three days before their actual wedding day in May 2018.

Whatever did take place before the official ceremony at St Georges Chapel, the Archbishop of Canterbury denied it was a wedding.

Meghan used the interview to quash reports that she had made her sister-in-law Catherine, the then-Duchess of Cambridge, cry in the run-up to her wedding over Princess Charlottes bridesmaids outfit.

In fact, said the Duchess of Sussex, the opposite was true, the Duchess of Cambridge was the one who made her cry.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at San Basilio de Palenque during The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Colombia Visit on August 17, 2024 in Cartagena, Colombia

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Escuela Tambores de Cabildo during The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Colombia Visit on August 17, 2024 in Cartagena, Colombia

Harry didnt pull his punches where the Royal Family was concerned either.

He accused members of The Firm of jealousy towards Meghan for the effortless manner in which Meghan had captivated the public during their tour of the Commonwealth and how good she was at the job.

And for the first time he made it clear that he and Prince William were at odds saying that, he loved him to bits, but that, were on different paths.

He also described the then Prince Charles and William as trapped. They dont get to leave and I have compassion for that, he said.

What the members of the Royal Family feel about the interview isnt known as most of them have remained silent in response, but Prince Williams own response to a reporter was simply the passing comment: We are very much not a racist family.

The Queen, who has since passed away, only released a statement hinting that the Sussexes account might not be the same as hers.

The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan, Queen Elizabeth II said at the time.

The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.