Duchess of Sussex says she prefers balance over perfection in homemaking
Meghan Markle is downplaying claims that she is tied to the “tradwife” movement, saying she had never even heard of the term before.
In a recent appearance on The Circuit podcast with Bloomberg’s Emily Chang, the Duchess of Sussex was asked whether her projects risked glamorising old-fashioned domestic roles. Chang told her, “There’s this take that you’re glorifying homemaking or glorifying tradwives.”
Markle seemed surprised. “Oh really? That feels odd to me. I haven’t heard that,” she said, before joking, “But I am really unapologetic about the fact that, wouldn’t it be lovely to go and churn your own butter?”
Her comments come as critics question whether her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, leans too heavily into nostalgia. Markle was quick to clarify that while she appreciates a polished touch, she has no interest in perfection. “Sure, maybe, I don’t have time for that. And I don’t think you get an extra gold star if you do that,” she said.
She also stressed she has no issue with women who embrace the so-called tradwife identity. “I have absolutely no judgment on tradwives. If that works for them, then they should do it. But for me, I think there is an in-between.”
This isn’t the first time she has addressed the debate. In a March 2025 interview with People, Markle explained that she prefers a hybrid approach. “I like being able to do a hybrid,” she said, admitting that while Chinese takeout is a household staple, she still takes the time to plate it nicely.
Her guiding principle, she added, is simple: small details matter more than perfection. “The series is about doing what you can do, and doing it with love.”
That philosophy runs through her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, which recently launched its second season.
