Meghan Markle’s ‘longtime friend’ Courtney Adamo has seemingly brushed off their recent ‘awkward exchange’ by paying a gushing tribute to the Duchess of Sussex.
Courtney, who co-founded popular UK parenting blog Babyccino Kids, thanked Meghan, 44, for ‘supporting me’ at the launch of her new book at an event at Godmothers bookstore in California last Thursday.
This was after the Duchess ended up creating a briefly awkward moment when she unexpectedly took hold of Courtney’s microphone so guests could hear her better.
Meghan grabbed her friend’s arm and pushed the microphone closer to Courtney’s mouth, even joking: ‘I could hold it [the microphone] for you’.
After being corrected, Courtney said: ‘This makes me so nervous’, while Meghan giggled, putting her arm around her.
The rest of their discussion revolved around Courtney’s new family-focused interior design book, The Family Home: Inspiring Ideas For A Home Filled With Joy.
Speaking about life in her and Prince Harry’s $29 million Montecito home, Meghan opened up about the royal couple’s parenting techniques, her four-year-old daughter Lilibet’s ‘very strong personality’, and her go-to hosting trick that leaves guests feeling ‘softened’ as soon as they walk in.
Taking to Instagram afterwards, Courtney shared photos from the book signing after – including a group shot with Meghan – as she celebrated the ‘exciting career highlight’.
Meghan Markle’s ‘longtime friend’ Courtney Adamo has seemingly brushed off their recent ‘awkward exchange’ by paying a gushing tribute to the Duchess of Sussex
Her caption read: ‘This was such an exciting career highlight for me to sit up on stage in the beautiful Godmothers Bookstore, in front of the most engaged and smiling audience, to share about our new book and to answer questions about how we can create a home for our family that is filled with joy and intention.
‘Thank you to [Godmothers bookstore] for hosting and to my longtime friend Meghan for joining and supporting me.
‘I hardly slept last night from all the excitement!’
Meghan was invited to participate in the event by Courtney, with the pair having first crossed paths at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois back in 2001.
‘We’ve been friends since college just so you know,’ Meghan eagerly told the crowd in reference to her decades-long friendship with Courtney.
Meghan put together an understated yet elegant outfit for Thursday’s event, with the mother-of-two turning to one of her favourite brands, Californian label Cuyana, for the occasion.
She paired a silky, brown tank top with matching trousers, and accessorised her monochromatic look with a bow-detail black clutch from Aquazzura – another of Meghan’s most-worn brands.
Meghan opted for a slicked-back bun for the event, and kept her makeup minimal.
Meghan (centre-left) was invited to participate in the event by Courtney (centre-right), with the pair having first crossed paths at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois back in 2001
It was at the event that Meghan revealed that she and Courtney met ‘when [they] were 17’ and shared how their upbringings differed.
‘She grew up on a tulip farm. I did not grow up on a tulip farm,’ said Meghan, who referred to ‘growing up in a small duplex’ in Los Angeles soon after.
‘I learned so many things from Courtney,’ she continued.
Speaking about raising her and Prince Harry’s children, Meghan told the crowd that daughter Lilibet responds really well to the ‘rose and thorn’ parenting ritual.
The ‘rose and thorn’ exercise – sometimes referred to as ‘rose, bud, and thorn’ helps young children open up and reflect on their lives by sharing a positive experience (rose), difficult moment (thorn), and something they are looking forward to (bud).
Meghan said the activity can be particularly helpful when they only give ‘yes and no answers’.
‘Our daughter, she’s four and she’s a very strong personality and she’s incredible,’ Meghan said. ‘And now she’s in this moment where I say, “What’s your rose and your thorn?” And she goes, ‘My day was just a blast.’
The Duchess also revealed her tried-and-tested trick for making her guests feel comfortable was to open the door of her home while ‘barefoot’ with an ‘apron on’.
Explaining the rationale for opening the door without shoes on, Meghan said: ‘It demystifies. People walk in and go, “Oh, she’s in this with me.”
‘And what are they drawn to? Your kitchen. They come right in, and suddenly everyone’s a little bit softened.’
On the same day as Meghan’s bookstore appearance, the Duchess teased a major As Ever announcement while asking fans to ‘save the date’ amid rumours she is gearing up for a new product launch.
Taking to Instagram, Megha shared a video of herself, wearing a black dress and white cardigan and strolling casually amongst trees.
Accompanying the clip, which was set to piano music, were the words: ‘Save The Date 10.28.2025… As Ever’, and an excerpt was also posted to her Instagram story.
She is seen reaching up towards a tree before the screen fades to show the As Ever logo, a palm tree with two birds.
It is thought the date could mark a new product announcement or campaign by Meghan, although there is no hint as to what it could be.
