Meghan Markle will be joined by a guest on her own Archetypes podcast, an award-winning race journalist and descendant of British and French royalty, as she speaks on a star-studded keynote panel for the opening day of the SXSW festival in Texas.
The festival, officially called South by Southwest, celebrates the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture and will see Meghan speak alongside stars Brooke Shields and Katie Couric.
Actress Shields, 58, is a descendant of King Henry II of France, making her the 18th cousin of the deposed Queen Elizabeth II and the second-highest royal celebrity in the United States.
Meanwhile, Meghan will also appear on the panel, titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off Screen, with American sociologist Nancy Wang Yuen, who appeared on Meghan’s Spotify podcast in 2022 .
The pair spoke about the ‘Dragon Lady’ trope and the ‘hypersexualization of Asian women in popular culture and beyond.’ Meghan’s Archetypes podcast about female stereotypes ran for only one series before she ended her lucrative deal with Spotify in 2023.
The Duchess of Sussex has been named to a star-studded panel on the opening day of the SXSW festival in Texas.
Brooke Shields (pictured) is also featured on the main panel taking place on International Women’s Day.
Nancy Wang Yuen (pictured) is an American sociologist who appeared on Meghan Markle’s Archetypes podcast in 2022.
Errin Haines (pictured) is an award-winning race journalist who has written articles about Meghan Markle.
Meghan, described by the festival as a “feminist and advocate for human rights and gender equality and a New York Times bestselling author”, will lead the keynote address which coincides with International Women’s Day.
The session will also be moderated by Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast and award-winning race journalist.
Following Harry and Meghan’s royal engagement, Ms Haines wrote an article for the Independent titled ‘Coming to America was fictitious, but this is going to be real’: Black women react to Meghan Markle’s royal wedding to Prince Harry . ‘
American journalist and presenter Katie Couric will also appear on the panel on March 8.
Meghan’s participation in the festival will be the latest in a series of public appearances that Meghan and Prince Harry have made in recent weeks, the most recent of which saw the duchess appear via video link in London to open a new wing of an animal charity.
This was published via the new Sussex.com website she launched with Harry, which instantly became controversial due to the prominence of her royal brand.
In early February, she made dumplings with female Afghan refugees, before a clip of the visit was posted on the Archewell Foundation website last Monday.
The Duke and Duchess also recently returned from a trip to the slopes of Whistler, Vancouver, where Harry gave a series of interviews to US media ahead of next year’s Invictus Games.
Author Katie Couric will also be at the annual festival in Austin, Texas, this month.
Prince Harry and Meghan are pictured on their trip to Vancouver last month ahead of next year’s Invictus Games.
Meghan followed up with another ski trip with her friends Kelly McKee Zajfen and Heather Dorak at Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City in Utah.
Hugh Forrest, SXSW Co-Chair and Director of Programming, said: ‘Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Nancy Wang Yuen and Errin Haines are the perfect finishing touch to eight days of outstanding keynote speakers.
“We are very honored to host this distinguished group on International Women’s Day for an important discussion on the importance of representation in media and entertainment.”
Meghan has been chosen by SXSW because she and the other guests are seen as “visionary female leaders at the forefront of news, media, entertainment and philanthropy.”
They are also described as women “who are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes and working for a healthier society on and off our screens.” The Duchess of Sussex was considered a New York Times bestselling author.
Meghan’s session will focus on “how the ubiquitous nature of social media is creating an often dangerous environment that has led to serious mental health issues, particularly for teenage girls.”
Along with the other participants, Meghan will speak about the importance of representation in media and entertainment, organizers said.
Founded in 1987, South By Southwest is known for its conferences and festivals across technology, film and television, music, education and culture, and describes itself as an “essential destination for global professionals.”
Harry and Meghan at an Invictus Games event in Whistler, Canada, on February 14, 2024
Previously announced featured speakers and panelists at this year’s festival include Selena Gomez, Kirsten Dunst and Sydney Sweeney.
Last year, Meghan spent International Women’s Day helping with a visit to a shelter for homeless pregnant women, delivering essential supplies to pregnant women on behalf of her Archewell Foundation.
Last month there was a flurry of announcements from the Sussexes.
The Duchess has signed a deal with Lemonada Media to record new podcast shows and the company will distribute her previous series.
The couple also relaunched their website Archewell, the name of their foundation, renaming it the Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The announcement of Meghan’s latest public appearance comes after a royal expert claimed the Sussexes may be turning off Americans with their “endless whining” and attacks on the Royal Family.
Prince Harry and Meghan crossed the pond after stepping down as senior royals and leaving Britain in January 2020.
While trying to start a new life in the US, the couple starred in a Netflix docuseries, launched a controversial new website, published a book and conducted explosive interviews about the Royal Family.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are turning off Americans with their ‘endless whining’ and ‘attacks’ on the Royal Family, royal expert claims
In a bid to branch out into the celebrity world, the Sussexes are often seen making appearances at glitzy events, including the premiere of ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ in Jamaica in January.
But they were branded “insensitive” for posing on the red carpet with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who wants to get rid of the monarchy.
Last month, Harry said King Charles’ cancer diagnosis could have a “reunifying effect” on the family. He made a transatlantic trip to see his father at Clarence House on February 6, but they only saw each other for about 45 minutes.
There have been reports that Harry was set to return to a temporary royal role to help the slimmed-down monarchy, with Princess Kate also recovering from abdominal surgery. But palace aides later said there was “no turning back” for Harry.
Speaking about the time Harry and Meghan have spent since leaving Britain, royal author Angela Levin said even Americans are getting fed up with the couple’s “hypocrisy” and complaints.
She told The Sun: “I think endless complaining puts Americans off because they like self-starters rather than people who blame others.”
“They also don’t like attacks on the Royal Family, especially as they loved and admired the Queen so much.”