The first instalment of Meghan Markle's much-anticipated Archetypes podcast has been released on Spotify, featuring a discussion with tennis great Serena Williams on societal double standards towards “ambitious” women and how they felt as mothers.
Entitled “The Misconception of Ambition with Serena Williams”, the duchess recounts how her son Archie narrowly escaped a fire in his bedroom where he was supposed to be sleeping during the Sussexes’ tour of South Africa in 2019.
Archie’s nanny at the time, named only as Lauren, had taken the 4-month-old with her downstairs as she went to get a snack when the heater in the nursery caught fire.
“There was no smoke detector. Someone happened to just smell smoke down the hallway, went in, fire extinguished,” said the Duchess. "[Archie] was supposed to be sleeping in there.”
The former Suits star told how they had dropped their young son at the housing unit they were staying in for a sleep straight after arriving on their official tour, before leaving to carry out a visit to the Nyanga township where the duchess delivered a speech.
“There was this moment where I’m standing on a tree stump and I’m giving this speech to women and girls, and we finish the engagement, we get in the car and they say there’s been a fire at the residence. What? There’s been a fire in the baby’s room,” she said.
“We came back. And, of course, as a mother, you go, ‘Oh, my God, what?’ Everyone’s in tears, everyone’s shaken. And what do we have to do? Go out and do another official engagement? I said, ‘This doesn’t make any sense’.”
Prince Harry's cameo
Prince Harry also makes an appearance in the episode, with Meghan saying: “You wanna come say hi? Look who just popped in.”
The duchess and Williams greet Harry with “Hello” in British accents, with Harry telling the 23-time grand slam champion: “I like what you’ve done with your hair. That’s a great vibe.”
Williams replies: “Thank you. Good to see you too as always, I miss you guys.”
The duke responds: “Well come and see us”, with Meghan Markle saying they will make a plan.
As he leaves, the duchess says: “Thanks my love.”
The duchess also talks about how her experience of the way ambition is perceived changed after embarking on her relationship with Prince Harry.
“I don’t remember ever personally feeling the negative connotation behind the word ambitious until I started dating my now husband,” she said.
Serena Williams reveals the prince helped her with the decision to retire from tennis long before it was announced, spending around an hour discussing the issue with her.
Meghan Markle, who quit the monarchy as a senior working royal, says: “I think, you know, I think both of us, or the three of us, really know that sometimes the right decision isn’t the easiest decision.”
“It takes a lot of courage, I think, too, to stop something in many ways than to keep going sometimes,” she tells Williams, in not so thinly veiled allusion to her so-called “Megxit”.
Meghan Markle style evolution — in pictures
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Meghan Markle, in a black shirt and shorts, attends the DPA pre-Emmy gift lounge at the Peninsula Hotel on September 18, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in a pink mini dress, attends the Some Kind-a Gorgeous style and beauty lounge at the Chateau Marmont on August 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in a navy lace dress, attends the USA Network's tour at the Pacific Design Centre on February 15, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in a grey midi dress, attends the WGC Hosts Party at the Windsor Arms Hotel on September 11, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in pink satin, attends the Rising Stars: Producers Ball during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in a terracotta gathered dress, arrives at the GQ Men of the Year Party at Chateau Marmont on November 13, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in a fuchsia strapless dress, attends the Elle Women in Television Celebration at Soho House on January 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California.AFP -
Meghan Markle, in a printed mini dress, attends a USA Network event at Pier 36 on May 16, 2013 in New York, US. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in an embellished LBD, attends the premiere of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' at Odeon Leicester Square on November 11, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle, in a knotted strapless dress, attends the London Global Gift Gala at ME Hotel on November 19, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle, in Roland Mouret, attends the Elton John Aids Foundation's benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on October 28, 2014 in New York, US. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in Misha Nonoo, attends NBC's press day at Four Seasons Hotel New York on June 24, 2015 in New York, US. AFP -
Meghan Markle, in Dolce & Gabbana, attends Elle's 6th Annual Women In Television dinner at Sunset Tower Hotel on January 20, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. AFP -
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in a coat by Line The Label, announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace on November 27, 2017 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in a Mackage coat, visit Nottingham for their first official public engagement on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in Burberry, arrive at Social Bite cafe in Rose Street on February 13, 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle, in a J Crew coat, arrives in Birmingham, England, on March 8, 2018. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle, in a Greta Constantine skirt and Victoria Beckham jumper, during a walkabout on March 23, 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle, in Max Mara, attends a reception with the Commonwealth Youth Forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on April 18, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in Self-Portrait, attend the Invictus Games Reception at Australia House on April 21, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince William, Meghan Markle, in Emilia Wickstead, and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Givenchy, leave St George's Chapel after their wedding ceremony on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. Getty Images -
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Goat, attend the Prince of Wales's 70th birthday celebration at Buckingham Palace on May 22, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Brandon Maxwell, attends the Your Commonwealth Youth Challenge reception at Marlborough House on July 5, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Dior, attends an event to mark the centenary of the RAF on July 10, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Oscar de la Renta, attend the Coach Core Awards held at Loughborough University on September 24, 2018 in Loughborough, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a Hugo Boss skirt, and Prince Harry at The University of Chichester Tech Park during an official visit to Sussex on October 3, 2018 in Chichester, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a Martin Grant coat, arrive at the Sydney Opera House on October 16, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Martin Grant, visit Bondi Beach on October 19, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Emilia Wickstead, attend the official opening of the Anzac Memorial at Hyde Park on October 20, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Safiyaa, arrive for a state dinner on October 23, 2018 in Suva, Fiji. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Figue, visits the University of the South Pacific on October 24, 2018 in Suva, Fiji. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Self-Portrait, arrive at Fua'amotu Airport on October 25, 2018 in Nuku'Alofa, Tonga. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Oscar de la Renta, attend the Australian Geographic Society Awards at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney, Australia, on October 26, 2018. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Givenchy, arrive at a public walkabout at the Rotorua Government Gardens on October 31, 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a Sentaler coat, depart Birkenhead Town Hall on January 14, 2019 in Birkenhead, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in an H&M dress, visits the Mayhew, an animal welfare charity, on January 16, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Roland Mouret, attend the Cirque du Soleil premiere Of 'Totem' at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Givenchy, attend the Endeavour Fund awards at Drapers' Hall on February 7, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Carolina Herrera, with King Mohammed VI of Morocco, during an audience at his residence on February 25, 2019 in Rabat, Morocco. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Erdem, and Prince Harry attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House on March 11, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Givenchy, pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at St George's Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019 in Windsor, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Jason Wu, attend the premiere of Disney's 'The Lion King' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Veronica Beard, and Prince Harry visit District 6 Museum on September 23, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Nonie, arrive at the Creative Industries and Business Reception at the British High Commissioners residence on October 2, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a Sentaler coat, and Prince Harry attend the 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on November 7, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a Reiss coat, arrives for her visit with Prince Harry to Canada House on January 7, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Victoria Beckham, presents an award during the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 5, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Safiyaa, arrive at the Royal Albert Hall on March 7, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Emilia Wickstead, attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in Armani, in conversation with Oprah Winfrey for an interview which will be broadcast in the US on March 7, 2021. AP
