Where has the Duchess of Sussex gone? Questions grow about Meghan Markle

A staple of every 90s childhood was having a go playing Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? on a PC only slightly smaller than a Kia Rio.I reckon we could reboot the game now, only we could call it, Where In The World Is Meghan?Where has the Duchess of Sussex gone?November 27 marks seven years since she – then Meghan Markle, actress, blogger and Angeleno-native – stood next to Prince Harry in Kensington Palace’s iconic Sunken Garden and announced their engagement.But in the long and winding story of the duchess, which includes an exhausting rinse and repeat of tragi-comedy-drama, 2024 stands out as a remarkable year.What has happened to arguably one of the most famous women in the world?In the last six months, Meghan has only done one short interview, a brief two-hander with Harry for US breakfast TV to support the launch of their Archewell Foundation’s Parents Network.She has not debuted any new TV shows or podcasts (despite signing with Lemonada Media in February).She has only very occasionally been papped out and about.She has only done a couple of glam evening appearances and has barely graced any stages.What has changed?The first few months of the year pointed to a bumper 2024 for the former Suits star.February saw the Sussexes in Vancouver to promote next year’s first winter Invictus Games, proving demonstrably her snow style is as superb as her regular style.March brought with it skiing at a chic Utah resort with friends, her taking part in an opening keynote panel at the uber-cool SXSW festival to celebrate International Women’s Day, and finally, only days later, came the debut of her brand-slash-business-slash-ongoing-mystery American Riviera Orchard (ARO).Then, only a few weeks after that, in April, Netflix announced Meghan was set to make a series “[celebrating] the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship”, whatever that means.

(Shearing roses while holding hands with your yoga teacher?)This year promised to be o...