By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-21 12:12:32 | Updated at 2025-04-04 17:28:57
2 weeks ago
Meghan Markle's letter to a podcaster who criticised her Netflix show is 'unauthentic and contrived', according to one of Britain's leading handwriting experts.
Consultant graphologist Tracey Trussell examined the letter sent to Amanda Hirsch, concluding that the Duchess of Sussex has an 'unusual calligraphic style'.
She said Meghan was 'projecting a cultured image' with a 'manufactured persona style of handwriting', which takes 'self-discipline to produce, but it lacks soul'.
Hirsch had said she was 'scared' about the reception to With Love, Meghan and suggested the Duchess came across as 'inauthentic' and not 'relatable' in a trailer.
In response, Meghan sent her a note on paper headed with her gold embossed royal cypher. It said in immaculate calligraphic handwriting: 'Don't be scared. Let's enjoy it'.
Analysing the letter, Ms Trussell said the Duchess was 'all about producing a polished performance, but it's very much style over substance - a pseudo sophistication'.
She added: 'And when someone hides behind a carefully constructed mask, it means that we'll never really know what's going on underneath. It's all a smoke screen.'
Ms Trussell said the 'laboured penmanship' conceals 'underlying feelings of inadequacy and reveals a strong desire to get things right – a perfectionist streak'.
Meghan Markle sent this letter to podcaster Amanda Hirsch who criticised her Netflix show
The Duchess of Sussex's new show 'With Love, Meghan' came out on Netflix on March 4
She also pointed out that the large size of the writing shows how Meghan is 'determined to come across as confident, but this is just an overcompensation for any weaknesses, feelings of inferiority and anxiety, which are all lurking under wraps'.
TRACEY TRUSSELL on Meghan's handwriting
By TRACEY TRUSSELL
Meghan's unusual calligraphic style is unauthentic and contrived. She's projecting a cultured image.
It's a manufactured persona style of handwriting, which takes a huge amount of self-discipline to produce, but it lacks soul.
So, she's all about producing a polished performance, but it's very much style over substance – a pseudo sophistication.
And when someone hides behind a carefully constructed mask, it means that we'll never really know what's going on underneath. It's all a smoke screen.
However. We do know the following:
▪ This laboured penmanship conceals underlying feelings of inadequacy and reveals a strong desire to get things right – a perfectionist streak.
▪ The large size of the writing shows how she is determined to come across as confident, but this is just an overcompensation for any weaknesses, feelings of inferiority and anxiety, which are all lurking under wraps.
▪ The way the writing tumbles forwards obliquely reveals Meghan's enthusiasm and passion for life. The long upwards endstroke of the letter a in 'Amanda' shows her motivation to do good works, but it's all for applause and effect, without any real feeling or emotion behind the intention.
▪ Meghan's large (disproportionately oversized) capitals tell of her immense pride and vanity. She craves respect.
▪ The superfluous (and dramatic) affectations or accoutrements are superficial, like little props, revealing anxiety. So, the big arched loops (like umbrellas) on the capitals not only show pride in her far-reaching ambitions, but also self-protection, showing her apprehension in the face of anything new.
▪ The clockwork regularity of the writing uncovers her intolerant, demanding side and 'stiff' inflexible approach to life.
▪ Interesting to see how Meghan joins the letter Gto the Hin her name. This shows good dovetailing between the zones revealing a progressive, goal-orientated approach, and also Meghan's sensitivity and the way her family provides an essential root for her security.
Consultant graphologist TRACEY TRUSSELL is one of Britain's leading handwriting experts. She posts on Instagram here
Looking at how the 'writing tumbles forwards obliquely', Ms Trussell said this reveals the mother-of-two's 'enthusiasm and passion for life'.
She added: 'The long upwards endstroke of the letter 'A' in 'Amanda' shows her motivation to do good works, but it's all for applause and effect, without any real feeling or emotion behind the intention.'
Analysing Meghan's large and 'disproportionately oversized' capitals, she said this tells of her 'immense pride and vanity' and that she 'craves respect'.
The 'superfluous and dramatic affectations or accoutrements are superficial, like little props, revealing anxiety', according to Ms Trussell.
She added: 'So, the big arched loops - like umbrellas - on the capitals not only show pride in her far-reaching ambitions, but also self-protection, showing her apprehension in the face of anything new.'
Ms Trussell also said: 'The clockwork regularity of the writing uncovers her intolerant, demanding side and 'stiff' inflexible approach to life.'
Finally, she said it was interesting to see how Meghan joins the letter 'G' to the 'H' in her name.
Ms Trussell said: 'This shows good dovetailing between the zones revealing a progressive, goal-orientated approach, and also Meghan's sensitivity and the way her family provides an essential root for her security.'
After receiving the letter, Hirsch said she was now a 'fan' of Meghan 'for life' and shared a picture of it to her 890,000 Instagram followers.
Mark Borkowski, one of the UK's leading publicity gurus and crisis managers, has said while Hirsch's criticism of the show appears genuine, Meghan's handwritten note is straight out of 'the PR playbook'.
He told MailOnline: 'Meghan is at a crossroads. The well of sympathy she once drew from is running dry, and the PR playbook of handwritten notes and 'authentic' vulnerability is starting to feel like a well-rehearsed script.
'The noise is deafening, but the signal—the compelling reason for her continued relevance is fading'.
Hirsch, who runs the popular 'Not Skinny But Not Fat' show, recently interviewed Ryan Reynolds and has issued a public defence of his wife Blake Lively, calling Justin Baldoni 'fishy'.
Her podcast is produced by Hollywood-based Dear Media, which says it is 'dedicated to amplifying women's voices and narratives'.
It recently published an opinion piece called: 'What's Everybody's Problem With Meghan Markle Now?' that included a section called: 'The Kate Middleton Hypocrisy'.
Dear Media is expanding and launched the Khloé in Wonder Land podcast with Khloé Kardashian in January.
Its stable of celeb and lifestyle-heavy podcasts recently featured an appearance by Meghan's close friend and make-up artist Daniel Martin, who appeared on episode one of With Love, Meghan.
Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder, a vocal defender of Meghan including her Netflix show, also appeared on Not Skinny But Not Fat last year.
Mr Borkowski said: 'When you weave all the connecting threads together—a burgeoning podcaster under the wing of a savvy media firm, strategic guest appearances by close associates of high-profile individuals, and the Kardashians' calculated media engagements—it does paint a picture of a constructed narrative.
Amanda Hirsch runs the popular 'Not Skinny But Not Fat' podcast show and criticised Meghan
Amanda Hirsch, pictured in New York in January 2024, runs podcast produced by Dear Media
'With all the connections I reckon it's a deliberate ensuring all parties involved bask in the reflected glow of shared publicity'.
He added that it appears to be a desperate attempt by Meghan's team to grab positive headlines amid an avalanche of dud reviews for her show.
'It's hard not to see this as a strategic play to generate buzz. The fingerprints suggest it's her peculiar art of controlled chaos'.
He added: 'She has two main options: double down on the media machine or step back and recalibrate'.
The letter arrived with Hirsch after she filmed herself saying she was 'scared' about the reception to With Love, Meghan.
In a video showing her watching the teaser trailer after it was released in January, Hirsch cringes as Meghan bakes a cake.
With Love, Meghan launched on Netflix on March 4 - with a second season now on the way
She said: 'Oh guys I'm genuinely concerned for Meghan. I'm not a Meghan hater at all. It feels like a Blake Lively situation.
'I understand that some people think she's inauthentic. I get that. I'm so scared for her that this Netflix show will make those claims stronger. From the trailer, it looks like it might.'
With her fist almost in her mouth, Hirsch added: 'In the trailer at least she doesn't come across as relatable. I'm just scared for you Meghan. Why did you have to do that? Consult with me, I would have told you!'.
Hirsch was 'absolutely flabbergasted' when the card topped with Meghan's regal logo arrived with the message: 'Dear Amanda, I heard you were feeling scared. Don't be. This is the fun part - let's enjoy it. As ever, Meghan.'
It came after Netflix boss Ted Sarandos broke his silence on Meghan's future and appeared to back her despite the poor reception to her eight-part lifestyle series.
Also this week, Jimmy Fallon became the latest celebrity to mock Meghan as he made a joke about her making her own pretzel bags on her Netflix show.
During NBC's The Tonight Show on Monday, Fallon's sidekick Steve Higgins asked the 50-year-old chat show host a series of questions in a 'Trivia Night' segment.
One of the queries put to Fallon by Higgins was: 'Ready, you're going to get this. What is the number one question that mystifies scientists? Number one question.'
Fallon then suggested: 'Is there life on another planet?' But Higgins said: 'Ooh, no. Why does Meghan Markle make her own pretzel bags? They don't know why.'
As the audience erupted in laughter, Fallon chuckled and replied: 'That's interesting. She takes it from one bag and puts it in another bag, and that confuses people.'
Prince Harry makes just one appearance at the end of the first season's final episode
They were referring to a moment in 'With Love, Meghan', which began streaming on March 4, where the Duchess of Sussex transfers pre-packaged pretzels into another bag with a personalized label on to show visiting guests that she is thinking of them.
Meghan has already suffered a barrage of criticism in both the UK and US over her new show, with Family Ties star Justine Bateman becoming another celebrity to get involved as she accused Meghan and Harry of turning being victims into an Olympic sport.
And Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith said she was 'not a Meghan Markle fan', adding: 'There's more to life than how you look and how your friends think of you.'
Three Netflix stars have also condemned the show since it launched – with Whitney Cumming last week claiming that it was a gigantic 'f*** you' to the Royal Family .
That comes after comedian Katherine Ryan – a previous backer of the Duchess - said it feels like Meghan puts on an act of 'oh, I'm just so humble'.
The Duchess of Sussex is launching a new podcast called 'Confessions Of A Female Founder'
Another Netflix star, Christina Pazsitzky, said the show and Meghan were 'highly inauthentic', 'fake' and 'phony' .
Vogue Williams – whose husband Spencer Matthews is the brother-in-law of Kate's sister Pippa Middleton - also criticised Meghan, saying 'who does that' in relation to her rainbow fruit platter and joking that one of her outfits was 'disgusting'.
The series has also been panned by TV critics, with The Guardian describing it as a 'gormless lifestyle filler' and 'so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show', while The Telegraph branded it 'insane' and an 'exercise in narcissism'.
In the eight-part show, the former Suits actress gives hosting tips and cooks with celebrity friends including The Office star Mindy Kaling.
Harry makes just one appearance at the end of the first season's final episode when he joins Meghan, her mother Doria Ragland and friends for an outdoor celebratory brunch.
Meghan said it 'feels like a new chapter that I'm so excited that I get to share and I've been able to learn from all of you', in what was viewed as a nod to the restrictions she felt within the royal family.
The Sussexes, who signed a $100million (£80million) deal with Netflix in 2020, have previously put out the controversial Harry & Meghan documentary, which features accusations against the royal family, and the sport show Polo.
The second season of With Love, Meghan is coming in the autumn, and has already finished filming, according to Netflix.
Gwyneth Paltrow was also asked about Meghan in a Vanity Fair interview published this week, and said of her Montecito neighbour: 'I don't know Meghan and Harry... I mean, I've met Meghan, who seems really lovely, but I don't know her at all.
Meghan's Spotify contract ended in 2023 after one series of her first podcast Archetypes
'I was raised to see other women as friends, not foes... I think there's always more than enough to go around. Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try.'
Last week, the Duchess also announced she was launching a new podcast called Confessions of a Female Founder.
Meghan described the venture as 'candid conversations' with 'amazing women' about the success and struggles of their businesses. A trailer will be released on March 25 and the first of eight weekly episodes will be launched on April 8.
Her Archetypes podcast about female stereotypes in 2022 ran for just one series, and was part of the Sussexes' previous deal with Spotify, which ended the year after.
The Duchess launched her lifestyle brand As Ever in tandem with her With Love, Meghan show. Her first products, which are not yet on sale, are a small selection of jams, herbal tea, ready-mix baking mixes and flower sprinkles.
