Meghan Markle might be better known as the Duchess of Sussex these days, but it sounds like she might be making waves as a blogger once again.
Prior to her relationship with Prince Harry, who she married in Windsor in 2018, the then Suits star ran a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig. Following in the footsteps of fellow actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Markle offered tips, advice and ideas on her blog on everything ranging from food and travel to lifestyle and beauty.
In April 2017 the mother-of-two shut down The Tig, months before she and Prince Harry announced their engagement. Sharing a message on the homepage, addressed to her 'Tig friends', Markle wrote:
After close to three beautiful years on this adventure with you, it's time to say goodbye to The Tig. What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity. You've made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy. Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being "the change you wish to see in the world".
Above all, don't ever forget your worth—as I've told you time and time again: you, my sweet friend, you are enough. Thank you for everything.
In January 2022 the Daily Mail reported that Markle had reapplied to reactivate 'The Tig' trademark name, which has led some royal fans to speculate that she might be considering relaunching her defunct blog.
The publication reported that publicly available records in the US show that Los Angeles-based lawyer Marjorie Witter Norman filed a new application to trademark the name last July.
At the time, the Daily Mail reported Markle's representative said: 'The lasting trademark is to prevent false branding, to avoid others purporting to be the Duchess or affiliated with her.'
While it's yet to be seen whether Markle does intent to relaunch the blog, here's everything you need to know about The Tig:
1.Meghan Markle's blog's name was inspired by a brand of wine
Markle previously admitted she felt inspired to launch her blog with the quirky monicker after tasting a wine called Tignanello - nicknamed 'Tig' - which she credits with helping her understand what wine experts meant when talking of 'the body, legs, structure of wine'.
'It was an ah-ha moment at its finest. For me, it became a 'Tig' moment – a moment of getting it,' she wrote on her blog.
As a result, the Suits actor launched her bespoke website, sharing her love of eating, traveling off the beaten path travel, style and tips on how to enjoy more of life, inspired by her favourite 'Tig' moments.
2. Meghan Markle wasn't afraid to discuss politics
In a post from 2015, Markle penned an emotional piece titled 'Champions of change' about the segregation her family suffered during a road trip from Ohio to California when her mother was seven-years-old.
Recounting the story her grandfather told her as a child, she described the scene when her family stopped off at Kentucky Fried Chicken and had to go to the back of the restaurant and eat chicken in the parking lot.
Markle recalled: 'It reminds me of how young our country is. How far we've come and how far we still have to come. It makes me think of the countless black jokes people have shared in front of me, not realizing I am mixed, unaware that I am the ethnically ambiguous fly on the wall.'
She also took the opportunity to thank those who she calls 'champions of change' – Martin Luther King Jr., Harvey Milk, Gloria Steinem, Cesar Chavez and her parents for choosing each other not for the 'colour of their skin but the content of their character'.
3. Meghan Markle loves red wine – with hot chocolate
From sweet potato and white bean soup to smoked salmon dill dip, The Tig boasted an impressive array of recipes for keen chefs.
Describing her favourite winter-warmer, that combines our favourite hot drink with alcohol, Markle wrote: 'Combining two of every lady's classic loves, wine and chocolate, this remarkably easy yet decadent dessert has been the talk of the town this season.'
4. Meghan Markle was a professional when it came to traveling
As anyone knows, every royal needs a profound knowledge of foreign policy and etiquette. On the blog Markle would regularly consult experts from around the world for advice on how to travel to the world's most far off locations.
The Tig included a plethora of 'Insider Guides' to some of Markle's favourite cities, including Bordeaux, New York, Madrid and Athens.
5. Meghan Markle gave advice on self-love before meeting Prince Harry
Back in 2015, when Markle was single, she shared words of wisdom around loving oneself on Valentine's Day, per Hello!.
Ahead of becoming a royal, the Duchess – who will celebrate her fourth wedding anniversary with Prince Harry in May 2022 – addressed followers of her blog, writing: 'I think you need to be your own Valentine.
'I think you need to cook that beautiful dinner even when it's just you, wear your favourite outfit, buy yourself some flowers, and celebrate the self love that often gets muddled when we focus on what we don't have.'
Sharing her plans for the romantic day that year, she said she would be with friends 'running amok through the streets of New York', and mentioned that she would be drinking pink cocktails and waking around the icy streets in her new shoes.
The royal didn't stop there either, as she even gave details about the shoes in question.
'Those shoes, by the way, were my gift to myself. Because I’ve worked hard, because I'm not going to wait for someone to buy me the things I covet (nor do I want to), and because I want to treat myself as well as I treat those dearest to me. Because I am my own funny Valentine,' she explained.
She concluded her post re-emphasising the importance of loving yourself, writing: 'Whether you have a special someone, you’ll be with friends, or you’ll be flying solo this Saturday (or any other day for that matter), be good to yourself.
'Love yourself, treat yourself, honour yourself and celebrate you. Be your own beautiful, darling, cherished and funny Valentine. You deserve it.'
6. Meghan Markle spent a month in Italy after reading 'Eat Pray Love'
Inspired to, in Meghan's words 'eat everything, pray (and meditate) often, and simply love my life, every ounce of it', she revealed on her blog that she spent one summer traveling Italy while taking a break from filming Suits.
But, don't go thinking Markle was splurging out on fancy hotels and five-star restaurants.
'It wasn't long ago (cough – about ten years ago – cough) that I only had $40 in my bank account, that I could barely book an audition, and that my circle of friends was even smaller. But even then, without all the pomp and circumstance, I made time to celebrate my life,' she wrote in one post.
'Maybe it was a pizza and bottle of two buck chuck from Trader Joe's with a couple girlfriends, tucked in for the night sitting on my living room floor. Or maybe it was a dance party in my tiny apartment or a sobbing session to purge all of those feels with my nearest and dearest. This is all part of the eat, pray, love journey. Being present. Being vulnerable. The act of celebrating and really truly enjoying your life.'
Posting pictures of her stay in Italy, Markle could be seen enjoying local pizzas, drinks at sunset with her closest friends and walking around the local sights in her trainers.
7. Hot sauce is Meghan Markle's vice
In a post titled 'Tig Talk With Meghan Markle', the Duchess revealed some home truths about her life in Toronto, where she lived with her dogs before moving to the UK in 2017, and it sounded pretty darn normal compared to most A-listers'.
Here's what we learnt:
- Her nicknames are Meg, MM, M&M and Flower.
- She takes time to snuggle with her dogs in bed in the morning.
- She can't live without her passport.
- She'd love to go off the grid with her friends for a week.
- She'd give her last $10 to 'someone who needs it more' that she does.
- She loves adding 'a kick' of hot sauce to her food.
8. Meghan Markle loves pop music
The actress regularly uploaded her favourite playlists for The Tig readers that she called 'little euphonious pick-me-ups to enliven your day'.
Listening to everything from Sophie Ellis-Bexton and Christine And The Queens to Steely Dan, it's clear Meghan has an eclectic music taste we wouldn't mind listening to in the ELLE UK office.
9. Exercising your right to vote is seriously important to Meghan Markle
'Hey, beautiful socially conscious friend – you need to vote,' wrote Meghan in a post titled 'Because You Must' detailing the importance of voting for women.
Written before the US presidential election in 2016, Markle explained why women should vote, historical context of the vote and a timeline from the State Department of what voting rights in the US have looked like over the years.
'The right to vote is something for which blood, sweat, and tears have been shed; the struggle was endless for us to have this liberty,' she noted. Informative and inspirational.
10. Meghan Markle loves a facial
With a passion for yoga, it comes as no surprise that Markle is partial to the odd facial.
Revealing her list of favourite facialists around the world, the actress claims Nichola Joss' London-based facial to be her favourite, while others in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles top the list.
11. Meghan Markle thinks we should all go to the cinema alone at least once
Markle credited her self-love and passion for life down to her joy of being independent and enjoying her own company. After watching the film Forces of Nature in a cinema on her own at the age of 20, the royal learned the importance of being able to 'laugh loudly and unapologetically alone while in public. To simple be'.
Here's what she suggests you do to fulfil your self-care bucket list:
1. See a movie alone
2. Take yourself out to dinner
3. Buy yourself flowers.
4. Take yourself on vacation.
Wise words, Markle.
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
