Meghan Markle lifts lid Gloria Steinem's private life in tribute as she reveals nickname

Hannah Furnell Thu, September 3, 2026 at 3:07 PM UTC

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Meghan Markle has paid an emotional tribute to Gloria Steinem.

On Thursday, September 3, the 45-year-old Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to honor her "friend and mentor," following her death at age 92 on September 2. Meghan shared that she was "grateful" to know that "in these last few weeks and days, she knew exactly how loved and admired she was."

The mother of two added that publicly, she and Steinem would do interviews and call voters "to encourage them to have their voices heard," but privately, the activist, whom she nicknamed GLO, "was even better than you would imagine."

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Meghan wrote, "Celebrating the life and legacy of my friend and mentor, Gloria Steinem, and also grateful to know that in these last few weeks and days she knew exactly how loved and admired she was.

"You all know her many accolades and the way in which she helped shape the world for women and all people - 'we are linked, not ranked,' she would tell me, and the bracelet she gave me said exactly that. I still wear it with pride.

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"Publicly, we did interviews together, called young voters to encourage them to have their voices heard, attended award ceremonies, and brainstormed how to help this beautiful yet complicated world to become more equitable."

Meghan revealed of her deep relationship with Steinem, adding, "But privately, she was even better than you would imagine- spending Thanksgiving with our family, introducing me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship), loving our children with her whole heart, counseling me during hard times, and giving extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivaled cheekiness and wit."

Meghan then recalled, "But my very favorite story about GLO is when she was out one day in NY, and a woman approached her in absolute awe and said she wanted to introduce her young daughter to her (though she was embarrassed to say the young girl may not know who she was).

"Gloria replied: 'It doesn't matter if she knows who I am. What matters is that she knows who SHE is.' The Duchess concluded her tribute by saying, "Rest in peace, and rest in pride. Look at what you've done for all of us. Thank you."

Her post included three photos. One showed the pair sitting outside, another featured a framed picture of Steinem with Meghan and Prince Harry's son, Prince Archie. The third was another shot of Meghan posing with Steinem.

The pair became close after Meghan and Harry moved to Montecito, California, in 2020. They were regularly seen enjoying one another's company over the years, on lunch trips and even interviewing one another.

Steinem previously credited Meghan for helping their friendship to form as she revealed, "Meghan, I owe this friendship to you. Because I did not realize that in California, where I was sheltering on a friend's ranch, we were neighbors.

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"Or at least what is called neighbors in California, which means you're, what, a half-hour away."

In 2022, the two women collaborated on a feature in Vogue following the overturning of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 ruling in the case of Roe v. Wade, where women were granted the constitutional right to abortion.

During their discussion, they emphasized the importance of normalizing conversations about women's health.

The pair, who were last seen together in New York in 2025, also sat down in 2020 to discuss voting, representation at the polls, and what it means to be a feminist. They also embarked upon cold-calling voters from Steinem's dining room table at the time.

Steinem also had an affectionate nickname for Meghan, calling her "Meg," and describing her as "smart, authentic, funny, political."

During her 2025 visit with Steinem in her New York home, Meghan filmed footage of the pair that she later included in a montage video captioned, "Until the next time, NYC - thanks for the memories! (You really know how to charm a gal)."

Steinem "passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her," a post on her official Instagram page shared on Thursday. It added that she died on Wednesday, but did not reveal her cause of death.

"Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end," the post said. "Gloria's greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard.

"Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves. Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor."

The tribute continued, "She spent her recent years doing the two things she loved most: being in community with others and writing. She has welcomed hundreds of guests into her living room for Talking Circles, a tradition she insisted will continue long after she is no longer with us.

"As Gloria wrote in her forthcoming book, An Unexpected Life, 'I have now lived for more than fifty years in this brownstone, in rooms that have witnessed lives before mine, and will know others after I am gone.'

"This book, along with her commitment to her home becoming a center for social justice movements, are among the many gifts Gloria has given the world with the hope they have ripple effects for generations to come.

"Gloria often quoted the adage: 'The flap of a butterfly's wing can change the weather hundreds of miles away.' Gloria loved the tradition of lighting signal fires on hills to light the way to the other side of the mountain. Lighting your own candle for Gloria makes you part of this global and celestial community circle."

It concluded, "In lieu of flowers, Gloria has asked that those wishing to honor her with a gift, may make a donation to Gloria's Foundation."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”