The cousin of Meghan Markle has shared a sweet and caring message about how Meghan was “really mature for her age” and stating how she was “always looking after” her family.
The Duchess of Sussex grew up in Los Angeles, and Meghan spent a lot of her childhood with her mother Doria Ragland after she and Thomas Markle divorced when Meghan was just six years old.
Meghan’s cousin Shawn Johnson told the Daily Mail: “She was infectious with just the way she was and really mature for her age. She was always really looking after us and making sure that we’re all doing fine.”
Playing into her maturity and development, relationship expert, Louella Alderson told The Mirror, the Duchess of Sussex would have had to “navigate through challenges” in her childhood.
Meghan also was exposed to “strong female leaders” growing up, as she attended Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse before going to Immaculate Heart High School.
Louella explained: “Meghan attended an all-girls private Catholic school where she could’ve been exposed to strong female leaders who may have influenced her maturity and independence. Schools such as these often have a stricter and more disciplined environment, which could also contribute to the development of maturity in students.”
The relationship expert stressed a divorce would have had an influence on character: “Meghan’s parents divorced when she was young and this could have also played a role in her maturity.
“Children of divorce can sometimes have to take on more responsibilities and adapt to changes within their family structure, which can lead to them growing up faster than their peers.”
Meghan is said to have taken Prince Harry to Immaculate Heart High School in early September 2020. During their secret visit, the Duke of Sussex reportedly showed various areas of the institute – including the “lovely stage” where the Duchess performed as a teenager.
Taking further about her maturity as a child, the relationship expert added co-parenting was a contributive factor: “Meghan was co-parented by both her parents which could have given her a unique perspective on relationships and the ability to communicate and handle conflict maturely. Splitting her time between her parents may also have exposed her to a different set of values and expectations, further contributing to her maturity.”
In the Netflix docuseries titled ‘Harry & Meghan’, the Duchess, speaking in episode five of the Sussexes’ Netflix series, said: “When I look back at my own childhood, it was great, but I just remember feeling alone a lot.”
Meghan continued: “I just wanted these cousins and these people. I just wanted all of that. And I didn’t have that big family. So when I was pregnant with Archie I was just so excited that we are going to be able to create for him that thing I had always wanted.”
