Meghan Markle Has Candid Reaction to Drew Barrymore's Childhood Memory of Princess Diana

Mar. 15, 2025

(Left) Drew. Barrymore and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the set of The Drew Barrymore Show; (Right) Princess Diana in London on June 2, 1997.Photo:The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Drew BarrymoretoldMeghan Marklea personal story about meetingPrincess Dianawhen the Duchess of Sussex joined her popular talk show.

On March 6, Meghan appeared onThe Drew Barrymore Showto discuss her new Netflix seriesWith Love, Meghantwo days after its premiere. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, and Barrymore, 50, had a wide-ranging conversation about the “vow"Prince Harrymade to her when they were dating, being a working mom toPrince Archie, 5 andPrincess Lilibet, 3, what she hopes to express through herAs everbrand and more – including Barrymore’s childhood connection to Princess Diana.

During a segment on the set (where Meghanbrought cookiesshe baked with Archie and Lili!), Barrymore surprised her with a framed photograph showing her meeting Princess Diana at the London premiere ofE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialin 1982.

“Oh, how sweet. Oh, that’s beautiful,” Meghan said with affection as Barrymore handed her the picture. “Oh my gosh. Look at your little face! Oh, that’s so sweet. That is so special that you had it here. Oh!” Meghan said and gave it back to Barrymore.

“I was lucky enough,” Barrymore began and flipped the frame to show the camera the black and white snap of her handing Diana the doll behind the scenes of the movie premiere.

Drew Barrymore and Princess Diana at the premiere of E.T. in Leicester Square, London on Dec. 9, 1982.PA Images via Getty

PA Images via Getty

“That’s really special,” Meghan interjected.

“It means so much to me to have met such an incredible human being that transcended everything. It was the honor of my life,” said Barrymore.

“Okay, cool,” said Barrymore, and they both laughed.

The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean

In December 1982, Barrymore, then 7, met Princess Diana at the London premiere ofE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialand handed her a plush version of the film’s alien character. Barrymore’s turn as Gertie in the Steven Spielberg classic proved to be her breakout role, and she later described meeting the Princess of Wales as “the most exciting moment” of her young life.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” she said on a 2018 episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live. “It was the most exciting moment for me to meet a real-life princess. The real-life princess, the People’s princess. Diana was and is and will always be the epitome of a woman that all little girls look up to.”

Drew Barrymore and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the set of The Drew Barrymore Show.The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean

When hostJimmy Kimmeljokingly asked if she thought Diana threw out the toy after, Barrymore insisted that the royal would never.

“No! Look at the way she’s looking at it! She was so kind and so nice,” Barrymore said. Princess Diana was known to connect with children on a special level, perhaps given her experience as a kindergarten teacher before she married the futureKing Charlesin 1981.

“I have to say, growing up with her as a princess was just such a good example,” Barrymore told Kimmel.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Princess Lilibet on the As ever website.Courtesy of As Ever

Courtesy of As Ever

Prince Harry included two diamonds from his late mother’s personal collection in the engagement ring he proposed to Meghan with in 2016 and told the BBC in a later interview he did so “to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together.”

In her most intimate interview in years, the Duchess of Sussex opens up to PEOPLE in this week’sexclusive cover storyabout rediscovering herself beyond motherhood, the challenges of building a business and how her new ventures have sparked a “honeymoon period” with Prince Harry.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex photographed in Montecito, California, in March 2024.

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“My husband met me when I hadThe Tig, and I see this spark in his eye when he sees me doing the thing that I was doing when he first met me,” Meghan says, referring to the lifestyle blog she ran while they were dating.

“It’s almost like a honeymoon period again,” she says, “because it’s exactly how it was in the beginning when he’d watch me scribbling away, writing newsletters, fine-tuning edits and just really being in the details of it. I think he loves watching as much as I love doing that creative process. It’s just been fun. This is who I’ve always been.”

source: people.com