Meghan reveals Archie and Lilibet’s classic British trait despite their all-American upbringing in California

Meghan Markle has revealed that her children call her ‘mummy’ and not the American version, ‘mommy’.

In her first-ever podcast interview, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, sat down for an unfiltered conversation with US-based podcast host and founder of IT Cosmetics, Jamie Kern Lima.

During the interview, released on Monday, Jamie handed Meghan a letter from her children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, that she had never seen before. ‘I have a letter from your husband and your kids,’ Jamie said.

The mother-of-two responded, ‘Was this in the press?’ Jamie confirmed, ‘No one’s ever seen this before.’

The interviewer then asked Meghan to read the letter if she was comfortable doing so.

Reading the note from her children, Meghan said, ‘From Archie and Lili via Papa. We love your cooking, we love your pancakes, and we love, love, love your hugs. You’re the best mummy and we love you.’

The 43-year-old smiled at the letter’s content, adding that it was ‘so sweet’ and that Archie and Lilibet are ‘the greatest’.

However, Meghan particularly enjoyed one key detail, ‘I also love that it’s ‘mummy’, which is very British, instead of mommy’.

The 43-year-old has previously revealed how, despite living in Montecito, Archie and Lilibet speak like their father, Prince Harry, 40.

Talking on the Drew Barrymore Show in March ahead of the release of her Netflix series, Meghan revealed her ‘favourite thing’ that her children do that reminds them of their father.

She said: ‘Oh, some of the words that they still say with a British accent, so they’ll say z-e-b-r-a and what else do they say?’

‘They have these little moments where it comes out and because they have very American accents, but they say words that are just like him and I think it’s adorable,’ she continued.

The couple’s eldest, Archie, was born in the United Kingdom when they were still working royals, while daughter Lilibet was born in California.

Elsewhere in Monday’s podcast interview, Meghan broke down in tears as she revealed the ‘love language gift’ she will give her children when they turn 18.

The Duchess of Sussex became emotional at one point as she reflected on her experience of motherhood, while telling Jamie that ‘I really want to be good at it’.

She explained how she hoped her children would grow up to appreciate that ‘no one has ever loved someone more than the way our mom loved us’, as Meghan became visibly overwhelmed while talking about Lilibet, three.

While sharing how she’s putting together a set of ‘tools’ to help on her journey as a mother, Meghan said she was inspired by one of her ‘mom friends’ who set up ‘secret emails’ for her children to send them pictures and letters when they’re older.

‘I thought it was such a great time capsule to create for them,’ Meghan continued, ‘and so I created for the kids these email addresses…that I will give them at some point.

‘Before I go to bed, every night, I email them,’ she added, explaining these emails contain pictures ‘you’re not going to frame’, their report cards, and memories from their childhood.

Meghan said she hopes that when Archie and Lili open these emails, ‘maybe when they’re 16, maybe when they’re 18, they will feel ‘she has loved us so much’.

Meghan wiped away tears as she talked about her ‘love language’ for Archie and Lili, explaining ‘it’s not about the grandeur of a gesture’ but the small moments that say ‘I see you, I’m nurturing you’ that don’t cost anything but ‘will mean everything’ to them. 

‘I’m just so proud of them,’ she continued, as she told Jamie she wasn’t ‘expecting’ the rush of emotions rising up in her. 

‘They’re just so great,’ Meghan praised Archie and Lili, before quipping: ‘This is why it’s so nice to not have makeup on.’ 

It comes after the Duchess shared unseen photographs of ‘my little loves’ Archie and Lilibet on Instagram yesterday as the Sussexes spent a ‘cosy weekend’ at their home in Montecito. 

Princess Lilibet could be seen with her hair down and wearing a pink top, while Prince Archie wore a navy blue, long-sleeved shirt. 

Both the children have the same fiery red hair as their father, the Duke of Sussex, and seem to have developed strong American accents since the family relocated to the United States in 2020. 

Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 and moved to Montecito, California, where they have lived for over five years. 

Lilibet’s adorable American accent was heard for the first time as the three-year-old gave her one-word verdict on her mother’s jam this weekend.

Meghan posted a video on Instagram in which she can be heard asking Lilibet what she thinks of her strawberry jam while preparing a fresh batch of the sweet treat.

‘It’s beautiful,’ the toddler gushed, as her Californian accent shone through. 

Meanwhile, the Duchess also posted a shot of a fish pond located on her and Harry’s sprawling $14million Montecito estate, as Archie excitedly asks his ‘mama’ to watch him feed the koi.

‘Mama, watch it!’ he says enthusiastically. ‘I just fed it!’

Meghan, laughing, replies: ‘Good job, that’s enough.’

Since relaunching her Instagram account on New Year’s Day, Meghan has routinely shared glimpses of her life in Montecito, California – including pictures and videos of her and Prince Harry’s two children.

In February, Meghan shared a Valentine’s Day post that included a video of the former Suits actress making themed bagels with Archie and Lilibet – much to the delight of her fans.

One person wrote: ‘Harry and Meghan are blessed with a beautiful family. Archie is so tall now and Lili seems so comfortable in the kitchen. She is wielding that butter knife like a pro.’

Another added: ‘OMG a little Glimpse of Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet. What a beautiful day.’

Ahead of the premiere of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, last month, Meghan shared a photo of her and Lilibet being joined by ‘Auntie’ Serena Williams for a game of Candy Land. 

A separate video Meghan shared featured Archie’s voice, as he helped her to water some plants.

Royal experts have suggested Harry and Meghan appear to have very different views when it comes to sharing photographs of their children with the public.

During a recent appearance on Hello!’s Right Royal podcast, the magazine’s royal editor Emily Nash joined The Sun’s royal editor Matt Wilkinson for a conversation about the topic.

‘My understanding of this is that, up to a certain stage, Harry would much rather his children were not seen,’ Matt said.

He added: ‘Whereas Meghan grew up in California, she once said she would like to have a more California style lifestyle, take them down the beach, go out, do stuff. She doesn’t want to hide them away.’

He noted that the Duchess does not share her children’s faces in images and videos she posts – something the panel said Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also do when it comes to images of their children.

While the panel discussed the possibility of Archie and Lilibet getting snapped when they are older, Matt said: ‘I think Harry’s living in [like things are] the way they were when he was a child […] the media landscape has shifted.’