Graydon Carter, the former esteemed editor of Vanity Fair, aptly bestowed upon Meghan Markle the moniker "The Undine Spragg of Montecito" following her marriage to Prince Harry, her subsequent departure from the royal fold, and their relocation to the sunny shores of California. In a conversation with Interview Magazine, as featured in a Thursday publication, the Canadian journalist subtly paralleled the Duchess of Sussex with Undine Spragg, a character etched in Edith Wharton's 1913 novel, "The Customs of the Country."
According to Lit Charts, Undine Spragg, hailing from the heartland of the Midwest, aspires to infiltrate the elite circles of New York City's Fifth Avenue. Throughout the narrative, she navigates a series of marriages and separations with various gentlemen, using these alliances as stepping stones to ascend the social hierarchy and envelop herself in a cocoon of admirers. Spragg, embodying the very essence of avarice and ambition, finds little joy in her accomplishments and is often tormented by the shadows of her failures, as noted on the website. Ultimately, though she attains all her heart desires, a profound dissatisfaction persists.
Representatives for the 43-year-old Markle were unavailable for comment to Page Six at the time of writing. While it remains uncertain why Carter, now 75, chose to liken Markle to "The Undine Spragg of Montecito," it is known that Markle left behind her Hollywood career to wed the 40-year-old Harry in 2018. The couple resided in England until they resigned from their royal duties in 2020, amidst alleged whispers within the family about their son Archie's complexion.
In the same year, Markle and the Duke of Sussex acquired a luxurious $14 million mansion in Montecito, California, where they now nurture their children, Prince Archie, aged 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. The pair has since sought fortune in the Golden State, securing a multi-million dollar pact with Netflix in 2020. Their collaborative endeavors on the platform include the 2022 docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," and the forthcoming 2025 series, "With Love, Meghan." Additionally, they inked a $25 million deal with Spotify in 2021, launching their "Archetypes" podcast series. However, their partnership with the audio platform was severed in 2023, after insiders revealed to The Post that their content output failed to justify their lucrative paycheck.
Earlier this month, Markle announced her return to podcasting with "Confessions," a venture in collaboration with Lemonada Media. The actress also ventured into the lifestyle industry last year with her American Riviera brand, later rebranded as As Ever.
