Meghan Markle recalled having to sneak off incognito to New York City in a desperate bid to find “safety” during her time as a senior member of the royal family.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, made a surprise appearance at the grand opening of Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, Calif., near Montecito, over the weekend.

The “Suits” alum briefly spoke onstage at the star-studded event, which was also attended by her pal Oprah Winfrey.


Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the grand opening of Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, Calif., near Montecito, over the weekend.@heysaraprince


Markle spoke about having to sneak off into New York City to visit a book store in 2019.Instagram/@lauralynnejackson
Markle recalled the last time she visited a bookstore — telling listeners it was back in 2019 during a quick visit to the Big Apple to watch her close friend, Serena Williams, play in the US Open.

“For me, sneaking to New York five years ago was a really big deal,” she said, adding that she donned a cap and kept her head down to avoid being recognized.

“I was still so uncomfortable being out in the world. The safety of what I was craving, I knew I could find in a bookstore.”

In a snap shared on social media by author Laura Lynne Jackson, the former actress was seen speaking onstage at the event.


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the bookstore’s founders Victoria Jackson (left) and Jennifer Walsh.@heysaraprince


Oprah Winfrey with Jackson at the opening.@heysaraprince
“Most light-filled evening of speakers…” Jackson captioned the pic.

The event proved to be star-studded, as Winfrey, author Shaka Senghor, and astrologer Jennifer Freed also came along to the opening.

The store’s co-founders, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Victoria Jackson, were also in attendance.

While Markle’s husband Prince Harry wasn’t at the soiree, the Duke of Sussex’s bombshell memoir “Spare” was featured on the “hometown authors” display shelf.


The bookstore will feature Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare.”@heysaraprince
According to Town & Country, it was Harry who came up with the name of the bookstore.

At his party for “Spare” in Beverly Hills, the duke thanked Winfrey, Jackson and Rudolph Walsh for their support, calling the trio his “fairy godmothers.”

As planning was underway, Winfrey told the two founders, “There’s really only one thing you can name it: Godmothers.”


Markle recalled the last time she visited a bookstore in 2019 during a quick visit to the Big Apple to watch her pal Serena Williams play in the US Open.Getty Images


The new bookstore houses Markle’s 2021 children’s book, titled “The Bench.”Paul Martinka
The bookstore’s display also includes Gwyneth Paltrow’s “It’s All Easy,” as well as Markle’s children’s book “The Bench” which she released in 2021.