MEGHAN ON A MISSION

No more drama or dishing dirt on the royals the duchess is laser-focused on rebranding and the future

- NICI DE WET

A SUNNY day in golden California and a woman and her friends are hiking in the hills. She’s casual-cool with a bandana around her neck and a hat on her head, relaxed and smiling a she strides along and chats to her pals. Her father-in-law might have been coronated the day before in rain-drenched London, but crowns, kings and carriages appear to be the last thing on her mind.

Meghan has a brand-new focus these days – and it’s out with the old and in with the new.

Those in the know say the 41-year-old’s decision not to watch the crown being placed on Charles’ head wasn’t only about the fact that it was son Archie’s fourth birthday that day.

It also sent a message: Meghan 2.0 is what it’s all about now.

Attending the coronation was never her plan and Omid Scobie, the Sussexes’ friend and biographer, has even gone so far as to say she wanted to “protect her peace”.

She also wants to ensure she remains relevant and is charting a new course after seeing her and Harry’s popularity plummet – in the US as well as the UK – after the release of their Netflix documentary and Harry’s memoir, Spare.

“She’s been planning, parenting and regrouping behind the scenes,” says Gordon Rayner, associate editor and columnist for The Telegraph.

Meghan. “It’s time for a new tactic. The Meghan who moaned about every slight, who took to multiple media platforms to insinuate the royals were racists and didn’t care that she was suicidal – that Meghan is gone. Forget she ever existed!

“The new Meghan is carefree, joyous and living her best life out loud.”

MEGHAN ON AN A-LIST MISSION