Meghan Markle is keeping "power players" in her Montecito inner circle, it has been claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex concluded her Colombian tour on Sunday night with an impassioned speech from a theatre in Cali, where she paid tribute to the "strong women" in her life who have inspired her to campaign for change.
The 43-year-old said life is "full of surprises" and can be "complex" as she praised her mother, Doria Ragland, for giving her inspiration and being by her side.
The mother-of-two was speaking at the Afro-Descendant Women and Power: Voice of Equity event.
Meghan Markle keeping 'power players' in her Montecito inner circleLe Studio PhotographyAs she gave a nod to the powerful women in her life, Meghan hinted at her very tight inner circle, which has become stronger since she and Prince Harry moved to California in 2020.
Due to these women, Meghan said she now encourages her own daughter, Princess Lilibet, three, to speak up for herself like she was encouraged to do as a child.
The Duchess of Sussex said: "[I] encourage our daughter [...] at three she has found her voice and we are so proud of that.
"For me, I find inspiration in so many of the strong women around me.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle photographed on their Colombia tour
Le Studio Photography
"My mother being one of them. Life is full of surprises and can be quite complex.
"You see something wrong and you go and fix it. As women, we are multi-taskers and fixers.
"We all know how much representation matters."
Meghan's inner circle includes her mother Doria Ragland, tennis player Serena Williams, celebrity Chrissy Teigen, socialite Kris Jenner, actress Kimberly Williams Paisley, model Kelly McKee Zajfen, fashion designers Misha Nonoo and Tracy Robbins, actress Abigail Spencer, and Pilates guru Heather Dorak.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle settled in the US in the summer of 2020
Le Studio Photography
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Meghan Markle has a group of celebrity friends based in Montecito
Le Studio Photography
A close friend of Prince Harry's and Meghan's who does not live in the US, but is certainly a trusted confidante, is Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex's cousin.
The Princess of York has since visited the couple in California. Footage of her trip to see the Sussexes featured in the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, and Eugenie also attended the Super Bowl alongside the duke in 2022.
Meghan and Harry's Netflix documentary revealed the close bond the duchess has with Princess Eugenie.
A source told Us Weekly in December last year that Eugenie and the Sussexes are in "regular communication and FaceTime at least once every couple of months with the children".
