The Duchess of Sussex has said the Queen’s death was a “complicated time”, in a US magazine interview.

Speaking to Variety magazine, she described how Prince Harry remained “ever the optimist” despite the difficult times, telling her after the Queen had died: “Now she’s reunited with her husband.”

Meghan talked fondly about her relationship with the Queen and how “fortunate” she felt to have shared a “nice warmth” with her.

“I’ve reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt,” Meghan said.

She also described the Queen as the “most shining example” of female leadership.

The Duchess, who was in the UK the week the Queen died, also said: “I’m really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time.”

She was asked how her family had processed their loss, and replied that it has given them “a lot of perspective”.

“It makes you wonder what you want to focus your energy on. Right now, we feel energised and excited about all of the things we’ve been building toward,” she continued.

‘Nice to be able to trust somebody with our story’

Speaking specifically about the much-hyped Netflix series directed by documentary maker Liz Garbus, Meghan said it had been “nice to be able to trust someone with our story – a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired – even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it”.

Sounding perhaps like a move to distance her from the show’s presentation of the couple and their new life in California.

The interview, carried out both before and after the death of the Queen, was accompanied by a glamorous photo shoot.

Scrabble, Wordle and a ‘solid bolognese’

She also covered topics from her favourite romcom film – When Harry Met Sally – to her love of cooking, and how she makes “a really solid bolognese”.

Describing family life in the Californian town of Montecito, she said she played speed Scrabble and Wordle once the kids are in bed, while also trying to relearn French.

Meghan said Archie’s favourite TV show was Octonauts, and that she would support either of her children if they wanted a career in entertainment.

As for her own acting days, she said: “No, I’m done,” but added “I guess never say never”.

The Duchess knows how to make headlines, and these carefully crafted words will either irritate or delight readers.

Her detractors will see this as another self-centred piece of publicity, but to her fans it is yet more insight into the couple’s life and their attempts to do things their way.