Meghan Markle’s latest public appearance has once again stirred online debate after a comment she made during a keynote interview left many puzzled.
The Duchess of Sussex described 2025 as her “year of learns,” prompting social media users to brand her remark a “word salad.”
The 44-year-old made the statement during a keynote session at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit in Washington, DC—an event that has since gone viral for reasons the Duchess may not have intended.
Meghan’s Vision for Growth
Speaking on stage at the Salamander DC Hotel with Fortune’s editor in chief Alyson Shontell, Meghan shared her plans to “leverage her significant influence” and “build a successful, long-lasting business empire” through her lifestyle brand As Ever and Netflix series With Love, Meghan.
When asked about the possibility of a third season of her show, the Duchess avoided giving a direct answer. Instead, she explained that her team was testing out new approaches—ranging from longer episodes to quick, two-minute content formats.
“Part of what we’re testing out now is, it’s amazing to sit and watch a show for 30 minutes, but how can I give you a recipe in two minutes? And where can I share that with you? And how that continues to grow As Ever,” she said.
Reflecting on the process, she added, “So I think looking at that format—again, it’s a year of learns—so we’re able to say, ‘Eight episodes for two seasons—it’s a lot of work.’”
A Struggling Series and New Netflix Deal
Her comments came amid reports that With Love, Meghan season two failed to perform well, missing Netflix’s Top 10 list and earning only a 27 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Meghan also spoke about her new “first look” deal with Netflix, which replaces the previous overall contract she and Prince Harry held with the platform. Despite speculation that the shift was a downgrade, Meghan insisted it gives them greater creative freedom.
“My husband and I were in an overall deal with Netflix—now being in a first look deal is also exciting because it gives us flexibility to go to our partners first, and then at the same time be able to shop content that might not be the right fit for Netflix but has a home somewhere else,” she explained.
Social Media Reaction: “Word Salad” or Wisdom?
Online reactions to Meghan’s “year of learns” phrase came swiftly. One X user asked, “A year of learns… what is this baby talk?” Another joked, “Add it to the word salad,” while a third quipped, “Afterwards it will be a month of listens. Maybe a week of reads?”
The catchphrase has since become a trending topic, dividing opinions between those who saw it as inspirational and others who found it vague or pretentious.
Reflecting on the Past and Healing
Elsewhere in her keynote, Meghan reflected on how her 19 months living in the UK had affected her emotionally, describing the period after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 as a time for recovery.
“I think five years ago was a very different situation for all of us, and Archie was so little and I had just gotten pregnant with Lily around that same time,” she told Shontell. “So we were nesting, nesting and healing… There was no plan. It was just, let’s get through these next couple of years.”
Recognition and Rumors
During her East Coast visit, Meghan and Prince Harry were honored with Project Healthy Mind’s Humanitarians of the Year Award at the organization’s World Mental Health Day Gala.
She also reportedly met quietly with Vogue’s new editor, Chloe Malle, at the Whitby Hotel in Manhattan—a meeting that has fueled speculation that another Vogue cover appearance could be in the works for the Duchess.