EXCLUSIVE: Why Meghan Markle is ‘Secretly Seething’ Her Pal Abigail Spencer Shared Old Snaps of Them From Her Acting Days
**Meghan Markle “Secretly Seething” Over Friend Abigail Spencer’s Throwback ‘Suits’ Photos**
*Published: September 19, 2025, 6:14 p.m. ET*
Meghan Markle is reportedly “secretly seething” after her close friend Abigail Spencer shared throwback photos of them together from their days on the hit TV show *Suits*. According to sources speaking to RadarOnline.com, the Duchess of Sussex hates being reminded of her past life as what some describe as a “low-rent actress.”
Meghan, who turned 44 on August 4, shares the same birthday with Spencer, 43. To mark the occasion, Spencer posted affectionate words on Instagram alongside several photos of the two during their years working together on *Suits*. Markle left the show in 2018, ahead of her engagement to Prince Harry.
### Old ‘Suits’ Photos Clash With Meghan’s Carefully Built Brand
While Meghan publicly thanked her friend for the birthday tribute, insiders reveal she was privately frustrated by the reminder of her former career. “Meghan cannot stand being reminded of that chapter,” said one Hollywood source. “She’s desperate to rebrand herself as a global humanitarian and lifestyle entrepreneur, not as the actress who once scraped by in cable TV.”
The source added, “Having those old pictures dragged out again undermines the carefully curated image she’s built. It’s the same way Victoria Beckham hates being reminded she was in the Spice Girls after reinventing herself as a fashion designer.”
### Meghan’s Birthday Reply Masked Private Fury
The photos showed Markle in a halter dress and later in jeans and a black coat. Spencer’s warm caption described her as “champagne in human form” and expressed gratitude for their enduring friendship. Markle responded with a birthday greeting of her own.
However, her inner circle insists the response was made “through gritted teeth” and “all for show,” as the duchess was left fuming behind the scenes. “She’s tried to bury her acting past because she associates it with struggle and rejection,” another insider explained. “It reminds her of hustling for bit parts and never being taken seriously. To Meghan, that life feels humiliating now that she’s positioning herself as royalty and a thought leader.”
### Meghan Lacks Success To Rival Gwyneth Paltrow’s Empire
Friends have compared her ambitions to those of Gwyneth Paltrow, who successfully reinvented herself from Oscar-winning actress to lifestyle mogul with her brand Goop. But these comparisons, insiders say, only highlight how Markle has struggled in both arenas.
“Meghan would love to be seen the way Gwyneth is now – as a tastemaker who left Hollywood behind,” said a Los Angeles media executive. “The difference is Gwyneth had an A-list film career before she pivoted. Meghan will never match that success, either on screen or in business.”
### Meghan’s Ventures and Public Image
The duchess has pursued content creation projects with Netflix and Spotify alongside her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Yet critics point out the stark contrast between Markle’s ventures and Paltrow’s multi-million-dollar empire.
“Gwyneth turned herself into a powerhouse entrepreneur,” said the executive. “Meghan is still trying to get traction, and posts like Abigail’s just remind people she wasn’t a major actress to begin with.”
### Friendship and Control Over Public Narrative
Spencer’s message was heartfelt, describing Markle as a “sister in this life, and beyond.” Yet, friends say even that sentiment grated on Meghan. “Meghan likes controlling the narrative around her,” explained one source close to her circle. “When other people post things that don’t fit her brand, she finds it infuriating – even if the intention is kind.”
### Meghan’s Insecurities Stirred by Throwback Photos
While Markle continues to cultivate her public role in California alongside her husband Prince Harry, 40, insiders say the throwback photos stirred insecurities she would rather keep buried.
“She wants the world to see her as a powerful figure shaping culture, not as the struggling actress she once was,” said a Hollywood source. “But the reality is, she can never erase where she came from.”
https://radaronline.com/p/meghan-markle-instagram-secretly-seething-abigail-spencer-photos-birthday/
