Meghan Markle has previously described the former First Lady of Canada, Sophie Trudeau, as a ‘dear friend’.

However, according to Sophie, the friendship may have recently cooled, with the ex-wife of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau telling the Times: ‘I know her… but we haven’t spent much time together.’

This is in stark contrast to what the Duchess of Sussex, 42, has said in the past about the relationship, suggesting the two were very close, and describing Sophie as being ’emblematic of strength’.

According to Meghan, speaking during an episode of her Archetypes podcast in November 2022, Sophie ‘used to send me little meditations during my pregnancy’ and voice notes ‘of encouragement’, adding: ‘I’ve gone to her over the years for advice.’

And she also revealed that the two had spent a day together at the Montecito mansion she shares with Prince Harry.

Meghan described the day as being one full of laughter and fun, with their children playing in the swimming pool on pizza-shaped floats while they drank wine ‘on the terrace’ and were ‘giddy like absolute schoolgirls.’

According to the biography Finding Freedom, Meghan and Sophie became friendly in 2016, after the former Suits actor met Justin in 2015, at the One Young World summit in Ottawa that year.

That year, Sophie and Meghan were pictured posing cheek-to-cheek in a photobooth at the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) at exclusive Soho House in London.

According to Finding Freedom authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand: ‘Sophie had given up a career in television, where she had been working as a correspondent on CTV’s eTalk, to take on a more formal role alongside her husband as he hit the campaign trail.

‘The pair became fast email friends, Meghan was interested to hear how Sophie had successfully made the move from an entertainment news correspondent to much-beloved First Lady, all while skillfully dodging controversy.’

In November 2022, Meghan invited Ms Trudeau on to her Spotify podcast Archetypes, to speak on an episode titled Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom.

During the episode, the pair spoke about the challenges of parenting and being a partner to two famous men, and Meghan revealed she threw a pool party that summer for Sophie, in which the two ‘giggled like schoolgirls’ and drank wine on the terrace of her Montecito mansion.

Meghan introduced Sophie as a ‘humanitarian mother’ she met in Toronto, where she was living while filming Suits, at the city’s fashion week seven years ago.

She said: ‘Sophie has become a dear friend and someone who I think is so emblematic of strength that comes from embracing your humanity, even in the face of all these family and home and public pressures, keeping that sense of self while holding up the mantle of what comes with being a parent and a spouse, that’s a full plate.

Meghan went on to describe a day that she spent at her Montecito mansion with Ms Trudeau. She said: ‘This wasn’t our day of being the wives and moms, all perfectly quaffed with up-dos and pearls and demure smiles.

‘This was the other version of us both with wild curly hair and swimsuits and loose linen and huge belly laughs. Big cuddles with our little ones, quiet whispers of girl talk on the terrace, giddy like absolute schoolgirls. We were just having so much fun.’

Speaking during her recent interview with the Times, after discussing Meghan,
Sophie then turned the conversation over to Meghan’s sister-in-law Kate Middleton, revealing that her ‘heart just sunk’ when she heard about the Princess’s cancer diagnosis last month.

It is unclear why Sophie played down her friendship with Meghan, though it has been speculated that it could be linked to the breakdown of Meghan’s friendship with former best friend Jessica Mulroney – who has also previously acted as a stylist for Ms Trudeau.

Despite their formerly close relationship – which included holidays together, as well as Jessica reportedly playing an ‘influential’ role in Megxit, Meghan distanced herself from the mother-of-three after she became embroiled in a race row in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.

At the time, ABC severed ties with stylist Mulroney, confirming that she would not be returning to her occasional role as a fashion contributor on Good Morning America.

And Canadian TV network CTV also cut off ties with the stylist, revealing that it would be pulling all episodes of her wedding-themed reality TV show I Do Redo from its platform.

Despite Jessica not commenting on the friendship, it’s clear it has cooled – the two have not been seen together publicly and Jessica did not feature in the couple’s Netflix series, in which other friends of Harry and Meghan were interviewed.

Some changes in Meghan’s friendship circle have been revealed by the launch of her lifestyle brand.

She is believed to have sent out some 50 jars of strawberry jam – the first product of her American Rivera Orchard (ARO) brand.

Among the recipient are polo wives, socialites and Britney Spears’ former stylist.

Some of those sent the pr sample took to social media to share pictures. Among them were Netflix star Mindy Kaling, her Suits co-star Abigail Spencer and parenting campaigner Kelly McKee Zajfen.

Yet despite the beaming pictures and words of praise from some, others have been notably missing from the clamour surrounding Meghan’s new business.

The noticeable absences of some of her former closest pals suggest they may have been ‘Markled’ – the word is cruelly used by critics to describe how she is seemingly able to swiftly move on from some of those once closest to her.

Culture and PR gurus have told MailOnline that Meghan’s friendship group has evolved to support her new venture, focusing on those who also live in the Californian enclave of Montecito or are women in business.

Culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline: ‘As with all friendships and circles they always change.

‘We can see from whose in and whose out that the old guard of celebrity friends from Meghan’s pre Megxit days seem to have been excluded from this PR campaign and there is a new squad who live in and around the Montecito area and support women in business.

‘It makes sense for her and the brand to have a local squad supporting her as this is all about home made produce and a sense of community.

‘With the success of Suits on Netflix and now with the BBC buying it I think she’s missing a trick by not engaging all her old co stars and wedding guests to help support the brand as it launches as this would boost the brand and create demand.’

Meanwhile public relations expert Mark Borkowski said Meghan’s updated circle of friends proves she still has ‘profound influence’ but added she has started to ‘curate’ friends that fit her new ‘narrative’.

The PR wiz said: ‘Meghan’s circle proves she has a profound influence and will continue. The lineup of names surrounding her in this endeavor certainly speaks volumes about her evolving inner circle.

‘Mindy Kaling and Tracee Ellis Ross, it’s evident she’s curating a circle of influencers and creatives, signaling a shift towards a more culturally resonant sphere.

‘As for those left out in the cold, it’s a curious mix of former confidants and acquaintances who perhaps didn’t quite fit the new narrative. It’s a strategic move, undoubtedly showcasing Meghan’s knack for reinvention and remaining in the news cycle.’