Author Matt Haig has shared a thank you note he received from Meghan after the Duchess of Sussex featured his poem in her guest-edited Vogue issue.
The Duchess of Sussex, who turned 38 today, revealed her flawless handwriting in a thank you letter sent to an author, praising his book ‘A note from the beach’ as a ‘household favourite’.
Posting a picture of the letter from the Duchess, written in calligraphy on a monogrammed ‘M’ card, Matt admitted that he ‘wishes he could tell my young hopeless suicidal self about all of this magic to stay alive for.’
In the September issue of British Vogue, Meghan hailed his poem, which is an ode from a beach telling swimmers not to be body-conscious.
The Duchess revealed her flawless handwriting in a thank you letter sent to Matt Haig, the author who wrote what she called one of her favourite books – Notes From A Nervous Planet
In the September issue of British Vogue, Meghan hailed his poem, which is an ode from a beach telling swimmers not to be body-conscious
Posting a picture of the letter from the Duchess, written in calligraphy on a monogrammed ‘M’ card, Matt admitted that he ‘wishes he could tell my young hopeless suicidal self about all of this magic to stay alive for.’
In the note, written on headed paper, The Duchess said: ‘Dear Matt, since reading ‘Notes on a Nervous Planet’ last fall, it instantly became a household favourite.
‘When I knew I would be guest editing the September issue of British Vogue I knew you had to be a part of it.
‘Thank you for being a force for change. The world needs more of you!’
He shared his glee in receiving the note and said that he can now ‘die happy’.
Matt said: ‘Got home to some unusual mail, amid all the bills and magazines.
‘An envelope from Kensington Palace.
‘HRH Duchess Meghan called me a ‘force for change’ and now I can die happy.
Meghan Markle has revealed her favourite poem is ‘A note from the beach’ by Matt Haig which tells swimmers not to be so body-conscious
‘This year is beyond anything I imagined, years ago, getting rejection after rejection from publishers.
‘I would love to go back in time and tell my young hopeless suicidal self about all of this magic to stay alive for.’
He quipped on Meghan’s perfect writing and added: ‘Persist. (I have now enrolled for handwriting classes.)”
Writing in Vogue, Meghan introduced the piece by saying: ‘A personal favourite and the best reminder during the summer season… or any season, as a matter of fact.’
Haig is a prominent mental health advocate who has been open with his struggles in a bid to help others going through the same thing.
In his mid-20s, he struggled with depression and anxiety, and nearly took his own life.
He added that Meghan’s choice to include his piece is a ‘surreal honour’ and that he is glad she ‘digs my stupid humour.’
‘This whole year feels like an impossible dream to be honest. Probably means I’m about to have a piano land on my head.’
After fighting his way back from the brink, Haig turned his experiences into a best-selling memoir – Reasons To Stay Alive.
His follow-up book, Notes on a Nervous Planet, deals with how technological advances and social media can exacerbate underlying mental health issues.
The piece the duchess chose comes from Notes on a Nervous Planet, and comes from the perspective of the beach itself.
It reads: ‘I literally don’t give a f***. I am entirely indifferent to your body mass index.’
It continues: ‘Even the other people on the beach don’t care about your body. They don’t. They are staring at the sea, or they are obsessed with their own appearance.’
Haig himself seemed delighted about his inclusion in the issue, sharing a snap of the page on Instagram with the caption: ‘Officially in vogue.’
Body positivity is something Meghan has touched on in the past, and one of her hand-picked ‘Forces for Change’ – Jameela Jamil – is a prominent activist in this area.
In October 2018, Meghan discussed photo editing while visiting Live for Tomorrow, an online youth programme, at the Maranui Cafe in Wellington, New Zealand.
She said at the time: ‘You don’t know whether she’s born with it or maybe it’s a filter.’
The duchess was also praised for being a ‘realistic example’ of a post-baby body after welcoming Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in May.
A source told US Weekly: ‘It’s not easy to lose the weight, but she’s happy to be a realistic example for new mothers.’