Meghan Markle's Closest Friends Share Messages Of Support On Social Media

Meghan Markle's inner circle is rallying around the duchess following claims of "bullying" and "harassment" from two former palace aides during her two-year tenure as a working royal.

Some of the duchess's confidantes, including friends from college, producers from her time on Suits, and even her trusted makeup artist Daniel Martin have chimed in on social media sharing their favourite memories with Meghan and defending her character against what Meghan's team is calling a "calculated smear campaign."

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One of Meghan's friends from college, producer and author Lindsay Roth, shared two throwback images of the duchess on Instagram: one from Roth's own wedding day and another from their college graduation at Northwestern University.

"Meg’s M.O. has always been kindness; goodwill runs in her bones. I know this to be true after 22 years of very close friendship. I have seen firsthand how she treats her friends and their families, and her colleagues," wrote Roth in the caption. "If she’s driving with you in the passenger seat, she will fling her right arm in front of you at the slightest bump in a gesture of love to ensure your safety. If you have a specific goal, she will help you get there, and your passions will become hers on your behalf. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Meg—and I hope more of you do—you will see the altruistic, magnanimous friend who I am so lucky to have in my corner."

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Roth added that to her, Meghan is far "more than just a cover story." ⁣

"She was this woman when we were students together at Northwestern University; she was this woman in Los Angeles when her days were spent auditioning; she was this woman living in Toronto as Rachel Zane on Suits; she was this woman before you knew she was dating Harry; she was this woman after you knew was dating Harry; she was this woman when she became Duchess of Sussex and she is still - without a doubt - this very same woman today."

Meghan's makeup artist Daniel Martin also came to the duchess's defence, sharing a photo of him primping her ahead of an appearance. Martin shared a proverb from the Tao Te Ching to express his friendship with the Duchess of Sussex: "Because she isn't self centred, people can see the light in her. Because she does not boast of herself, she becomes a shining example. Because she does not glorify herself, she becomes a person of merit. Because she wants nothing from the world, the world cannot overcome her."

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Suits writer Jon Cowan tweeted his support of Meghan, expressing that she was only a joy to work with during their time together on the TV series.

"It’s also possible the Duchess of Sussex is a good person thrust into an unimaginable world. Having spent 3 years working with her in her pre-Duchess days, I saw a warm, kind, caring person. I know nothing of her current situation but she gets the benefit of the doubt in my book," tweeted Cowan.

Her former Suits costar Patrick J. Adams also chimed in on the conversation in a lengthy Twitter thread, calling out the Royal family for "promoting and amplifying accusations of bullying.'"

"Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment," wrote Adams. "My friend Meghan is way out of your league."

Director Silver Tree, also shared a moving note about Meghan, expressing how the duchess is a doting and attentive friend who has often been there for her and her family during tough times.

"When my son was going through a scary, complicated diagnosis she is the friend who stopped everything and helped map out, step by step, how we would navigate things," wrote Tree. "She called all the people, all the places when I was too paralysed to form a plan. That’s another one of her gifts- making you feel like you can get through anything."

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Actress Janina Gavankar, who famously captured Meghan and Prince Harry's first Christmas family photo with their son Archie, also shared her sentiments.

"I have known Meghan for 17 years. Here’s what she is: kind, strong, open. Here’s what she’s not: 'a bully'," wrote Gavankar. "ANY of us who know her, feel the same thing from her broken silence: Relief. The truth shall set you free."

Meghan's costar and close friend, Abigail Spencer, wrote on Instagram, "It was 2015 and I was in Austin at a work event, headed to dinner at a local outdoor, dusty establishment. My childhood friend and her husband had come to Austin for the weekend to see me. On the way to dinner I was texting Meg telling her where I was going and that she and her cast mates should join me. I wanted her to meet my Rectify family, wanted my friends to get a taste of the local fare, wanted Meg to meet my childhood friend, and most of all I wanted everyone to meet Meg."

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"Meg arrived. This incredibly singular beauty danced over to the group, with a huge, easy smile, to warmly greet the table," Spencer wrote. "Meg and I hadn't seen each other in a minute. But when we did, boy oh boy. Picture butterflies trying to hug. After our greeting, she got right to business: getting to know my friends. She was so curious about each of them, relishing the time... with them. Disarming them with her charm and genuine curiosity. I was so touched."

Spencer continued, "By this point I had known and worked with Meg for years. She’s what I’d call 'an on-call friend.' At the ready. She’s modeled nothing but generous professionalism on sets and an even more generous friendship in private. And on that night, she took my friends as her own."

Per the actress, "I've learned so much from Meg. The power of a handwritten note. The loveliness of surprise flowers. That she has a perpetual rolodex in her brain of recommendations for the heart, soul, & body. When I’m headed to a new town, there’s a hotel or dinner reservation at the ready, as well as a connection with one of her friends to show me around so I feel less alone. She’s been there for me - and physically held me - in my darkest hours: After my dad died. After a gut wrenching break up she brought me into her home & nursed me back to health. Soup & salad waiting in the kitchen, just, if I needed it. She’s taken my son in as her own. I can’t tell you the value of having another working mother I can lean on when with the pressures of visibility & child-rearing woes become overwhelming. She’s always been a safe harbour for me, someone I can fall apart in front of... and with. And I have."

On Sunday night, Gabrielle Union shared a photo taken with Duchess Meghan. "You already know what time it is," Union wrote on Instagram. "I hope we all continue to rally around women who dare to stand up for themselves and others. We see you, we support you, we got your back. 🖤."

This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US.