Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Hit Up Texas BBQ Spot After SXSW Conference

Meghan Markle recently participated in the SXSW Conference panel alongside big Hollywood names. After the panel, the Duchess of Sussex and her husband, Prince Harry, visited a Texas BBQ spot, La Barbecue, where they indulged in brisket and sausages.

The eatery's director of operations, Cory Rivademar, gushed about the couple's kindness and Meghan's praise for the BBQ, noting that the duo were really sweet.

During a recent trip to Austin, Texas, for the SXSW Conference, Meghan Markle participated in a panel discussion titled "Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen," alongside Brooke Shields, Katie Couric, Nancy Wang Yuen, and moderator Errin Haines, while Prince Harry sat in the audience.

Following the event, Meghan and Harry made a surprise visit to La Barbecue, and the Director of Operations, Cory Rivademar, shared details of their visit with People Magazine, noting how kind and nice the royal couple was.

"Their visit was a scheduled thing. They let us know that she wanted to come by but did not know Harry was coming," Rivademar said.

Rivademar continued: "They came in, and they toured the pits with Frankie, who is the pit guy, and talked about how hot it was around the pits, which is funny because this is Texas, and actually, it can be much hotter than today."

According to Rivademar, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex indulged in brisket and sausages at la Barbecue and were "absolutely lovely" while posing for photos with both staff and fellow diners as the restaurant remained open to the public.

After their departure, Rivademar shared that he received a text from Meghan's representatives, expressing that it was the finest BBQ they'd ever tasted.

Reflecting on their visit, Rivademar noted: "I thought they seemed happy and sweet, he's very lovely. She spoke about their kid loving the new Disney movie, 'Wish.'"

Rivademar added, "Very genuine and very loving. Happy couple. Nice to people who didn't even know what was going on."

During the panel on Friday, Meghan opened up about her struggles as a new mother, highlighting the detrimental impact of social media bullying on her mental health.

"The bulk of the bullying and the abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant, with Archie and with Loli, and with a newborn with each of them," she revealed.

The former actress emphasized the vulnerability of new mothers and how social media exacerbates their challenges, stating: "When you're a new mom, it's a really vulnerable time."

She continued: "The effect that social media can have on new mothers, even just the lack of sleep because they spend all this time scrolling, but it can also be really dizzying for them to see this portrayal of motherhood that looks so perfect when we all know it's not perfect. We all know that it's messy."

Despite the challenges of motherhood, Meghan expressed gratitude for her husband's support, describing him as an "incredible partner and hands-on father."

She emphasized Harry's role in supporting her and their family, "I'm fortunate in that, among the privileges I have in my life, I have an incredible partner. My husband is such a hands-on father and such a supporter of me and my family. That I don't take for granted. That is a real blessing."

In a lighthearted moment on "Good Morning America," Harry opened up about fatherhood, emphasizing the joy of watching their children grow and develop unique personalities.

"The kids are growing up like all kids do, very, very fast. They've both got an incredible sense of humor and make us laugh and keep us grounded every single day, like most kids do. I'm just grateful to be a dad," he said.