Meghan, Duchess of Sussex goes barefoot to put her guests at ease

Speaking to author and lifestyle creator Courtney Adamo for a Godmothers Bookstore livestream, Meghan explained: "It demystifies. People walk in and go, 'Oh, she's in this with me.' And what are they drawn to? Your kitchen. They come right in, and suddenly everyone's a little bit softened."

The As Ever founder likes to have a cider or hot toddy on the stove and for guests to serve themselves.

She said: "I love people being able to serve themselves, and having things on the stove that everyone can help themselves to.

"I always have music on in the background."

When she travels, Meghan always takes along a portable speaker so she can play music, and a scented candle.

She said: "I always travel with a candle. I am so conscious and sensitive to fragrance and I associate that with home."

Elsewhere in the discussion with her old college friend, the former Suits star explained how she uses the "rose and thorn" ritual with her children, which she finds helpful when kids prefer to only give "yes and no answers".

She said: "Our daughter she's four and she's a very strong personality and she's incredible.

"And now she's in this moment where I say, 'What's your rose and your thorn?' And she goes, 'My day was just a blast.' "

Meghan recalled how she and Courtney, who were in the same sorority at Northwestern University, developed a particularly strong bond after making a trip back from their California homes back to college in Chicago in 2001.

She said: "We were meant to fly [to Chicago] but we here's why we didn't: because 9/11 happened on that same day.

"So the two of us ended up driving 30 hours over three days. 10 hours a day. From Los Angeles to Chicago together at one of the most fragile, tender times in this country."

The trip made the duchess realise the importance of "community" and "what people need in moments when you are wanting to feel safe."

She added: "And there's no safer place that you feel than in your home."