Meghan Sussex’s connection to Cookie Queens, a new documentary following four young Girl Scouts through the pressures and excitement of cookie season, extends beyond her role as executive producer. Director Alysa Nahmias told People that Meghan’s childhood in the Girl Scouts created an immediate personal connection to the film.
“Meghan was a Girl Scout herself, and her mom was her troop leader,” Nahmias said. She added that Meghan belonged to the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, the same council as Nikki and her sisters.
Meghan and Prince Harry serve as executive producers through Archewell Productions. Nikki said learning that she would meet the Duchess felt surreal.
Meghan Markle’s connection to Cookie Queens goes beyond her role as an executive producer.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, director Alysa Nahmias says the Duchess of Sussex’s own childhood as a Girl Scout helped forge an immediate connection to the documentary, which follows four girls — Olive, 12, Nikki, 9, Shannon Elizabeth, 8, and Ara, 5 — navigating the highs and pressures of cookie season.
“One interesting thing that we love about the personal connection is Meghan was a Girl Scout herself, and her mom was her troop leader,” Nahmias tells PEOPLE.
People
Meghan Shares Prince Harry’s Advice on Perspective
During the screening, Meghan reflected on a piece of advice Prince Harry gave her about navigating difficult moments. Drawing on his experience as a British Army helicopter pilot, Harry once reminded her that even when a storm is raging below, the sun is still shining above it.
Meghan said the message taught her to step back and look at challenges from a wider perspective. Difficult experiences can feel overwhelming while they are happening, but people often survive them, reach goals they once thought were impossible and even exceed their own expectations.
She encouraged the young girls to remember that no obstacle remains insurmountable forever. “There’s just always that sun shining above it,” Meghan said, offering a hopeful message about resilience, ambition and trusting that hard moments will pass.
Meghan Celebrates Cookie Queens
The Los Angeles screening of Cookie Queens celebrated ambition, friendship and girlhood. Meghan attended in her role as executive producer, joining director Alysa Nahmias and the film’s young participants.
Her involvement feels especially fitting because she once belonged to the same Girl Scout council as one of the girls featured in the documentary. That personal history gives her support for the film more meaning than a standard producer credit. Cookie Queens arrives in US cinemas on 7 August.
From Girl Scout to Executive Producer
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The cast and crew of ‘Cookie Queens’ came together in Los Angeles for a special screening of the documentary. Meghan Sussex, Duchess of Sussex, posed with director Alysa Nahmias and young stars Olive, Ara, Shannon Elizabeth, Nyah, Nala and Nikki at AMC The Grove 14 on July 28, 2026.
Alysa Nahmias and Meghan Sussex
Embed from Getty ImagesMeghan Sussex, Olive, Ara, Alysa Nahmias, Celia, Shannon Elizabeth, Nyah, Nala and Nikki
Embed from Getty ImagesJessica Radloff, Alysa Nahmias and Meghan Sussex
Inside the Los Angeles Screening
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Meghan Sussex, Amanda Jones and Alysa Nahmias
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