Meghan Markle is facing fresh criticism over claims that she was “too friendly” with a junior royal staffer during her time in the UK. The Duchess of Sussex, who lived in Britain for two years after marrying Prince Harry in 2018, has been accused of overstepping traditional royal boundaries by befriending palace employees.
According to The Times, author Tom Quinn’s new book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, sheds light on how Meghan’s American approach to relationships clashed with the rigid customs of the royal household. A former royal staff member is quoted as saying, “When someone arrives from the United States and tries to change things, the old guard really don’t like it.
And the old guards are terrific snobs. They have to be less obviously snobbish today, but it’s still there.” The insider also claimed that if Prince William had pursued a relationship with Meghan, it would have been met with even greater resistance. “I can tell you that if William had wanted to marry Meghan Markle, it would’ve been a step too far.
But Harry was never going to be king. The courtiers and ladies-in-waiting and communications teams thought Meghan would keep Harry out of trouble, give him something to focus on.” Beyond her interactions with staff, Meghan is also said to have been overly affectionate with Prince William, leading to speculation within the palace.
Reports suggest that her warm and tactile nature was misinterpreted by royal staff, fueling unnecessary gossip. “Meghan hugged him virtually every time they bumped into each other,” the book claims. “The hugging and cheek-kissing fueled gossip among the staff that Meghan was flirting with William, which she was obviously not, but the tense atmosphere caused by all the touchy-feeliness (and the resultant gossip) deepened the rift between the brothers.”
The book further suggests that Meghan’s natural warmth clashed with William’s reserved personality, which was shaped by his father, King Charles III. “In fact, William’s rather awkward, even inhibited personality — an inheritance from his father — was baffling for the more spontaneous Meghan.”
While Meghan and Harry have long maintained that their departure from royal life was due to press scrutiny and institutional constraints, reports like these continue to highlight tensions within the palace. Whether these revelations will further strain the already fragile relationship between the Sussexes and the royal family remains to be seen.