Since moving to the United States in 2020, Meghan Markle has made several pointed remarks about the royal family, at one point even claiming that some senior royals behaved “like babies.”
Her frustrations with life inside the monarchy have long been known, and just 18 months after marrying Prince Harry, the couple made the decision to step down as working royals.
Dislike for Royal Hierarchy
Royal author Tom Quinn shed light on Markle’s unhappiness with certain members of the royal household. In his book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, he revealed, “Meghan really disliked the hierarchy,” quoting a former team member. “Many of the rules do seem pretty pointless and exist only so that the relative status of each senior royal is protected.”
As reported by Showbiz Cheatsheet, Quinn added, “And the senior royals are such a sensitive bunch — if one gets a gold pen or a new car, they all want one. Meghan thought they behaved like babies.”
Clashing Cultures: Hollywood vs. Royal Tradition
The sharp differences between Hollywood’s free-spirited lifestyle and the monarchy’s centuries-old customs made Meghan’s adjustment particularly difficult. Still, her lack of royal experience did not stop her from approaching her new role with confidence.
Quinn shared that her early days at Kensington Palace felt awkward for staff members. One insider recalled, “It was extraordinary because she was so confident that you could see she wanted to run the meeting rather than learn about the royal family through the meeting. She was a great believer in grabbing the bull by the horns, except the royal family is not really a bull.”
According to the Daily Mail, the same source remarked, “Meghan thought she knew better than an institution that has been in business for 1,000 years and more.”
“Duchess Difficult” Reputation
Quinn also wrote that some staff believed Markle displayed what they called a “messiah complex,” focusing on becoming the most famous and beloved member of the royal family. Her assertive and often uncompromising approach reportedly rubbed certain aides the wrong way, leading to the nickname “Duchess Difficult.”
Even so, not everyone viewed her negatively. Quinn explained that Markle had a loyal circle of admirers among the palace’s everyday staff, who respected her boldness and drive for change.
Resentment Over Unequal Treatment
Another source of tension for Meghan was what she perceived as an unfair dynamic within the palace. She reportedly disliked how Prince William received preferential treatment from staff compared to Harry, owing to William’s future role as king.
This struggle was highlighted in the couple’s six-part Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, where the Duchess spoke openly about feeling suffocated by the institution. She revealed how deeply the pressure affected her, admitting it pushed her to the point of contemplating self-harm.