Fresh off the glitz of Hollywood, Meghan Markle believed her engagement to Prince Harry would usher in a fairytale life inside Windsor Castle. Instead, she was handed Nottingham Cottage — a modest home on the grounds of Kensington Palace — and a reality far removed from the grandeur she expected.
Expectations Shattered
Royal biographer Tom Quinn writes in his 2023 book Gilded Youth that Meghan’s disillusionment was unlike anything seen before. “I don’t think in the whole history there was ever a greater divide between what someone expected when they became a member of the Royal Family and what they discovered it was really like,” he notes.
Meghan, dazzled by the global fame of becoming a duchess, soon realized she had entered an institution where roles were rigid, hierarchy was unshakable, and influence was limited.
The Weight of Protocol
According to a palace insider quoted by Quinn, Meghan was shocked by the unyielding rules of royal life. She quickly understood that she would never be first in the pecking order — and that her every move, outfit, and word was dictated.
Much like Prince Harry’s role as the “spare” to Prince William, Meghan bristled at being treated as a “second-rate princess” compared to Kate Middleton. “She was a global superstar but was being told what she could and could not do, what she could and could not say. She hated it,” Quinn writes.
A Clash of Ambition and Tradition
Quinn further claims that Meghan sought not only to carve out an independent career as a working royal but also to outshine other members of the monarchy — even the late Queen. In his later book Yes Ma’am, he reveals Buckingham Palace grew alarmed when it became clear that Meghan had plans outside the strict framework of royal protocol.
This desire to “do her own thing” reportedly escalated tensions between Harry and William, straining the once-close bond between the brothers.
The Road to Megxit
Royal author Valentine Low, in his book Courtiers, argues that Meghan’s ambition to monetize her royal title played a pivotal role in the couple’s decision to step away from their duties. Palace aides explored compromises — from allowing Harry and Meghan a month each year for independent projects to reducing their official engagements — but all required them to follow the rules of royal conduct.
Ultimately, those compromises collapsed, paving the way for “Megxit” and the Sussexes’ move to America.
Finding Her Voice Again
Since leaving royal life, Meghan has been candid about her struggles. In recent interviews, she admitted she “couldn’t be as vocal” as a working duchess and even mocked the requirement to wear nude pantyhose as “inauthentic.”
Reviving her lifestyle brand As Ever and promoting her Netflix projects, Meghan now embraces her freedom. “That’s being comfortable in your own skin,” she said, contrasting her current independence with the restrictions she endured as a royal.
Conclusion
Meghan Markle’s journey from Hollywood to the House of Windsor is more than a personal story — it’s a tale of clashing worlds: individuality versus institution, freedom versus duty. For Meghan, the crown never glittered as brightly as the promise of living life on her own terms.
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