Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Just seven months after marrying Prince Harry, Meghan has shaken up the royal household with more changes predicted
In the lead up to their wedding on May 19, Prince Harry made it clear that Meghan would not be pushed around. According to royal correspondent Robert Jobson, Harry, 34, yelled at palace staff, “What Meghan wants, she gets!” But it appears that royal waiters may have become fed up with the duchess, 37 – who is set to give birth next year – with two staff members walking out since the wedding and a third resignation reportedly underway, after a palace aide confirmed the latest walkout to the UK’S Daily Mail. “It’s a real shock, why would she want to leave such a prestigious job so soon?” the royal insider said of Meghan’s personal assistant, known only as Melissa. “To lose one member of the household could happen to anyone. To lose three in a few months is starting to look like a stampede.” Melissa is the second palace staffer to leave and though Kensington Palace declined
to comment officially, a royal insider was given permission to express their sorrows. “[Melissa] played a pivotal role in the success of the royal wedding and will be missed by everyone in the royal household.”
Prior to Melissa’s departure, Harry’s private secretary and palace employee of 15 years, Edward Lane Fox, stepped down from his role in March after five years with the prince. It was then announced that the Queen’s assistant private secretary, Samantha Cohen, was taking up the job until they found a suitable replacement.
Now, it has been rumoured that 49-year-old Cohen – who accompanied Meghan and Harry on their tour Down Under in October – is also getting ready to leave. An employee of the royal household for two decades, Cohen is said to be one of the Queen’s “most trusted” staffers.
The series of resignations came after recent reports that in the lead-up to their May nuptials, Meghan was not averse to the odd tantrum. Friend of the duchess and her former talent manager, Gina Nelthorpe- Cowne, has previously said that the new royal became merciless before the wedding, dismissing those who did not agree with her views. In addition, the Queen is reported to have had stern words with Harry, after the former actress was outraged when she was unable to wear the tiara of her choice.
“Meghan had her heart set on this tiara with emeralds and Prince Harry hit the roof when they were told it was impossible for her to wear it,” a royal source has said. “The message from the Queen was very much [that] Meghan needed to think about how she speaks to staff members and be careful to follow family protocol.”
The same ruthlessness was apparent when the Suits alum cut off contact from her father, Thomas Markle, and half-sister, Samantha Markle, after their controversial comments to the press and the announcement of Samantha’s yet to be published novel, The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister. Thomas Markle – who did not attend his daughter’s wedding – revealed to The Mirror that he didn’t receive a formal invitation to the big day. “Like any father, I wanted to say a few words,” he said. “I was going to thank the royal family for welcoming my beautiful daughter into their family.”
Mr Markle’s son, Tom Jnr, added: “Anyone who saw Meg when she was growing up knew her and my dad were inseparable. Now it looks as though they may never speak again.”
Now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are rumoured to be looking at alternative living arrangements to their current residence at Nottingham Cottage due to the youngest son of Princess Diana no longer needing big brother William to keep a watchful eye.
“The brothers have leant on each other and looked after each other since their mother died,” a royal source told The Times. “They have become different people with different outlooks on life. Splitting the household is the obvious thing to do.”
These reports have surfaced just weeks before global data company Yougov, released its findings from a poll that ranked members of the royal family from the
public’s favourite to the least liked. Harry came in as No. 1 with 77 per cent of the 3700 Brits surveyed naming him favourite; Meghan was ranked as sixth, with only 55 per cent viewing the duchess in a favourable light.
But what seems to be a sudden increase in negative reports of the duke and duchess could simply be a media storm, with most of the world still in awe of the modern royal couple following their successful royal tour. On the 11th day of their South Pacific trip, the pair met with Princess Angelika of Tonga, who referred to them as “an inspiration to the youth of the Commonwealth [for], shining a light on youth empowerment.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also took time to praise the couple for their enthusiasm during their public engagements. “The way they communicate with young people and children is enchanting to see,” he said, adding, “What they are projecting is a representation of a monarchy who have meaning, particularly for young people and for dealing with issues.”
Speaking to The Express, Fitzwilliams revealed that Meghan had been undoubtedly working hard to go above and beyond her royal duties, striving to make a difference in the community.
“The Grenfell cookbook idea was absolutely superb,” he said. “She’s yet to choose her patronages, [ but] expect undoubtedly women’s empowerment to feature, also I would suggest mental illness and probably LGBT rights as well.”
Despite her active royal duties, the pregnant duchess is said to be set on giving her future children a normal childhood. Royals commentator Omid Scobie has
“The Grenfell cookbook idea was superb” —Richard Fitzwilliams
revealed the modern royals already have “a game plan” for how they wish to raise their kids. “Meghan will take her kids on a subway. They’ll have chores, and jobs one day. They won’t be spoiled.”
The way she hopes to bring up her children is a direct reflection of the strongwilled and independent young woman.
“I imagine the Queen admires Meghan. She’s not just done well for herself, but she’s done it through sheer hard work, grit and determination,” royals expert Victoria Arbiter told News Corp. “Meghan strikes me as a perfectionist and something of an overachiever. I think she’s incredibly smart and well accomplished. She sets pretty high standards for herself.”
Royal biographer Andrew Morton has also weighed in, saying because the duchess knows how to voice her opinions, the royal family’s humanitarian work would be taken up by the royal newbie with grace.
“Meghan was an activist at an early age,” Morton told the Washington Post. “One of the things about her which we’ve missed is that she was, as her mother said, hard-wired with a real sense of moral compass and hard-wired to give back.”