It’s been the Duchess of Sussex’s worst week yet
The Duchess has had her worst week yet
When she married Prince Harry in May 2018, Meghan Markle could do no wrong. But fast-forward just over a year later, and the Duchess of Sussex seems to have made herself public enemy number one, thanks to rumours of diva-like behaviour, fall-outs with the in-laws and loftily insisting on privacy while taking public funding.
And last week, things hit rock bottom, following Archie’s christening – where Prince William and Kate Middleton’s
awkward body language in the official photo reignited rumours of a feud between the couples – and Meg’s appearance at Wimbledon, where she was described as “disrespectful”, “arrogant” and “deluded” for trying to stop the public taking snaps of her.
After days of negative headlines, she made a surprise appearance with Archie to watch Harry and Prince William play polo, along with sister-in-law Kate and her three children, Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, four, and 15-month-old Prince Louis.
However, Meghan met further criticism, from claims she had staged the photos, to accusations she wasn’t holding Archie in the “correct” way. Unsurprisingly, she has been hurt by all the slating.
“Meghan can’t believe people could be so mean about her – she feels she hasn’t done anything wrong,” heat’s insider says. “In her every decision, she has always prioritised what is best for her, Harry, and now Archie. She fiercely guards their privacy, but she has been told that this attitude has played a big part in the backlash – it’s like she’s brought it on herself.
“The British public expect a lot of the royal family, and many feel she’s not respecting tradition – she’s keen to take all the good stuff that comes with it, but refuses to accept any of the pitfalls. But that’s not how it works, and Meghan is finding out the hard way. She hadn’t planned to go to the polo and be pictured with Archie, as he’s still so young and it’s not really ‘done’ in royal circles. But she thought it would be a great way of showing the public what she’s like as a mum and that she can hang out with Kate, but it hasn’t worked.”
Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, caused uproar when it was revealed they wouldn’t let the press take pictures outside Archie’s christening, and that his godparents wouldn’t be named as they were “private citizens” – despite the fact they recently used £2.4 million of public money to renovate their home. And when Meghan took two of her friends to Wimbledon, she had publicly funded bodyguards with her. All the seats in the VIP box were left empty around her, too, with guests
with tickets apparently not let in.
And when other spectators started taking pictures, her bodyguard went over to tell them that she was here in a “private capacity”. Sally Jones, 64, was in the same area as the Duchess and later said, “It’s control-freakery. There were 200 photographers snapping away, but security were sent to warn an old biddy like me. ”
Another spectator took a selfie of himself near her, but Meghan’s bodyguard again intervened. Meghan was set to return to Wimbledon with Kate at the weekend, and was hopeful of putting on a better PR display.
Our source adds, “Meghan has to understand that she can’t go to things like this and not be photographed. She is in danger of alienating the public for good if she carries on like this.” n
‘Meghan’s in danger of alienating the public for good’