‘Viper’ courtiers blamed for stifling their schemes

SENIOR courtiers who Princess Diana used to refer to as ‘men in grey suits’ are described as ‘vipers’.

The book claims the so-called ‘old guard’ tried to undermine the couple and ‘were concerned that the global interest in and popularity of the Sussexes needed to be reined in’.

Harry and Meghan believed ‘few inside the palace were looking out for their interests’ and felt that most courtiers could not be trusted with their sensitive information.

They believed that these ‘men in grey suits’ were stifling their attempts to launch their initiatives, and when they tried to air these frustrations ‘the conversations didn’t lead anywhere’.

One source said Harry felt that some of the old guard at the palace ‘simply didn’t like Meghan and would stop at nothing to make her life difficult’.

The book concludes that Meghan was ‘totally foreign’ to this group of advisers, who ‘could sometimes be even more conservative than the institution they guarded’.

The description of senior palace courtiers as ‘vipers’ has sparked some amusement in royal circles, conjuring up the image of a group of bikers in leather jackets.

‘Maybe thirty years ago there would have been an issue, but that’s just laughable to suggest now,’ said one insider.

The source said it was obvious ‘why it would suit the narrative of the book’, but insisted the description is ‘just not true’.

Another insider said: ‘The fact is that Meghan was welcomed with open arms and everyone did their best to offer their help about how to navigate such a tricky public role – advice she would often choose to ignore.

‘They did the best they could in often trying circumstances.’