MEGHAN UNDER ATTACK
The schoolyard taunt was a new low, even for Samantha Markle. On Sept. 10, the Duchess of Sussex’s estranged half sister fired off a series of tweets criticizing Meghan — again — for not speaking to their father, Thomas. In the process, Samantha coined a new nickname for Meghan: “The duchass.”
This one stung. “Meghan was upset over Samantha’s latest rant,” an insider tells In Touch. “Meghan feels as though the whole situation is getting more out of control every day. There’s nothing she wants more than for them to keep their mouths shut.” She can’t even fight back. Meghan may be livid about her family, but the royals have an unspoken rule: no clapping back in the press when a negative story comes out. Meghan is also wary of having a private conversation with Samantha and Thomas. “If she confronts Samantha or any of her other outspoken family members, they’ll spin whatever she says and use it against her,” says the insider. “It’s a no-win situation.”
In these tough times, Meghan draws strength from her mom, Doria, as well as her husband. “Harry is loving, supportive and 100 percent there for Meghan during this terrible ordeal,” says the insider. “He keeps telling Meghan to ignore all the salacious and twisted comments. He’s really concerned about her well-being.”
So is the queen. Harry’s 92-yearold grandmother, who has famously taken Meghan under her wing since she joined the royal family in May, “has assured Meghan that she has her full support and even arranged a ‘crisis meeting’ with royal aides at Buckingham Palace to discuss how to stop what’s going on,” says the insider. One bright spot on the horizon? Meghan and Harry are embarking on a 16-day royal tour to Australia, Fiji and other Pacific countries in October. “It’s the one thing helping her stay positive. She can’t wait to escape from her evil family and is trying to take her mind off things by focusing on charity work.”
But that’s easier said than done, since the tour will involve constant interaction with their subjects. “Harry has advised Meghan to brush off any questions fans may ask about her family and say ‘No comment,’” says the insider. “Meghan is fully aware that by responding she’d be opening a can of worms. She’s trying to be the bigger person in all of this.”
can’t wait to be a proper family!”
The pregnancy also presents an opportunity for the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex to honor two of the most important women in their lives. The insider says that Harry and Meghan will name their daughters — who will each have the title of Lady, but not be called Princesses, in keeping with a century-old decree from King George V — after Harry’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. Says the insider, “The baby that is born first will be called Diana, and the second will be Elizabeth.”
It was Elizabeth herself who encouraged them to start a family in the first place. She put pressure on the pair to continue the royal bloodline. “Meghan and Harry have been prodded by the queen to start a family in the coming months,” a source told In Touch just before their May 19 wedding. “When a member of the House of Windsor gets married, they’re strongly urged to become parents as soon as possible.” It was a demand that Meghan didn’t take lightly. “She felt a tremendous responsibility to get pregnant,” says the insider. “She was in a state of panic because she didn’t want to disappoint Harry, the queen and the whole royal family.”
SPECIAL ARRIVAL
She certainly didn’t. According to the insider, “The queen shed a tear when Harry told her that she’s going to be a grandmother again. She has known about the news for a while and is planning to make an official announcement in the upcoming weeks.” And Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was spotted boarding a plane at LAX to London on Sept. 15. “She wants to be with her daughter during this special time,” says the insider. “And she’ll stay until the birth.”
The queen and Doria aren’t the only ones who are happy for the couple. Meghan has found an unexpected ally in her sister-in-law Kate Middleton. As In Touch previously reported, Kate had been jealous of Meghan’s star status and cozy relationship with the queen, leading the two duchesses to feud. “But they’ve put their differences aside since Meghan announced her happy news,” says the insider. “Meghan’s been a nervous wreck, so Kate has pretty much taken her sisterin-law under her wing, telling her what to expect during pregnancy.”
As a mom of three — George, 5, Charlotte, 3, and 5-month-old Louis — Kate, who’s wed to Harry’s older brother, William, “is a pro at motherhood,” notes the insider. “She’s been advising Meghan on what lies ahead.” One particular source of worry: the delivery! “Meghan is nervous about the birth,” says the insider. While Kate can’t do much about that particular issue, she is happy to give Meghan some hands-on experience with her own kids. Harry and Meghan live in Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, just a short stroll from William and Kate’s lavish residence at Apartment 1A, so Kate has invited Meghan to look after the little ones. “She’s practicing her skills and babysits whenever she can!”
Kate is even helping Meghan and Harry build a $250,000 nursery! “Meghan is designing it herself with the help of Kate,” says a palace source. “Meghan’s extremely creative and hands-on! She’s already shopping for a crib, big cuddly toys and baby clothes.”
WORKING MOM
Meghan is, of course, excited to be a mother, but she also has no intention of becoming a full-time housewife. “Charity work and fulfilling royal duties are right up there at the top of her list of priorities, and she’s about sticking to her schedule despite being pregnant,” says the insider, who notes that Meghan will not skip her first official overseas royal tour of Australia and other Pacific countries in October.
But as she witnessed with Kate — who took an extended maternity leave this summer and kept a light calendar of official events following the birth of Louis in April — Meghan might have to adjust her expectations about what she can handle. Says the insider, “She’s been turning to Kate for tips on how to deal with balancing royal life with being a mom.” ◼
Meghan and Harry couldn’t be more ecstatic” — AN INSIDER