EXHAUSTED MEG H AN STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH ROYAL LIFE
‘NEVER IN HER WILDEST DREAMS DID SHE IMAGINE ALL THIS ATTENTION’ An unguarded moment while attending the wedding of Harry’s old school friend last week (left), showed the strain Meghan has been under since her own nuptials.
It’s been just three months since she married Prince Harry in the wedding of the century. Yet the Duchess of Sussex’s fairytale is slowly starting to unravel as the stress of life in the royal inner circle begins to take its toll on the former actress.
In fact, things are so bad for Meghan – who is said to be at her wit’s end over her father and half-sister’s continued public betrayals – that Harry has made the drastic decision to give her some space. Plans have been put in motion for Meghan, 37, to take a back seat from public appearances for now.
In fact, New Idea’s exclusive Kensington Palace sources can reveal that Meghan may even pull out of attending the Invictus Games in Australia alongside Harry in October. ‘Meghan may not even attend the games at all or visit Australia. There is serious talk about that and contingency plans have now been put in place,’ a Kensington Palace insider spills to New Idea.
‘And the duke and duchess’ arrival date keeps moving closer and closer to the day of the opening ceremony, which is sending panic signals to the Invictus organisers here.’
The news comes after it was revealed that Harry, 33, is concerned there is ‘too much hysteria’ surrounding his new wife and has made the decision that the couple should retreat from the spotlight for a while to let things cool down.
‘They spend a lot of time in the Cotswolds, more than people realise,’ another royal source spilled. ‘They are in the country far more often than they are in London and they are enjoying a low-key and very domesticated start to married life. Meghan likes Harry to keep his diary clear at the weekends so they can be together in the countryside.’
The newlyweds are said to be bunkering down in a rented property on the Great Tew Estate, protected by around-theclock armed security guards and surveillance cameras.
According to those closest to Meghan, the former Suits actress is struggling with the media attention and huge workload – since marrying Harry on May 19, she has attended 17 events.
‘Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine all this attention,’ says a source.
‘Meghan thought after the wedding she would be left alone and be able to pick which charities she could support and do her own thing.’
It has indeed been a stressful few months for the new royal, who has had to deal with her father, Thomas Markle and half-sister Samantha Markle constantly slamming her in the press, as well as being called out for breaking royal protocol when she allegedly shared a political opinion regarding Ireland’s recent vote to legalise abortion.
A concerned Harry has told his new wife that she can take a step back and has cleared her diary for the next few weeks.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Harry has stepped in to protect her. In November 2016, following intense speculation about their blossoming relationship, the prince took the unprecedented step of issuing a statement asking the media to respect their privacy.
‘Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her,’ the statement read. ‘It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is “the price she has to pay” and that “this is all part of the game”. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game – it is her life and his.’
But above all, the deeply-inlove prince wants to ensure that his new bride is happy and is given the space and time she needs to settle into royal life.
‘All he wants is for her to be happy,’ says the insider. ‘He doesn’t want to lose Meghan and he’ll do anything in his power to make her feel comfortable.’
THE ROYAL FAIRYTALE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF STRAIN