Meghan ‘upset by aide’s call over necklace’
PALACE courtiers gave Meghan “advice” after she was photographed wearing a gold necklace bearing the letters H and M, according to a bombshell new memoir.
Finding Freedom, by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, claims the duchess was trained in everything from curtseying to surviving a kidnap by a terrorist.
The biography, published today, also claims Prince Harry and Prince William “blew hot and cold” in their relationship with Prince Charles, meaning his 70th birthday family photo, taken in 2018, became a “nightmare”.
The book claims that in the early days of her relationship with Harry, Meghan was given advice about the $300 (£230) chain, thought to be a gift from the prince.
The authors wrote: “Two days after Meghan was photographed buying flowers at her usual florist, wearing her
She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage photographers
Finding Freedom
new initial necklace, she received a phone call from a senior Kensington Palace aide.
She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage photographers to keep pursuing such images — and new headlines”. The book claimed she knew the aide had good intentions, but she felt “frustrated and emotional” following the call and thought it was a “surreal experience”.
Other claims in the book, to which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex say they did not contribute, include:
⬤ Prince Harry felt as though courtiers working for his brother threw him “under the bus” in order to make Prince William look good.
⬤ Royal staff feared a falling out of the brothers could spell the end of the monarchy.
⬤ The Queen thought Meghan was “very clever and good” and gave her a personal masterclass in royal life when she officially joined the family.
⬤ Meghan considers Prince Charles a “second father” and has a close bond with him.
Following the couple’s engagement in 2017, Meghan was given similar training to the Duchess of Cambridge on matters such as to whom to courtesy and how to exit a car gracefully. It is claimed she also went on a two-day security course with the SAS.
The authors wrote: “The training — which all senior member of the royal family except the Queen have completed at SAS headquarters in Hereford — is preparation for all high-risk security scenarios including kidnapping, hostage situations and terrorist attacks.”
The duchess was reportedly “bundled into the back of a car” by a “terrorist” and driven to a location before she was saved by officers.
It was also claimed a photo session for Charles’s 70th birthday was “an absolute nightmare” because “neither William nor Harry made much of an effort to make themselves available”.
Two official images were released, featuring the heir to the throne sat on a bench with Prince George on his knee, and next to him the Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Charlotte. Stood behind were William and Kate — with the duchess holding Prince Louis — and Harry and Meghan. The book claims how the relationship between Charles and Harry was complicated because the Prince of Wales is also Harry’s boss.