Meghan Markle Wasn’t Prepared for Life Inside the Royal Family — Ex Butler Reveals the Early Signs
Former royal butler Grant Harrold said of Meghan Markle, 'She may have watched the royal family, but she wouldn’t know the etiquette and rules.'
It's no secret that Meghan Markle struggled to adjust to life in the royal family. After all, the former actress was suddenly thrust into a world of protocols and traditions that were foreign to her. In 2020, the Duchess of Sussex had had enough, stepping down as a senior royal alongside Prince Harry and moving to California. Reflecting on her tumultuous journey, former royal butler Grant Harrold pointed out telling signs that long ago indicated royal life was not meant for her. He suggested that her American roots made it difficult for her to understand protocols.
Markle has previously alluded to not being able to adjust to stringent protocols in various interviews after exiting the Firm. Agreeing with her stance, Harrold told the Daily Express, "Meghan saying that she didn’t understand royal etiquette makes sense because she is from America, so she wasn’t expected to know how to do things. She may have watched the royal family, but she wouldn’t know the etiquette and rules." He pointed out that, in contrast, Kate Middleton was well aware of the pressures of royal life even before marrying Prince William. He added, "Meghan and Harry were quicker, and there wasn’t the same amount of time."
The former royal butler went on to reveal a telling sign that indicated Markle wasn't ready for royal life. He continued, "I did notice that when Meghan was attending events with Harry, you could see Harry giving her pointers and advice, so she was learning on the job." The Duchess has also spoken about her difficult time in the royal fold. In her infamous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she remarked, "Unlike what you see in the movies, there’s no class on how to… how to speak, how to cross your legs, how to be royal." She added, "There’s none of that training. That might exist for other members of the family. That was not something that was offered to me."
Commenting on Markle’s most hated rule in the royal household, a source previously told The Mirror, "Meghan quite rightly hated the fact that when she was in Nottingham Cottage, she had to agree well in advance what time she might leave for an appointment or an event, and she had to make sure she didn't leave at the same time as, or clash in any way with, a more senior royal leaving the Palace." The rule was reportedly established to prevent a situation where a senior royal could be overshadowed in public, and also for security purposes.
After the pressures of royal life became too much for her, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex mutually stepped down as senior royals in 2020. In a statement at the time, they said, "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution." They added that they intended to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
