Meghan Markle’s Close Friend Slams Royals for Their 'Double Standards' Over Prince Andrew
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
Meghan Markle’s close friend Bryony Gordon has spoken out against what she dubs the 'ridiculous double standards' in the way the royal family treats the Duchess of Sussex compared to Prince Andrew. The British journalist and author, who first met Markle at a 2018 mental health event, says the Duchess has been 'vilified and trolled' for minor matters, while Andrew 'got away with it for decades' despite far more serious allegations.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Gordon recalls her first meeting with Markle, describing how the then-royal bride-to-be greeted her with a 'big old bear hug' and a down-to-earth warmth that instantly put people at ease. Gordon says she has since met Markle several times, at lunches, charity projects, and even at the Duchess’s homes in Frogmore Cottage and Montecito. But she questions why Markle has been vindicated while “other members of the royal family seem to have been given a free pass to behave as badly as they want.” Her comments follow the release of a new book by royal biographer Andrew Lownie, which details serious allegations against the Duke of York, including shady financial dealings and his notorious ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, the Scottish Daily Express reported.
Commenting on the contrast, Gordon wrote, "Somehow, Andrew got away with it for decades, while Meghan was branded 'Duchess Difficult' the moment she so much as asked Queen Elizabeth II if she might be able to borrow a tiara for her wedding." She adds, “Can you blame the couple for wanting to escape the peculiar prison of royal life, especially given the ridiculous double standards applied to Meghan and Prince Andrew? What fools the royals were for throwing away the marvelous opportunity they had with Meghan, all while continuing to cover up for atrocious Andrew.” She continued, “With each sordid allegation, I have become more and more furious that so little was done to help Meghan as she struggled with life in the royal family, while so much was done to protect Prince Andrew.”
Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019, and in 2022, he was stripped of his military titles and charitable patronages amid a civil lawsuit in the US over sexual assault allegations, which he has consistently denied. Gordon, who first interviewed Prince Harry in 2017 for her Mad World mental health podcast, has openly discussed her mental health struggles and says the public should rethink how Markle has been portrayed. “Shame on anyone who, in light of reading the claims in Andrew Lownie’s book, still has the gall to call Meghan the difficult one,” she slammed.
If you are being subjected to sexual assault, or know of anyone who is, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)