New insights have surfaced regarding Meghan Markle‘s departure from royal life, suggesting that her discontent and jealousy played significant roles.
A palace insider revealed that Meghan had long contemplated leaving the royal family due to her feelings of inadequacy in comparison to Prince William and Princess Catherine, who occupy the dominant positions in the monarchy.
Royal author Tom Quinn shared his perspective, asserting that both Prince Harry and Meghan have felt overshadowed by the royal couple.
The couple’s status as future King and Queen seemed to spur Meghan’s disappointments.
Quinn noted, “Harry has always envied his brother’s assured position in life stemming from birthright, while he—the so-called ‘spare’—struggled for his own identity.”
He elaborated on Meghan’s initial excitement about marrying into the royal family, describing it as a magical experience.
However, the reality soon dawned on her.
After their wedding, she quickly grasped that her marriage to the ‘spare’ would always place her in the shadows of the more prominent royals.
An eye-opener for Meghan was learning that Windsor Castle, a royal residence, would never be hers after marrying Harry.
Instead, Queen Elizabeth II offered the couple Frogmore Cottage, which they painstakingly renovated at a cost of 2.4 million pounds (around AU$4.6 million).
Unfortunately for them, this effort only resulted in a short residency.
Quinn stated, “As she settled in, the harsh truth hit Meghan: no level of effort or charm could elevate her and Harry to the royal center stage.” He emphasized that the couple’s envy towards William and Kate became increasingly palpable.
Meanwhile, questions about their future roles linger.
The conversation gained momentum following the recent resignation of Josh Kettler, Meghan and Harry’s chief of staff, only three months into his role.
Kettler was expected to accompany them on an upcoming tour of Colombia.
The departure of Kettler adds to a growing list of exit strategies among their staff, totaling 18 employees since 2018, with a significant turnover occurring after their relocation from the UK to California.
Royal expert Dickie Arbiter weighed in, citing that Meghan and Harry had a seemingly perfect platform but ultimately squandered it out of fear of perpetually playing second fiddle to Kate and William.
He observed, “They had everything at their fingertips, yet it seems that Meghan’s ambitions surpassed that reality.”
In his analysis, he pointed out that Harry initially accepted his role as a royal spare.
However, the dynamics changed dramatically once Meghan entered the picture, leading to growing dissatisfaction with their standing within the royal family.
Historian Robert Lacey echoed these sentiments, arguing that Harry’s pivotal error was leaving the army.
By stepping back from military duties, he fell into the familiar trap of the royal spare.
His observations highlighted the longstanding tradition within British royalty that often leaves the “heir” and the “spare” in a competitive position from an early age.
The brothers, once equals, faced the inevitability of one becoming king, complicating their relationship as they matured.
Lacey elaborates that while William drew strength and purpose from his role, Harry began to struggle with his place.
Earlier this year, Meghan and Harry made the significant decision to step back from their duties as senior royals and resettled in the United States with their son, Archie.
The upcoming review of their transition from royal life will take place in March 2021, prompting many to speculate about their future in both personal and public spheres.
