A new book, "Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants," by author Tom Quinn, delves into the behind-the-scenes lives of the British royal family, revealing intriguing insights from former staff members who served Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
The book suggests that Meghan's American upbringing left her unprepared for the realities of British royal life, with one staff member commenting, "She expected a billionaire and she got a millionaire." Another former team member revealed that the actress "really disliked the hierarchy" and found the royals' behavior "like babies."
The book also sheds light on Kate Middleton's role in soothing Prince William's temperamental side. According to a former staff member, William, like his father King Charles, can "both get irritated very quickly" and become "very picky." Kate is said to be crucial in calming him down, with the source adding, "I don't know where William would be without Kate - she hasn't had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious. She said he sometimes has to be treated as her fourth child'."
Meghan's initial encounters with the Royal Family were reportedly quite awkward, as she was accustomed to a greater degree of independence and control. One former team member noted that Meghan's confidence was so pronounced that she seemed to want to lead meetings rather than observe and learn, which was not in line with traditional royal protocol.
Despite some initial challenges, Meghan was initially welcomed warmly by William and Kate. Quinn describes a moment where William and Meghan playfully imitated 1950s dance moves together, and one staff member remembered the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge considering Meghan a "breath of fresh air." The Queen also reportedly valued Meghan and wanted her to be seen as a part of the family.
However, Meghan's tactile nature, including her fondness for hugging, led to misunderstandings among staff who thought she was 'flirting' with William. This behavior sparked rumors amongst the staff "that Meghan was flirting with William, which she was obviously not, but the tense atmosphere caused by all the touchy-feeliness (and the resultant gossip) deepened the rift between the brothers", the book alleges.
The book also delves into William's contrasting upbringing compared to Kate's normal family life, highlighting the challenges he faced growing up in the public eye, especially after his parents' divorce and his mother's death. A staff member has alleged that Kate had to educate Prince William on many parenting practices outside of the Royal Family, even demonstrating how to "give the children a piggyback." The source revealed: "William said very quietly, 'My father never gave me a piggyback'."
Quinn believes Meghan felt her husband was being treated as insignificant, and that the terms 'heir' and 'spare' took on a new significance when Meghan introduced Harry to a different viewpoint. He writes: "The strongly held view among current and former royal staff is that Meghan felt she was standing up for her husband, telling 'her truth' and encouraging him to tell his, but this was seen as deeply disruptive."
The book also reveals that Meghan, originally named Rachel, chose to use her middle name early on. While Harry publicly refers to his wife as Meg and M, staff members had various nicknames for the duchess, including "the Duchess of Difficult" and "Mystic Meg." Charles reportedly referred to her as 'Tungsten', symbolising her 'tough and unbending' nature.