Someone at Buckingham Palace has a "personal animosity" toward Meghan Markle, according to a new book about the royal family.
Robert Lacey's "Battle of Brothers" about the relationship between Princes William and Harry discusses clashes between Markle and members of the royal family.
There is "no love lost" between Markle and certain people in Queen Elizabeth's official residence, Lacey says. He didn't name names or indicate if the person is a senior staff member or royal. However, if someone hated the Duchess of Sussex then the feeling is apparently shared.
Lacey said the relationship between Markle and Harry shocked some in royal circles. Apparently, the palace thought that the Duke of Sussex would marry a woman named "Annabel or Henrietta" and that they would live on the country estates. Markle was a bombshell the family didn't expect.
A culture clash between Markle and the royals was evident from the beginning. Lacey said that part of the problem was the family - since it can't do "woke." Meanwhile, Lacey described Markle as the "very embodiment" of woke.
The duchess is used to expressing her political voice - as someone who grew up in the U.S., particularly in a liberal city like Los Angeles. Before meeting Harry, Markle spoke against Donald Trump's candidacy in the 2016 election. As a teenager, Meghan also wrote to Procter & Gamble to question its "sexist advertisements."
Lacey claimed in his book that William feels he won't be able to perform his future role as king with his brother and his "woke" wife. The Duke of Cambridge felt they created a political and cultural divide.
He suggested William was "disturbed" about Markle's choices for her British Vogue issue in 2019. She featured 15 "trailblazing female change makers" that included political figures like New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, climate change advocate Greta Thunberg, diversity activist Sinéad Burke and body positivity proponent Jameela Jamil.
The choices left William feeling undermined. The royals have a reputation for political neutrality but Markle has been seen as disruptive. Following the issue's release, The Sunday Times columnist Melania Phillips said the duchess of Sussex had yet to grasp that the monarchy must "unite the country" and not divide people with politics.
