Queen Elizabeth II was left astonished when Meghan Markle rejected her advice for adapting to royal life, a new book by royal commentator Robert Jobson reveals.
In his upcoming book, Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, set for release on April 13, Jobson claims that the late Queen suggested Meghan turn to Sophie, now-Duchess of Edinburgh, for guidance after joining the royal family. The Queen believed Sophie could act as a mentor to the Duchess of Sussex.
However, according to Jobson, Meghan expressed her desire to make her own decisions and declined the recommendation, stating that she had Prince Harry to rely on. "Her response surprised the Queen," Jobson wrote.
This account is not the first of its kind. Royal broadcaster Gyles Brandreth previously shared a similar story on ITV's Lorraine, saying that Meghan preferred to seek her husband's help upon entering the royal family.
"The Queen said to Meghan: 'You're new to this. Coming into the royal family, it's not easy for everybody. Sophie Wessex, the last one to come in, maybe she can be a kind of mentor. She could advise you, help you.' But Meghan said: 'No, I don't think I need that, I've got Harry,'" Brandreth recounted to host Lorraine Kelly in December 2022, following the release of Harry and Meghan's Netflix docuseries.
Brandreth noted that the Queen made the suggestion out of love for her grandson Harry, expressing her eagerness for the couple's relationship to succeed. "She loved Harry," Brandreth said, "She loved all her grandchildren, but she loved him especially because she loved his sense of humour, and I know, for a fact, that she welcomed Meghan warmly and was very keen for it to work."
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Sophie reflected on the Sussexes' departure from the royal family, stating that family members do their utmost to help newcomers adapt. "We all try to help any new members of the family," she said, wishing the couple happiness.
During their Netflix docuseries, Meghan recalled her disbelief when Harry asked her if she knew how to curtsy just before her first meeting with the Queen, initially thinking it was a joke.
