Joining the royal family comes with intense public scrutiny. In fact, Queen Camilla once allegedly tried to prepare Meghan Markle for that reality with a warning about the British press. However, Prince Harry later claimed in “Spare” that the advice did not have the comforting effect it was intended to. The resurfaced account has once again drawn attention to the dynamic between the two women.
Queen Camilla’s advice to Meghan Markle about press scrutiny allegedly didn’t go as expected
According to Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare,” Queen Camilla reached out to Meghan Markle while the Duchess of Sussex was facing relentless media attention during her early days as a working royal. At the time, Markle was reportedly struggling with constant headlines and public criticism.
In an apparent effort to reassure her, Camilla allegedly said the British press had always treated newcomers harshly. Harry wrote that she told Markle it was something that would eventually “pass in due time.” She also seemingly reflected on her own experience, reminding Markle that she had once been seen as “the bad guy” in the public eye.
However, Harry suggested the conversation did not land the way Camilla may have intended. Instead of finding comfort in the comparison, he questioned the message behind it. “The implication being what?” Harry wrote in “Spare,” as per Hello Magazine. “Now it was Meg’s turn?” He also argued that the two situations were not comparable, suggesting his wife’s experience was very different from Camilla’s.
Even so, the conversation came after Camilla had publicly welcomed Markle into the royal family. Following Harry and Markle’s engagement in 2017, Camilla spoke warmly about the couple. She described the news as “brilliant” and famously said, “America’s loss is our gain.” She also added that the family was “absolutely delighted” and happy to see the couple begin their next chapter together.
However, relations reportedly became more complicated in the years that followed. Harry went on to criticize Camilla in “Spare,” where he detailed his difficult relationship with his stepmother. Despite that, recent reports suggest she continues to play a central role within the monarchy.
According to royal author Catherine Mayer, there is “no reconciliation” with King Charles without Camilla because she is a “non-negotiable part” of his life. Reports have also indicated that she was present during Harry’s recent private meeting with the king.
