Palace Feared Meghan Markle Was Becoming Another Diana in Waiting, Source Says

The British monarchy's internal anxieties regarding Meghan Markle stemmed partly from institutional fears that the Duchess was tracking to become a modern-day 'Diana in waiting', according to analysis and commentary surrounding royal author Catherine Mayer's new book Divide & Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles.

Speaking across multiple serialised extracts and media interviews accompanying the release of her book, Mayer unpacked the rigid patriarchal structures that historically marginalise independent-minded royal spouses.

The book argues that the dramatic exit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2020 stripped the institution of key figures capable of magnetically connecting with younger demographics, leaving a stark generational void within the Firm.

Mayer's book unpacks the complex and often unforgiving ecosystem of the royal household, arguing that the institution has historically struggled when outsiders achieve a level of global glamour and public adoration that threatens to eclipse core family members.

Institutional Anxieties and the 'Outsider' Culture Clash

The publication sheds light on the intense cultural friction that occurred when a modern American actress entered the centuries-old, medieval-rooted ecosystem of the British royal household.

According to Mayer's investigative framework, the monarchy operates under strict hierarchies where the reigning sovereign and direct heirs take absolute precedence, creating an unyielding environment that struggles to accommodate independent global platforms.

She pointed to declining support for the monarchy in recent polling, particularly following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over his connections to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

'You need only look at the latest polling on the popularity of the monarchy to see that it is losing ground', Mayer said in an interview.

While defenders of the institution argue that adherence to strict protocol is essential for survival, critics and biographers point out that these rigid reflex mechanisms have historically isolated high-profile figures who inadvertently threaten to eclipse core family members.

How the Couple's Move Has Affected the Monarchy's Public Connection

Harry and Meghan, who turned 45 on 4 August, stepped back from their positions as working royals in 2020, citing hostile media coverage and a lack of support from within the palace. They relocated to California, and have discussed their experiences in multiple interviews, a Netflix documentary series, and Harry's controversial 2023 memoir, 'Spare'.

The couple's public criticism of royal life further damaged their relationships with members of the family, particularly Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. However, Mayer argued that the monarchy also lost the Sussexes' ability to reach members of the public who felt less represented by its more traditional members.

'The only ones who can potentially do it are Kate and William, and they're more of a small 'c' conservative in their approach,' she said.

Yet the Prince and Princess of Wales are themselves now in their 40s, Mayer noted, while their eldest son, Prince George, remains too young to take on a significant public role.

'There's nobody in between George and his parents, William and Kate, to capture the imagination of younger audiences,' she said. 'Harry and Meghan are basically the same age, but they had this appeal, a much broader appeal, and that's been lost now.'

Growing Cracks Between Royal Family and Sussexes

Relations between the Sussexes and the royal family remain strained. Although reports have suggested some improvement in Meghan's relationship with King Charles, particularly following a private meeting at Highgrove this July, her ties with Prince William and Catherine are still described as distant.

'I feel there are major cracks in the royal family over Meghan and Harry, especially between King Charles and Prince William, who I believe are at loggerheads over the couple,' Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner said.

'Now, with Harry able to use Buckingham Palace again when he returns, it could be a breakthrough for Meghan and a heart-piercing wound for William.'

Mayer also addressed allegations that Meghan bullied palace employees.

'One of the problems was that the allegations surfaced at exactly the time of the 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview. I think that made a lot of people suspect this was done to undercut anything Meghan might say in the interview. I'd actually been hearing about friction in the palace for a very long time before the story surfaced. As I explain in the book, that doesn't necessarily mean we're talking about bullying, but we're definitely talking about real friction there.'

Glamour Is Never Bigger Than Royal Institution

Mayer affirmed that Meghan failed to understand the monarchy well enough as preference has always been given to monarch and the immediate heir whereas the glamour has never been bigger than the royal institution.

'The fact is, there were real frictions between the brothers, William and Harry, as well as between the women and within the palace system,' Mayer continued.

'I don't think Meghan really understood that the monarchy will always give preference to the monarch and the immediate heir. And its members get very nervous when somebody feels bigger and more glamorous than the institution.'

'Outsiders Accepted Within Limits'

Turner echoed Mayer's view, comparing Meghan's treatment to that of Princess Diana as 'outsiders are accepted, provided they do not become more powerful or overshadow family members'.

Other royal commentators, including Hilary Fordwich, claim that mistakes made by the Sussexes cannot be overlooked and have contributed to their estrangement from the royal family.

'They have undertaken a fundamentally damaging, deliberate strategy to undermine the royals, which is unforgivable,' Fordwich said.

'The Firm was most welcoming to her, bent the rules for her, made exceptions for her, but she thwarted it all. She didn't want to either learn or accept advice. King Charles and Prince William now have a narrower, more disciplined monarchy as a result.'

Mayer rejected the notion that Meghan could have fully understood royal life before marrying Harry, describing the monarchy as governed by unfamiliar customs, strict hierarchies and an order of precedence followed even in private.

'When I was writing this book, I really did go back and challenge my own assumptions about whether Meghan could have ever made a go of it,' said Mayer. 'And I concluded that it was highly unlikely, and not her fault — or certainly not entirely her fault.'

'I've been covering the monarchy for a very long time. I'm also the biographer of Charles, the man who is now King. I've spent a lot of time behind the scenes. Even after all the time I've spent there, I'm still surprised by the strangeness of the culture and how unlike any other culture it is.'

Mayer notes such controversies as Meghan's criticised curtsy to the late Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix's documentary miniseries 'Harry & Meghan'.

'How would anybody be prepared for that?' she said. 'The monarchy is essentially a medieval institution with some modern features grafted onto it.'

To broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard, the fundamental issue remains that Meghan failed from the very beginning to adapt to the demands of royal life.

'Both Princess Catherine and Meghan came in as outsiders. But one chose to learn the institution,' Chard said. 'The system is tough, but the system also gave Meghan support. The system can't save someone who won't play ball. The institution expects sacrifice before platform.'

'Harry himself also talked about leaving royal life for years. Meghan gave him that push. Better handling could have delayed it, but I don't think it would have prevented it', Chard analysed.

The royal family has, in Chard's words, 'moved on' following Harry and Meghan's departure, and are looking towards the future.

To Chard, 'the damage has been done', and further reconciliation remains uncertain. 'Trust takes years to rebuild'.

As the royal family attempts to navigate a leaner, more disciplined operational model under King Charles, the historical parallels explored in 'Divide & Rule' serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to reconcile ancient hereditary traditions with modern media realities.