Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was reportedly given the nickname “Duchess of Difficult” by some members of the royal staff during her time 

as an active member of the British royal family. 

British journalist Tom Quinn, in his article for *The London Times*, sheds light on the complexities of Meghan’s early days within the royal fold, 

particularly from 2018 to 2020, and the challenges she faced while navigating royal life. 

According to an anonymous palace insider, Meghan’s “difficult” behavior stemmed from her struggle to adjust to the intricate and formal traditions of the royal family. 

The source explained that Meghan, in her efforts to understand the royal system, often found it “positively medieval” and complex, adding to the challenges she faced in trying to fit into this new world. 

For instance, Meghan reportedly couldn’t comprehend why King Charles III appeared so “formal” with his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. She was surprised by the stiffness between the two and, as an insider recalled, once remarked, “But they’re mother and son — why are they so completely stiff with each other?” 

Despite her warmth and willingness to engage with those around her, Meghan’s behavior sometimes caused friction, leading to her receiving the unflattering moniker of “Duchess of Difficult.” However, Quinn also reported that she was affectionately nicknamed “Mystic Meg” by some within the palace. This was due to her “new agey” and progressive views, which made her stand out in the traditional royal environment.

One of the issues Meghan reportedly faced involved her interactions with the royal staff. Meghan, coming from a background where personal relationships were often more casual and informal, had difficulty adjusting to the rigid hierarchy and protocols of the royal household. According to one staff member, she would be very friendly, perhaps overly friendly, with staff, even hugging them in an attempt to make personal connections. However, this behavior was not always reciprocated, and she became frustrated when her staff didn’t respond immediately to her needs at all hours of the day and night. The insider noted that this was likely due to Meghan’s unfamiliarity with royal protocols, which Harry, being more accustomed to the royal system, understood better.

Despite these challenges, Quinn’s report also highlights that not all palace staff viewed Meghan negatively. Many ordinary staff members appreciated Meghan’s straightforward and “matter-of-fact” demeanor, with one former member of the Kensington Palace communications team praising her directness. However, the so-called “old guard” within the palace, made up of long-standing courtiers, reportedly disliked Meghan’s bold approach and her desire to challenge the royal status quo. According to one insider, “If you make waves in the royal family, the senior royals will always back the courtiers,” noting that these courtiers had been close to senior royals for years, adding to the rift between Meghan and the traditional royal establishment.

In addition to her challenges with the staff, Meghan’s more affectionate behavior also reportedly caused discomfort among some of the senior royals, particularly Prince William. According to Quinn’s article, Meghan’s tendency to hug and show warmth to those around her, which was typical in her Californian culture, made William and even King Charles III feel uneasy at times. This over-familiarity led to rumors among the staff that Meghan was flirting with William, although the report emphasized that this was not the case. It was simply a result of cultural differences between Meghan’s more relaxed American background and the formal British royal traditions.

In 2020, after Meghan and Harry stepped down from their royal duties and relocated to California, accusations of Meghan bullying staff members surfaced, claims she has strongly denied. Despite the controversies and the nicknames Meghan received, her time in the royal family was marked by her attempts to make her own mark, push boundaries, and challenge the institution’s traditional norms. Her straightforward approach and desire for change were often at odds with the royal family’s entrenched customs, leading to ongoing tensions that would ultimately contribute to the couple’s departure from royal life.

Meghan’s time as a royal was not without its difficulties, but it also brought to light the clash between her progressive ideals and the traditional expectations of the British monarchy. As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue their lives in California, their relationship with the royal family remains a subject of intense public interest and speculation.

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