Since her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan Markle has been no stranger to conflicts with the royal family and her palace staff.
However, according to a new book by Valentin Lowe titled “The Hidden Power Behind the Crown,” these tensions actually began long before the couple said their vows.
The book claims that the former Suits actress frequently used Harry’s affections to her advantage, often resorting to giving him ultimatums if things didn’t go her way.
One incident highlighted in the book revolves around a Vanity Fair headline featuring Meghan on the cover in October 2017.
The cover read, “She’s just wild about Harry.”
Meghan took issue with this, pointing out that the phrase was a song from the 1939 film “Babes in Arms” performed by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, with Rooney appearing in blackface.
She believed that the headline had been deliberately chosen as a personal dig at her.
A source revealed that Meghan was deeply unhappy with how the situation was handled and sought to place blame on various parties, despite the article being a positive piece overall.
The insider further explained that Meghan disliked almost every aspect of the story, from the accompanying photographs to the focus being primarily on Harry rather than herself.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, both Meghan and Harry tried to have the headline changed online, as they believed it had racial undertones.
The source even mentioned that Meghan was so furious that she wanted their public relations executive, Kayleigh Thomas, fired over the incident.
Following this news, Blind Item 1 on the 1st of October on Crazy Days and Nights called out Meghan’s lack of knowledge about the song’s origins.
The blind item sarcastically questioned whether she knew that the song was written by two black men for the first successful Broadway review performed by African Americans.
Royal fans also weighed in on the controversy, with some suggesting that Meghan’s real issue was not racism but rather the fact that the headline focused more on Harry than her.
Others speculated that Meghan’s desire to be connected to Princess Diana played a role in her reaction.
The book by Lowe also delves into the deteriorating relationship between the Sussexes and palace staff.
Sam Cohen, the couple’s private secretary, reportedly informed the palace about the need for evidence of the institution’s duty of care towards Harry and Meghan amidst strained relationships.
Cohen allegedly expressed to two key courtiers, the private secretaries to Prince Charles and the Queen respectively, that if things went wrong with the couple, the palace would have to demonstrate the steps taken to maintain harmony.
The duty of care was deemed crucial in this situation, and Cohen repeatedly emphasized its importance.
Lowe reveals that by the time Meghan gave her interview to Oprah Winfrey, the palace had apparently lost the argument regarding their duty of care.
The Duchess discussed her mental health during the interview, effectively overshadowing any support the palace had provided the couple.
According to Lowe, Meghan highlighted all the instances in which the organization had failed her, disregarding the efforts made to assist them.
In the interview, Meghan also claimed that she had sought help from a senior individual within the institution, only to be told it wouldn’t be beneficial for the institution.
However, it remains true that Meghan was clearly struggling, and Prince Harry acknowledged his wife’s suffering.
When Oprah asked why he didn’t seek help from his own family, Harry admitted, “I guess I was ashamed of admitting it to them.”
In conclusion, the revelations from Valentin Lowe’s book shed light on Meghan Markle’s use of ultimatums and her frustration with a Vanity Fair headline.
The book suggests that tensions between Meghan and the royal family existed even before her marriage to Prince Harry.
The Duchess’s concerns about racial undertones in the headline reflect her ongoing battles with the media.