Harry accused Charles of not being a good father, and referred to Queen Camilla as the “wicked” stepmother. Meghan Markle also made a shocking accusation of racism within the Royal Family. The royals have not publicly addressed these allegations, and the divide between the Sussexes and the monarchy has deepened over time. It’s unclear if or when this rift might heal, though one person rumored to want to protect the royal family at all costs is Queen Camilla.
Reportedly, Camilla has been particularly protective of her husband when it comes to matters involving Harry. There was a time when she and the Sussexes were on good terms, and sources suggest that the Queen Consort even made efforts to help Meghan adapt to royal life. However, one event changed the dynamic completely – specifically, a single photograph marked the beginning of Meghan’s departure from royal duties.
When Prince Harry introduced Meghan Markle to the Royal Family, his stepmother, Queen Camilla, was already a long-standing member of the institution, having married King Charles in 2005. Like Meghan, Camilla also faced intense public scrutiny.
Meghan Markle
Harry and Meghan started dating in 2016, but within just a few months, the media began heavily covering the former Suits actress. Eventually, things escalated to the point where Harry felt it was necessary to step in.
Through a statement released by his communications secretary, Harry publicly asserted that Meghan had been targeted by a wave of harassment. The statement explained that the Duke rarely took formal action regarding “fictional stories” reported in the press, but that “the past week has seen a line crossed.”
“Some of this has been very public – the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments,” Harry’s statement read.
“Some of it has been hidden from the public – the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life.”
At the time, BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said that there were “those in Buckingham Palace who’ll appreciate his pain.” One of those who certainly understood what Meghan was going through was Camilla, who decided to act.
How Queen Camilla tried helping Meghan Markle settling in to royal life
Camilla made a sincere effort to help Meghan adapt to royal life. Just before Meghan’s wedding to Harry, Camilla invited her to a private lunch, sharing her own experiences with media scrutiny following Princess Diana’s passing and how she managed the pressures involved.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Camilla encouraged Meghan to concentrate on the positives of her position in the Royal Family and to “ride out the storm if negative press would occur.”
Charles is also said to have given Harry similar guidance.
However, Meghan seemed to have a different perspective. In an ITV documentary, she shared that few people showed concern for her well-being, saying: “Not many people have asked if I’m OK.”
A friend of Meghan’s told the Daily Mail: “Meg was really grateful to Camilla, who was very supportive and invited her out for private lunches, particularly around the time of her marriage.” The friend added, “She listened to her and understood that it’s really difficult joining the Royal Family from an otherwise ‘normal’ life.”
The friend also noted: “Much like Meghan, Camilla had experienced a lot of negative press and hostility from courtiers due to her relationship with Charles when he was still married to Diana.”
“She was very sensitive to Meghan and provided her with support, advising her to ride out the storm and that it would all pass – but ultimately Meghan didn’t listen.”
“She tries very hard to make people welcome”
A palace aide informed the Mail that Camilla understands the experience of transitioning from a “normal life” to becoming part of the world’s most renowned royal family.
“Her consciously offering to mentor and guide is something that she really does try and do,” the source noted, emphasizing that this effort applies to many individuals, not just the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex.
The reality that Harry and Meghan’s future was not aligned with the Royal Family became evident in the year following their 2018 wedding. Some experts suggest that the couple contemplated leaving just days after the ceremony. However, it was in January 2020 that the announcement was made stating they would not continue as senior working members of the Royal Family.
In the now-famous Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, Meghan Markle made several explosive claims against the royals, explaining the reasons behind their decision to step back. Although the royal family has remained silent regarding the accusations made by the Sussexes, it appears that other factors contributed to the unsustainable nature of their position within the monarchy.
