Meghan Markle has revealed the most surprising aspect of life in the Royal Family after joining in 2018. In the Harry & Meghan docuseries, she disclosed that the formality she observed externally also permeated private interactions.
First Meeting with Princess Catherine
Meghan first noticed this when meeting Princess Catherine and Prince William. She recalled: “I met her [Kate] for the first time, I think we went for dinner. I remember I was in ripped jeans and barefoot. I was a hugger, I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that was jarring for a lot of Brits.”
She added: “I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being … but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me.”
Background and Relationship
Meghan and Prince Harry began dating in 2016, and Harry confirmed their relationship in November of that year through a spokesperson, citing the “wave of abuse and harassment” his girlfriend had faced.
The couple left royal duties in 2020 and now reside in Montecito, California, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Family Rift and Recent Visit
Harry and William, once known as the “fab four,” grew estranged, partly due to Harry’s book Spare. Omid Scobie’s book noted that Princess Catherine, who “wasn't a fan” of Meghan, “can be cold if she doesn't like someone.”
In July, the Sussexes visited the UK to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2026. They were hosted privately by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, but Prince Harry did not meet with Prince William.
