<p id=”par-1_46″>A new book claims <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/”>Meghan Markle</a>‘s uncomfortable and “un-royal” behavior towards Prince William sparked tension with his brother, Prince Harry. Reports of how Meghan handled herself around the future king <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-three-times-unlucky-toxic-bully-allegations-ruin-hollywood-dream.html/?swcfpc=1″>sparked gossip</a> in <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/explosive-inquiry-pits-meghan-markle-vs-palace-queen-elizabeth-secret-investigation.html/?swcfpc=1″>the palace</a> and reportedly added to the existing rift between the separated siblings.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-markle-s-actions-sparked-palace-gossip”>Meghan Markle’s actions sparked palace gossip </h2>
<p id=”par-2_39″><a class=”” href=”https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/royal-family-william-kate-harry-meghan-courtiers-servants-zjvdkbkkd” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Times</a> published an excerpt from Tom Quinn’s book <em>Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants</em>. The author discussed Meghan Markle’s very <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/prince-harry-radical-transformation-schlubby-bachelor-debonair-dude.html/?swcfpc=1″>un-royal</a> behaviors. Reportedly she was so touchy-feely, the royal staff gossiped she was flirting with Prince William.</p>
<p id=”par-3_31″>Quinn claims, “Tension developed between William and Harry as a result of Meghan’s warm, friendly, hug-everyone approach. Kate, William, and Charles tended to flinch when she moved in for a hug.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_45″>The author continued, “Meghan was understandably hurt, as everyone apparently hugs everyone in California. Meghan even tried to hug a singularly stiff Old Etonian equerry. He too flinched as if she’d tried to poke him in the eye, as another member of staff put it.”</p>
<p id=”par-5_19″>“This tactile manner made William uncomfortable. Because Meghan hugged him virtually every time they bumped into each other.” </p>
<p id=”par-6_39″>“The hugging and cheek-kissing fuelled gossip among the staff that Meghan was flirting with William, which she was obviously not. But the tense atmosphere caused by all the touchy-feeliness (and the resultant gossip) deepened the rift between the brothers.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-admitted-that-she-was-always-a-hugger”>Meghan admitted that she was always a ‘hugger’</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio” id=”emb-1″><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<iframe title=”Harry & Meghan | Official Trailer | Netflix” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/2rlVhiXlcHU?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
<p id=”par-7_37″>Meghan Markle admitted in a scene from the Netflix docuseries <em>Harry & Meghan</em> that she was always a “hugger.” It was part of her personality and she didn’t believe her actions were anything out of the ordinary.</p>
<p id=”par-8_26″>However, Meghan soon realized this type of behavior was inappropriate within the palace. She recalled hugging Prince William and Kate Middleton, saying their response was surprising.</p>
<p id=”par-9_25″>Meghan found their cool reaction surprising. Her affectionate and informal demeanor reportedly contrasted with the royal family’s traditional approach to personal space and protocol. </p>
<p id=”par-10_24″>She admitted, “I was a hugger, I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t realize that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.”</p>
<p id=”par-11_32″>Meghan added that she understood very quickly that royal formality was a constant. That aspect of royal life was very surprising to the former <em>Suits</em> star, along with a different, troubling thought.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-like-harry-was-meghan-treated-as-a-spare”>Like Harry, was Meghan treated as a ‘spare?’</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/prince-william-meghan-markle-prince-harry.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Prince William, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25, 2018 in London, England.” class=”wp-image-3772760″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Prince William, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25, 2018 in London, England | Eddie Mulholland – WPA Pool/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/manipulative-meghan-markle-played-cameras-prince-harry-engagement-actress.html/”>
Manipulative Meghan Markle ‘Played Up’ to Cameras During Prince Harry Engagement Interview: Royal Editor Calls Her ‘The Actress’ </a>
</p>
</div>
<p id=”par-12_56″>According to Tom Quinn’s book, Meghan Markle reportedly realized that she too, would be treated as a “spare,” similar to her husband, Prince Harry. Harry wrote in his memoir, aptly titled <em>Spare</em>, that he felt he existed just in case something happened to his brother, Prince William. This label shaped his role within the royal family.</p>
<p id=”par-13_57″>Quinn writes, “The irony, given all that has been written about Harry being the ‘spare,’ is that at Kensington Palace, it was Meghan who felt she could not find her place; she too was a spare.” The author concluded that modern Meghan found it difficult to fit into an institution with rules dating back one thousand years.</p>
<p id=”par-14_27″>But, was it cultural differences that put a stop to Meghan fitting into the royal family? Was it the clan’s preconceived perceptions of the former American actress?</p>
<p id=”par-15_42″>Quinn deduced that perhaps, Meghan didn’t understand that being a royal family member meant doing things she didn’t want to do. “She didn’t understand that when you join the royal family, you don’t do as you please, you do as you’re told.”</p>