Meghan Markle turned down the Queen’s offer for her to have a mentor in a bid to help her become accustomed to life as a working royal, a new book claims.
According to broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, who published an excerpt of his latest book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, in the Mail On Sunday, the Duchess of Sussex rebuffed the Queen’s offer, insisting she didn’t need one.
In particular, he touched on Meghan’s initiation into the Firm, and how The Queen tried to ease her in to life as a working royal.
Gyles claimed that The Queen was “truly delighted” when Prince Harry announced he would be marrying Meghan, because she liked her.
In addition, The Queen “did everything she could to make her future granddaughter-in-law feel welcome”.
Gyles adds: “She was concerned for her future happiness.
"At their first meeting, the Queen said to Meghan: 'You can carry on being an actress if you like – that's your profession, after all.'
"She would have been totally understanding if Meghan had decided to continue her career.”
However, the Queen was delighted when Meghan said she was ready for royal duty, especially when it came to the Commonwealth.
It was reported that Meghan was committed to and showed enthusiasm for the cause, in turn delighting the Queen.
The biographer wrote: “Indeed, Meghan promised that when it came to the Commonwealth, she wouldn't let Her Majesty down.
"The Queen (who, of course, had seen it all before) understood that Harry's girl might find adjusting to Royal life 'challenging to begin with' (as she put it).
"'It is very jolty, but you soon get used to it' – that was Her Majesty's experience going back many years.”
He also claimed that the Queen offered help in the form of Sophie Wessex, the Queen’s daughter-in-law and wife of Prince Edward, to help Meghan settle into her role.
He says the Queen said: “Sophie can help show you the ropes.”
However, it was reported that offers of help were rebuffed by Meghan, who “made it clear that she did not feel she needed Sophie's help” because she had Prince Harry to support her.
The biographer also made claims that Meghan’s response was met by concern from the Queen, who was also “a little concerned when word reached her that Meghan was reportedly occasionally a bit 'high-handed' with staff”.
