When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, the world saw it as a modern fairytale — Hollywood glamour merging with centuries of monarchy.

But behind the scenes, the dream quickly lost its shine. Along with her marriage, Meghan entered a rigid royal hierarchy where Kate Middleton, the future queen, would always outrank her — a reality she reportedly despised.

Expectations vs. Reality

Author Tom Quinn, in his book Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family, argues that Meghan struggled with the gap between her expectations and the monarchy’s rules.

“Never in royal history had someone’s expectations clashed so dramatically with reality,” Quinn wrote. “Meghan, who came from a world where she was used to making her own choices, suddenly found herself in a rigid institution that told her where to go, what to say, and even what to wear.”

A former Kensington Palace staffer, quoted in the book, remembered Meghan’s disillusionment:]