Meghan Markle ‘didn’t understand what was going on’ when she joined the Royal Family

Meghan Markle "didn’t understand what was going on" when she joined the Royal Family, according to one royal author. The 44-year-old officially joined the Firm after tying the knot with Prince Harry in 2018.

The couple, who now live in California, announced their surprise plans to step away from royal life less than two years after tying the knot. US-born Meghan was an actress before marrying into the Firm, with her most prominent role seeing her star as Rachel Zane on legal drama Suits.

Speaking of Meghan, Catherine Mayer – the author of the new book Divide & Rule – told HELLO's A Right Royal Podcast: "Being the wife of the spare would have always meant a secondary role in the eyes of the institution.

"And one of the early sources of confusion for Meghan coming in was that she had all this amazing positive press, this enthusiasm, and then being in an institution that kept trying to say, 'No, stay in your lane,' which they were doing because they see their job as keeping the institution on an even keel, not on serving the individuals."

Sticking up for Meghan, who previously shared that she didn't know much about the Royal Family, Ms Mayer added: "But Meghan had great people working for her.

"I don't think she necessarily understood how great those people working for her were, but I understand why she didn't understand what was going on.

"And I think that the expectation that she should have comes from people who don't know what it's like behind palace doors. I know it would have completely wrong footed me for sure."

After stepping down from royal duties, Meghan moved to begin a new life in the US with Harry and their son, now-seven-year-old Prince Archie.

The couple later welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in June 2021.

The family are going to be travelling to the UK next month, with Harry set to attend the one-year countdown event for the 2027 Invictus Games.