Meghan was a 'natural' but 'didn't understand' duty to Queen' - royal expert

During her time as a working senior royal, The Duchess of Sussex worked with a number of charities and launched some important projects. Her interests included mental health, women's rights, animal welfare and bringing communities together - such as the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy with the release of a cookbook called ' Together: Our Community Cookbook'.

Given Meghan's interest in the importance of charity work, many experts were surprised she didn't stay in the royal fold for longer than she did. A number of authors have claimed her departure was partly down to the lack of understanding she had surrounding her royal role and what was expected of her when she married Prince Harry.

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In investigative journalist Tom Bower's explosive book 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors', it is suggested that Meghan's refusal to "learn the ropes" of royal life contributed to them stepping back.

The author wrote that Royal Family had grown increasingly frustrated with Markle's approach to royal duties. Unlike other members of the family, who kept their opinions to themselves and treated official duties with caution, it was felt that Markle was determined to "hit the ground running".

Bower explained: "Kate had become irritated by her neighbour. Unlike her own cautious approach to 'learn the ropes' before engaging in royal duties, Meghan was running — but what was her destination?

"And who was she running with? Did she realize that the Royal Family ran together under the monarch, not as competitive individuals?"

Royal expert Andrew Morton explained a similar thought to The Mirror's podcast Pod Save The King: "I realised after watching the Royal Family for all these years that it takes a long, long time to really understand what it is like to be royal.

"Catherine Middleton has spent ten, twelve years coming to terms with it. So did Sophie Rhys-Jones (The Countess of Wessex) and she's got a much lower profile - or did. It just takes a long time to absorb yourself into it.

"Catherine was quite a shy person, so making speeches and being in public was something of an ordeal but I think she's overcome that.

"She reminds me so much of Diana. She struggled for a few years to come to terms with what it is like to be a princess."

The biographer continued: "The great tragedy, I think, is that Meghan and Harry didn't give it long enough to see whether they could give it a go. They were on the out almost before the wedding music had finished.

"Meghan is a natural... she had the great possibility of using her talent and her position to make a genuine change to the world. I don't think she's going to make such a change living in Montecito."