The palace staff are finally revealing behind-the-scenes secrets, and the revelations are scorching. Tom Quinn’s new book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants contains some fascinating insights into what truly happened within royal circles.
Meghan Markle entered the royal family with the enthusiasm of a California socialite at a yoga retreat—arms open wide, ready to embrace everyone in sight. The reaction was far from warm. William flinched, Kate flinched, Charles flinched, and even a bewildered royal aide practically dove out of the way. It was as if she had approached them with a taser rather than a hug. Quinn suggests Meghan was simply expressing her natural warmth, but palace staff saw it differently. Some even believed she was flirting with William. Given that she embraced him at every opportunity, can anyone really blame them? The fact that this claim is emerging beyond the usual tabloid gossip says a lot.
The book also explores Meghan’s alleged disdain for hierarchy—a claim that almost invites laughter. Meghan doesn’t resent hierarchy itself; she just dislikes any system where she isn’t at the top. When she was a struggling actress buried deep in the credits of Suits, she loathed it. When she joined the royal family and realized she wasn’t going to be the leading lady, she hated it even more. But the moment she gained even a shred of authority, everything changed. Suddenly, it was all about protocol—demanding to be addressed as "ma'am," avoiding eye contact, and treating staff like subordinates. It seems she believed that marrying Harry was her ticket to a billionaire princess lifestyle, only to discover that his net worth was a modest $20 million. One can only imagine her disappointment. The British monarchy isn’t a Hollywood fantasy; it’s a centuries-old institution where rank is everything.
And then there’s Harry, who, according to palace staff, commanded little respect. One particularly scathing remark compared him to the bumbling Prince Regent from Blackadder, with the running joke being that without assistance, it would take him two weeks to put on his trousers. Harsh, but not entirely unbelievable. Once a military man, Harry now seems to serve as Meghan’s full-time emotional support partner, championing causes that no one asked for and parroting whatever ideology suits their narrative. At this point, he resembles Meghan’s personal assistant more than a prince, and anyone who thinks he’s steering the ship in their marriage should probably reconsider.
Returning to the subject of hugs—Meghan doesn’t simply embrace people; she engulfs them. It’s an all-encompassing, full-body, arms-locked, chest-to-chest grip that leaves no room for escape. William’s discomfort was obvious to anyone paying attention. If you’ve ever seen a man who doesn’t want to be touched, the signs are unmistakable. And yet, Meghan either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Her response? “Oh, we hug in California.” There’s a way to be friendly without disregarding personal boundaries, but Meghan bulldozed through social cues like a wrecking ball in stilettos.
In the end, Meghan’s approach was a catastrophe. The royal staff saw straight through her, and now the world is finally seeing it too. She wasn’t a modernizer; she was a disruptor. She didn’t reject hierarchy—she just despised being anything other than first in line. And as for Harry, let’s just say palace insiders didn’t hold him in particularly high regard either.
