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Meghan Markle experiencing same narrative as Diana, says royal biographer

The Duchess of Sussex is experiencing the same narrative in the media as Princess Diana, says a royal biographer.

Just months after her wedding to Prince Harry, reports about Meghan’s so-called ‘difficult’ behaviour began to emerge, following the resignation of four palace aides within the past year.

Andrew Morton says there were similar headlines about Princess Diana soon after her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981.

He told Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box’: “What I find interesting she’s [Meghan] been criticised as the ‘Duchess Difficult’ and there’s been attacks on her because her Scotland Yard bodyguard resigned and various members of staff have resigned.

Meghan pictured in Bristol, in February [Photo: PA]
Meghan pictured in Bristol, in February [Photo: PA]

“It was the same narrative as Diana. She started off as the fairytale princess and within 18 months, she was being described in the media as a fiend and a monster because various members of her staff had left, so it is a bit of a cliché to use that narrative about her.”

Morton also spoke about how Meghan’s friends have publicly defended her.

He says: “Meghan is all about reaching over the heads of the UK media and using her American friends because how many of Prince Harry’s friends have spoken up for Meghan and for Harry?

“They’ve all been silent because that’s the traditional way. It’s the American friends, this cohort of George Clooney, Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey and in a way, rightly so.”

Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing tiara in New Zealand during April 1983.
Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing tiara in New Zealand during April 1983.

In February, actor George Clooney told a press panel that Meghan has “been pursued and vilified and chased in the same way that Diana was.”

He later added in an interview with Good Morning Britain that the duchess “hadn’t done anything except live her life.”

American talk show host Oprah Winfrey has also spoke out against the negative press coverage surrounding Meghan, calling it “unfair.”