Meghan Markle news latest: Prince Harry & Duchess are ‘proud of decision to leave Royal Family’ and ‘have no regrets’
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have no regrets about leaving the Royal Family and stand behind their decisions, a close friend claims.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made bombshell claims in a sensational Oprah Winfrey interview - after quitting the Royal Family and moving to the US.
However according to a new version of the book Finding Freedom by Meghan Markle's friend Omid Scobie, the pair have "no regrets" about their decisions.
In the updated chapter of the new edition of the book, Scobie and co author Caroline Durand write: "As difficult as recent years have been, sources close to the Sussexes say that neither Harry nor Meghan have any regrets about the decisions they have made.
"[These accomplishments are] another sign that [Meghan and Harry] had made the right decision to step back from royal roles, not only for their family but for their focus on social issues and helping the world."
Read our Meghan Markle live blog for the latest updates...
HARRY’S ‘LIFELONG PASSION FOR SPORTS’
Sport has been a lifelong passion of Prince Harry’s, with the royal setting up the Invictus Games in 2014.
The event for wounded service personnel sees thousands of fans flock in from over 20 countries.
In an inspiring speech about Invictus athletes in 2019, Harry said: “I think, in the last five years, these guys have completely changed how we view disability, how we view mental health. This is all them.
“We merely created a platform in order for them to shine and it’s genuinely been one of the greatest honours of my life to get to know all you guys and to see you through this process.
“We’ve had some laughs, we’ve had some tears, and I can’t ever thank you enough for the impact that you have had across the world, to be able to create better understanding for those people who put the uniform on.”
BIRTHDAY BLOW OFF
Everyone from Adele to Oprah was involved in marking Meghan Markle’s recent 40th birthday celebrations.
But there was one notable absence who failed to comment on the occasion – Jessica Mulroney, the woman once considered her best friend.
The move has reignited rumours about a rift between the two women, especially given Jessica, 41, regularly updates her 416,000 Instagram followers on everything from her daily workouts to what her kids are eating for dinner.
A source close to Jessica told the Mail on Sunday: “Jess would post about the opening of an envelope, so the fact she’s the only one of Meghan’s close friends not to wish her a public happy birthday is definitely strange.
“It is something which has certainly raised eyebrows. Yes, Jessica was always protective of her friendship with Meghan. But it was always something that was there, front and centre. You could tell how important it was to Jessica.”
MEGHAN MARKLE REVEALS REPEATED ‘GRATUITOUS’ REQUEST IN SUITS WHICH CAUSED HER TO PUT HER FOOT DOWN
Before she met Prince Harry, Meghan, 40, became known for her role as Rachel Zane, a sassy paralegal in the legal drama.
Talking of the show in 2014, Meghan reportedly had a word with the show’s creator after scripts kept having her walking into scenes wearing nothing but a towel.
Speaking at the One Young World conference in Dublin at the time, she said: “This season, every script seemed to begin with Rachel enters wearing a towel. And I said, no, not doing it anymore.
“I called the creator and I said and I was like, it’s just gratuitous, we get it, we’ve already seen it once. So I think at a certain point you feel empowered enough to just say no.”
Once a struggling actress and “hungry for work,” the TV star said “you’re willing to do things like that” while trying to make it as an actress.
PRINCE GEORGE BEGS MEGHAN MARKLE TO ‘STOP NOW’ IN CUTTING HBO CARTOON THE PRINCE
A new teaser clip for HBO cartoon The Prince has earthed. This time, the video sees Prince George tell Meghan to “stop now”.
In the video, Harry says: “Hello all, sorry we’re late. Our flight was delayed – you know, JetBlue.”
Catty George snaps back: “We don’t know. Gross.”
Meghan tells the family: “It was Mint though,” before turning to Harry and saying: “Tell them we were in Mint.”
Kate Middleton replies back instead, sarcastically saying: “They gave you a mint. How lovely for you. I have some gum in my purse if you’d like?”
But Meghan tells her: “No, we were in mind. It’s like their business class. It’s really nice. They give you these cookies and…”
Quickly George then cuts in and says: “Meghan, I’m begging you to stop now.”
WHAT DID JASON KNAUF SAY ABOUT MEGHAN'S ALLEGED BULLYING?
Jason Knauf, who worked in comms for both the Cambridges and the Sussexes, submitted an official email in October 2018.
Meghan allegedly snapped "it’s not my job to coddle people" after aides were said to be left in tears and humiliated by her "difficult demands".
Mr Kauf claimed Meghan's alleged treatment of staff was "totally unacceptable", adding that she "seems intent on always having someone in her sights".
One courtier claimed that the duchess "governed by fear" while it was also reported there was a "febrile" atmosphere.
MEGHAN WORRIED ABOUT BULLYING CLAIMS (CONTINUED)
A new chapter in explosive book Finding Freedom claims that Meghan was “worried” about the allegations, the reports.
Authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, who is a friend of Meghan's, have spoken to a source close to the couple.
The pal said: “Though the duchess was used to defamatory reports, this front-page story was more worrying.
“It felt like certain individuals at the Palace were doing their very best to undermine and discredit anything they worried the couple may or may not say during the interview.”
MEGHAN "WORRIED" ABOUT BULLYING CLAIMS
Meghan, 40, allegedly made staff cry and several official complaints were made regarding her behaviour.
Buckingham Palace launched a probe into the complaints, but the final report could be delayed until 2022.
An independent law firm was expected to reveal the finer details in the annual Sovereign Grant report, but royal sources have confirmed it is still “ongoing”.
At the time a spokesman for the Duchess said that she was “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma”.
PRINCE HARRY "UNQUESTIONABLY" CHANGED BY MARRIAGE
Prince Harry has been “unquestionably” changed after marrying Meghan Markle, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex believes that he became trapped as a member of the royal family after his wedding to Meghan in 2018.
Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior members of the working royal family and moved to California with their son Archie.
The couple welcomed their second child Lilibet Diana in June, and have been living in their luxurious Santa Barbra mansion.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explained that there is a “rivalry” between the two brothers and that Harry changed after meeting his wife.
MEG-A-SCENE
The Royal Family were "quietly pleased" Meghan Markle couldn't make it to Prince Philip's funeral, a pal has claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, was unable to attend the service in Windsor Castle in April as she was pregnant with daughter Lilibet Diana at the time.
But a new chapter in explosive book Finding Freedom claims some royals were happy as they "didn't want a circus", the Independent reports.
Authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, who is a friend and spokesperson for Meghan, also quote a senior source who claims the family feared she would "create a spectacle".
Prince Harry attended his grandfather's funeral after making the 5,400-mile journey from his and Meghan's lavish home in California.
PRINCE HARRY’S INVICTUS CHARITY RECEIVES £500K GRANT FROM KATE MIDDLETON & PRINCE WILLIAM WHO ARE DELIGHTED AT ‘SUCCESS’
The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gave the grant despite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle repeatedly – and very publicly – hitting out at the family.
But the Daily Mail reported the Duke’s charity had seen its best year yet thanks to the grant from the Cambridges.
A courtier told the publication that the Cambridges had “always supported Harry’s efforts to establish Invictus” and the couple are “delighted that it has been a success”.
It added that “the huge transfer of £560,984 meant that Invictus could boast an income of £1.77 million last year in newly published accounts.
“That’s a huge jump on 2019 when its income was £1.06 million.”
HARRY’S ‘LIFELONG PASSION FOR SPORTS’
Sport has been a lifelong passion of Prince Harry’s, with the royal setting up the Invictus Games in 2014.
The event for wounded service personnel sees thousands of fans flock in from over 20 countries.
In an inspiring speech about Invictus athletes in 2019, Harry said: “I think, in the last five years, these guys have completely changed how we view disability, how we view mental health. This is all them.
“We merely created a platform in order for them to shine and it’s genuinely been one of the greatest honours of my life to get to know all you guys and to see you through this process.
“We’ve had some laughs, we’ve had some tears, and I can’t ever thank you enough for the impact that you have had across the world, to be able to create better understanding for those people who put the uniform on.”
MEGHAN MARKLE & PRINCE HARRY’S DECISION TO NAME DAUGHTER LILIBET IS PROOF THEY’RE ‘CLOSE TO QUEEN’, SAYS PAL OMID SCOBIE
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to name their child Lilibet shows how “close” they are to the Queen, their pal Omid Scobie believes.
The Finding Freedom biographer insists the couple’s use of Her Majesty’s childhood nickname gives an “insight” into their relationship with the monarch.
It comes after a row erupted over the use of Lilibet’s name, with Harry, 36, insisting he spoke to the Queen about using it beforehand. But a palace source told the BBC the Queen was “never asked” about its use.
And an insider told the Mail on Sunday the conversation between Harry and the Queen was “a telling, not an asking”.
Scobie told Good Morning America: “When it comes to that relationship with the Queen, it is as strong as ever. They have nothing but love for her. Of course, we saw them name their daughter after the Queen’s very nickname.
“So that really gives us an insight into that close relationship.”
MEGHAN MARKLE & PRINCE HARRY DONATE TO AFGHAN WOMEN’S AID CHARITY
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have donated to an Afghan charity after saying they’d been left “speechless” by the unfolding disaster.
It’s not known how much the couple handed over – although the organisation has since posted on Instagram to thank the Sussexes.
The pair forked out after issuing a widely-mocked statement on the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
Meghan and Harry released a lengthy statement on the crisis – despite claiming they were lost for words.
And they urged fans to donate cash to charity,
OVER 50% OF BRITS AND AMERICANS THINK HARRY AND MEGHAN ‘SHOULD STAY OUT OF WORLD AFFAIRS’
Over half of Brits and Americans believe it is time for the royal family to sit down and thrash out their differences – and that Meg and Harry should keep out of world affairs.
In a new poll, people were asked the question, “Should Princes Harry, William and Charles meet face-to-face to try to resolve their issues?”, 72.9 percent in Britain said yes, with an even more substantial 77.6 percent agreeing in America.
It comes after The Duke and Duchess were criticised heavily for their statement on Afghanistan when they said they felt “many layers of pain”.
Responding to the question, “Do you think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should stay out of publicly commenting on world affairs?”, 53.8 percent in the UK and 52.3 percent in the US agreed.
The twin polls, created by OnePulse for Express.co.uk, put the same sets of questions to respondents in both countries.
PRINCE GEORGE BEGS MEGHAN MARKLE TO ‘STOP NOW’ IN CUTTING HBO CARTOON THE PRINCE
A new teaser clip for HBO cartoon The Prince has earthed. This time, the video sees Prince George tell Meghan to “stop now”.
In the video, Harry says: “Hello all, sorry we’re late. Our flight was delayed – you know, JetBlue.”
Catty George snaps back: “We don’t know. Gross.”
Meghan tells the family: “It was Mint though,” before turning to Harry and saying: “Tell them we were in Mint.”
Kate Middleton replies back instead, sarcastically saying: “They gave you a mint. How lovely for you. I have some gum in my purse if you’d like?”
But Meghan tells her: “No, we were in mind. It’s like their business class. It’s really nice. They give you these cookies and…”
Quickly George then cuts in and says: “Meghan, I’m begging you to stop now.”
HOW KATE MIDDLETON IS PREPARING THE CAMBRIDGE KIDS TO START SCHOOL
The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, is said to have a “hands on” approach when it comes to looking after George, eight, Charlotte, six, and Louis, three – and has begun the preparations.
Here’s how they are getting their three children ready for term beginning…
- New school uniforms
- Encouraging school friendships
- Helping them develop good manners
- Developing relationships with staff
- Encouraging them to stay creative
- Getting them ready to be ‘normal’ pupils
Read more here
KATE MIDDLETON TO MISS OUT ON TRADITIONAL ROYAL HONOUR ON HER 40TH BIRTHDAY
It is yet unclear what celebrations Kate has in mind for her landmark birthday, or if she will keep it low-key like Meghan.
While this year The Duchess of Cambridge had her birthday in the middle of lockdown on January 9, meaning she had to do something quiet, next year she will be missing out on one particular honour.
This is that The Duchess will not hear the traditional chimes of Westminister Abbey when she celebrates her 40th birthday. This is due to changes rung in to cut costs.
It is normal for the senior royals to hear the bells ringing at the Abbey on their birthdays, with Camilla Parker Bowles included among them.
But the bells have not rung at the Abbey since April 2020 due to the pandemic.
MEGHAN MARKLE HAS ‘UNQUESTIONABLY CHANGED’ PRINCE HARRY, SAYS ROYAL EXPERT
The Duke of Sussex believes that he became trapped as a member of the royal family after his wedding to Meghan in 2018.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explained that there is a “rivalry” between the two brothers and that Harry changed after meeting his wife.
Speaking to he said: “Many think that the fact that William grew up knowing he would one day be king and Harry had no defined role, led to rivalry between brothers who were considered inseparable.
“Some say Harry resented not being taken seriously, despite his military service and charitable work.
"Harry now believes he was trapped as a member of the royal family and that William currently is but doesn’t know it.
“The rift between them, long reported and first confirmed in the ITV documentary about their South Africa trip, is public and serious.
“It was his marriage to Meghan which unquestionably changed him.”
MEGHAN MARKLE & PRINCE HARRY’S RELATIONS WITH THE QUEEN ‘AS STRONG AS EVER’, OMID SCOBIE SAYS
Their preferred reporter spoke about the couple’s strong connection with Her Majesty while being interviewed by Good Morning America.
The Sussexes’ biography co-writer was asked: “What’s the latest on that relationship with the Queen?”
Scobie replied from London: “I’m so glad you asked that because of course we did release some details from the book, this week.
“I spoke to sources close to the couple, who spoke about their disappointment in the institution of the monarchy, and the sort of lack of accountability taken after some of the revelations that they made in the Oprah Winfrey interview.
“Particularly when they came to the racism claims.
“But when it comes to that relationship with the Queen, it is as strong as ever – they have nothing but love for her.”
HARRY IS NOT ‘ENJOYING HIMSELF AT ALL’ SAYS JULIA HARTLEY-BREWER
Harry recently made a cameo in Meghan’s 40th birthday video as he juggled in the back garden of the couple’s multimillion-pound mansion in Montecito, LA.
Julia Hartley-Brewer said: “I don’t think he looks like he’s enjoying himself at all” – before discussing Harry’s private flight.
“It shows that, A, they’re out of touch, but also, B, they’re huge hypocrites,” Angela said.
“They tell us all what we have to do, but they don’t think they’re involved in that. They’re the exception because they’re so grand and important.”