Duchess of Sussex Left Stunned as Heartfelt Gestures Met with Blunt Responses Amid Family Rift
Meghan Markle was reportedly left deeply hurt after discovering that her warm gestures toward the royal family were met with cold and uncomfortable reactions, according to revelations from royal biographer Tom Quinn.
Harry and Meghan, who married in 2018, stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020 following rising tensions within the palace. Meghan discussed her fractured relationship with her in-laws during her 2021 Oprah interview, a conversation that further intensified the family rift. Since stepping back, she has focused on personal ventures, including the launch of her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Although the royal family has not publicly responded to Meghan’s new journey, Quinn’s latest book sheds light on fresh details from the palace. Quinn revealed that Meghan’s affectionate personality—especially her fondness for hugging—was not well received by senior royals.
“Kate, William and Charles tended to flinch when she moved in for a hug,” Quinn disclosed, adding that Meghan was left “understandably hurt” by their reactions. He further recounted an incident where a royal staff member recoiled from her hug, comparing the reaction to someone dodging an eye poke.
Meghan previously spoke about these cultural differences in her Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries, saying, “I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.” She expressed her surprise that the royal family’s formality extended beyond public appearances and remained constant behind closed doors.
These revelations come as Meghan prepares to launch her latest Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, scheduled to premiere on March 4th. The series coincides with the debut of her lifestyle brand, with Netflix also partnering on the project.