Advertisement

'It's difficult for Prince Harry to explain to Meghan how intense royal life is'

It’s fair to say Meghan Markle’s life changed overnight when her relationship with Prince Harry was revealed in late 2016.

Just a year later, the couple were engaged and the former American actress began to accompany her future husband on his royal duties around the country.

Meghan left her life in her adopted city of Toronto to move to the UK permanently and plan a wedding for May 2018.

Soon every inch about her life was covered in the press, from what she wears to her previous marriage and her relationship with her father’s side of the family.

“We talk a lot about people coming into the Royal Family being prepared for what it’s going to be like.

“Kate and Meghan must expect to be the centre of attention, they have no idea, absolutely no idea what it’s really like,” ITV News’ former royal editor Tim Ewart tells Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box.’

READ MORE: Fans go wild as Beyoncé and Meghan Markle share a hug at Lion King premiere

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving at the European Premiere of The Lion King, Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square, London. Photo credit should read: Doug Peters/EMPICS
Harry and Meghan at the Lion King premiere. [Photo: PA]

Ewart points out that while Princess Diana was one of the most photographed women in the world, she didn’t have to deal with the intrusion of smart phones.

He continues: “Now every single person that a member of the Royal Family meets has a smart phone up.

“Every single word that is said, doesn’t matter where the TV cameras are, doesn’t matter where the snappers, the photographers, they can be anywhere. But every single person has got their phone up or their iPad up, nothing is private anymore.”

Meghan Markle arriving for a visit to the Nottingham Contemporary in Nottingham, to attend a Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair on their first official engagement together.
Meghan's first official engagement with Harry in Nottingham in 2017. [Photo: PA]

Ewart says that although Meghan was a well-known actress, “she wasn’t hunted by the paparazzi” or used to the scrutiny she’s endured since joining the Royal Family.

During their engagement interview in November 2017, the former Suits star even said: “I mean I think also because there was a misconception that because I have worked in the entertainment industry that this would be something I would be familiar with.

“But even though I've been on my show for I guess six years at that point and working before that I've never been part of tabloid culture.

“I've never been in pop culture to that degree and and lived relatively quiet life even though I focused so much on my job.”

READ MORE: Meghan Markle mum-shamed for how she held Archie - but experts say she's done nothing wrong

The Duchess of Sussex holding her son Archie as they attend the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day at Billingbear Polo Club, Wokingham, Berkshire.
From their dating days to having baby Archie, the level of interest in Meghan and Harry has been global. [Photo: PA]

Ewart points that people have no understanding of what life is like in the Royal Family until they have been through it.

“Suddenly to come into this cauldron, into this Royal Family is beyond anything that she [Meghan] could ever have expected and it will be very, very difficult for Harry, as it was with William with Kate, to explain just how intense that is.

“How every single every expression, movement, comment - bang - that’s going to be on the front page.”

At the Lion King premiere on Sunday, Meghan was overheard telling Pharrell Williams that “they don’t make it easy.”

It was in response to the American singer, 46, telling the royal couple: "So happy for your union. Love is amazing. It's wonderful.”

"Don't ever take that for granted but what it means in today's climate, I just wanted to tell you it's so significant for so many of us. Seriously. We cheer you guys on."

While it’s not clear what the duchess was referring to, many commentators believe she was talking about royal life or the media scrutiny.