Celebrities

Meghan Turned Down Royal Mentor as She Wanted to Do Things Her Own Way

Published on July 7, 2025

Meghan Markle wasn’t keen on having a mentor when she joined the Royal Family, according to one royal expert, despite the late Queen’s best efforts to help her settle in.

Gyles Brandreth has revealed that Queen Elizabeth really wanted Meghan to thrive in her royal role after marrying Prince Harry. So much so, she tried to set her up with a kind of unofficial guide to help her find her feet.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Brandreth said: “The Queen wanted Meghan to make a success of the marriage and of her new role, and indeed did everything that she could to encourage that.”

Apparently, Her Majesty suggested that Sophie Wessex – now the Duchess of Edinburgh – could take Meghan under her wing. Sophie, who’s been married to Prince Edward for decades, was reportedly one of the Queen’s favourites and had managed to navigate royal life with a low-key but respected approach.

“I think she suggested to her that Sophie Wessex, who certainly was a favourite with her, and had been through it because she had married into the Royal Family, and married Prince Edward, might help her, be a sort of mentor,” Brandreth explained.

But Meghan, it seems, wasn’t up for that arrangement. Despite Sophie’s years of experience and insight into royal protocol and the behind-the-scenes rhythm of The Firm, Meghan chose to go it alone, preferring to find her own way rather than take advice from someone already in the fold.

Brandreth suggested that the Queen had a sense that Meghan might find the whole royal lifestyle a bit of a culture shock at first.

He added: “The Queen (who, of course, had seen it all before) understood that Harry’s girl might find adjusting to Royal life ‘challenging to begin with’ (as she put it). ‘It is very jolty, but you soon get used to it’. That was Her Majesty’s experience going back many years.”

It’s not the first time Meghan’s early days in the Royal Family have been brought back into the spotlight. From the very start, there were whispers about how difficult it might be for someone from outside the UK, and outside the traditional aristocratic mould, to adapt to the rigid expectations of royal duty.

And while the Queen was known for her steady and pragmatic approach, it’s clear she was trying to support Meghan behind the scenes. The suggestion to pair her with Sophie wasn’t just about etiquette and rules – it was likely about giving Meghan someone who’d already been through the ups and downs of royal life and come out the other side with her dignity and reputation intact.

Still, Meghan’s path was always going to be different. And whether it was her choice or something that just didn’t click, the mentor plan never really took off. What’s clear is that even back then, there were very different ideas about how best to approach royal life – and not everyone was reading from the same playbook.

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