Journalist Bryony Gordon, a close friend of Meghan Markle, has expressed her frustration with the way the Duchess of Sussex has been treated by the press and public, comparing it to the experiences of other members of the Royal Family.
Gordon’s comments come amid the serialisation of a new book by royal biographer Andrew Lownie, which makes damaging claims about Prince Andrew’s alleged conduct over several decades.
Gordon first met Meghan in 2018 at a Royal Foundation event, where she was chairing a panel for Heads Together, a mental health initiative supported by the young royals.
She recalled being warmly greeted by Meghan, who gave her a “big old bear hug” that put her at ease in a room filled with royals and photographers.
“Meghan’s down-to-earth demeanour worked like a charm,” Gordon wrote, adding that it helped calm the nerves of the other guests, many of whom were charity workers attending their first royal engagement.
Since that initial meeting, Gordon and Meghan have stayed in touch, sharing lunches, visiting charitable projects, and even spending time together at the Duchess’s homes in Frogmore Cottage and Montecito.
With each interaction, Gordon said she has been left baffled by what she views as the harsh treatment Meghan received from the press and public, compared to others in the Royal Family.
“Can you blame the couple for wanting to escape the peculiar prison of royal life?” Gordon asked, referencing the scrutiny Meghan and Prince Harry faced.
Gordon’s comments highlight the perceived double standards in the way the Royal Family handles controversy. While Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in 2022 following public pressure and a legal settlement, Meghan has faced intense scrutiny for her actions as a royal.
Queen Elizabeth II publicly supported the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s departure from royal life, issuing a statement in January 2020 that expressed her understanding of their desire for a more independent life.