Advertisement
While Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle both entered the British Royal Family from non-aristocratic backgrounds, insiders suggest their approaches to royal life couldn’t have been more different. According to royal expert Tom Quinn’s new book Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, former palace staff shared candid views about how each woman adapted to their royal roles—and their personalities played a big role.
Both women married into one of the oldest institutions in the world—Kate to Prince William and Meghan to Prince Harry—but their attitudes toward tradition reportedly set them apart. A staffer described Kate as “Meghan without the messianic complex,” implying that Kate embraced her royal duties with humility and respect for the existing structure, while Meghan, though well-intentioned, often clashed with the way things had always been done.
Staff noted that Meghan brought a bold, modern perspective, wanting to shake things up and bring change—believing strongly in her vision, sometimes to the point of appearing dismissive of palace norms. One staff member recalled Meghan supposedly saying, “What Diana began, I will complete,” highlighting her desire to carry forward Princess Diana’s legacy. However, others felt this assertiveness didn’t always sit well within the rigid royal framework.
Kate, by contrast, reportedly spent her early years as a royal quietly observing, learning the ropes, and taking advice from senior royals like Queen Camilla. Her patience, discretion, and willingness to adapt earned her respect behind the scenes, even though she too faced criticism at times.
While both women made headlines and shaped the monarchy in their own ways, palace insiders suggest it was Kate’s steady, traditional approach that allowed her to navigate the institution with less friction—at least in the eyes of royal staff.