A close friend of Meghan Markle has claimed the Duchess “lets Harry take the lead” when it comes to navigating his fractured relationship with the Royal Family following the Sussexes’ dramatic visit to the UK.
Meghan, 44, and Prince Harry, 41, returned to Britain with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, on Friday for a private meeting with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House.
The visit marked Meghan, Archie and Lilibet’s first trip to the UK in four years, while it was only the second time Lilibet had met her paternal grandparents.
While sources close to Harry said he was left “buoyed, very happy and really energised” after the reunion, insiders claim Meghan walked away from the trip feeling very differently.
A source close to the couple told Page Six the Duchess felt “humiliated” last week as the public drama surrounding the visit continued to dominate headlines.
Another insider told PEOPLE that while Meghan “is very supportive” of Harry, “there’s a lot of sadness” over how the week unfolded and the fact she was unable to stand beside him during his public engagements.
However, a third source claimed that when it comes to Harry’s relationship with his family, “she always lets him lead.”
The comment offers a rare glimpse into the couple’s relationship, particularly as they continue to navigate a years-long estrangement from Harry’s relatives.
Harry and Meghan, who have been married for eight years, regularly speak about their love for one another and their children, but have rarely discussed how they manage relationships with each other’s families behind closed doors.
The pair are understood to remain close with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, although the Duchess is estranged from her father, Thomas Markle Sr, and her half-siblings.
The Sussexes first announced their UK plans in June, with Meghan expected to accompany Harry to several high-profile engagements, including the Invictus Games 2027 one-year-to-go event in Birmingham.
However, after the couple were denied taxpayer-funded security for the trip – protection they have not received since stepping back from royal duties in 2020 – and Buckingham Palace withdrew its offer of accommodation at a royal residence, Harry was forced to carry out much of the visit alone.
It was later confirmed Meghan would no longer attend the Invictus Games event despite previously planning to do so.
According to royal reporter Russell Myers, ongoing security concerns saw Meghan and the children return to California earlier than expected.
“There were U-turns and backtracks, and it will have all added to the complete exasperation of the King and his aides when dealing with Harry,” Myers told People.
“What was billed as a big homecoming – not only for Harry but potentially for Meghan too – turned into a nightmare. It was further evidence of the fractiousness of Harry’s relationship with the institution.”
The trip became even more challenging when Harry lost his $96 million privacy case against ANL, publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, on the second day of the visit after alleging the company had unlawfully obtained his private information.
Speaking to Sky News host Rita Panahi, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said the visit had delivered a harsh “reality check” for the Duke and Duchess.
“Harry has spent years insisting he can be half in and half out of the monarchy, and the British public just reminded him that that isn’t how it works,” Schofield said.
“If you look at the media that was generated while he was there, for the most part, he was rejected,” she said.
“And the nightmare wasn’t just the trip, it was discovering that the privilege of royalty doesn’t automatically survive after you quit your job.”