Secrets seem to be a common thread in any family, no matter how ordinary or royal. While some secrets remain buried, others eventually see the light of day, often causing unrest among family members.
The Royal Family is no exception to this. After the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99 in 2021, certain family secrets were unveiled that left many in shock.
It came to light that Prince Philip held a rather dim view of Meghan Markle. This revelation was made public through a book written by a royal insider, providing a candid glimpse into the inner workings of the royal family.
The book in question, titled Mother And I and authored by Ingrid Seward, sheds light on this untold story. Seward, holding the position of editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine and being a well-regarded royal biographer, brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into the Royal Family dynamics.
According to an excerpt from the book, Prince Philip’s nickname for Meghan, who joined the royal family in 2018, was quite unflattering. He referred to her as the ‘Duchess of Windsor.’
This nickname carries a heavy historical context. It was originally associated with Wallis Simpson, an American socialite whose marriage to Edward VIII in 1937 caused a major scandal. Edward VIII, uncle to Queen Elizabeth II, abdicated the throne to marry Simpson, a twice-divorced woman.
This union was frowned upon by the Church of England and the then UK Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, who demanded that Simpson not be accepted as Queen due to her divorcee status.
Prince Philip saw a striking resemblance between Meghan and Simpson, both in terms of appearance and circumstances. Prior to joining the royal family, Meghan had been married in 2011 and later divorced in 2014.
Interestingly, the book mentions that Queen Elizabeth II herself had welcomed Meghan into the royal family when Prince Harry introduced them in 2017, though she did note that Meghan’s wedding dress was too white for someone who had been married before.
Further parallels to Simpson’s story emerged when Harry and Meghan decided to step away from royal duties and relocated to California.
