Kristina Roberts
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been in the news many times for different reasons. But during her early days as a royal, there were reports that she sometimes behaved rudely with the palace staff. These incidents were serious enough that Queen Elizabeth II herself had to step in and give Meghan some strong advice.
The Wedding Caterer Incident:
Before Meghan and Prince Harry’s wedding in 2018, there was an incident involving the food tasting at Windsor Castle. According to royal biographer Katie Nicholl, Meghan was unhappy with the menu. In her book The New Royals, Nicholl wrote that Meghan tasted a dish and realized it had egg in it, even though it was supposed to be vegan.
A source mentioned, “Meghan was at the castle to taste some of the dishes, and told one of the caterers she could taste the egg. She got quite upset, saying that the dish was meant to be vegan and macrobiotic.”
This argument reached the Queen’s ears, and she decided to handle the situation herself. Nicholl wrote, “Suddenly, the Queen walked in and said: ‘Meghan, in this family, we don’t speak to people like that.’” This showed that the Queen did not tolerate anyone being disrespectful to the staff.
The Frogmore Cottage Garden Staff Issue:
Another incident happened when Meghan and Harry were living at Frogmore Cottage, near Windsor Castle. Reports claimed that Meghan was rude to the gardeners working there. The staff were so upset that they complained to the Queen.
A source told The Sun, “The head gardener went to complain to the Queen, and she told her off because she obviously didn’t like people being rude to staff.” This was not the first time Meghan’s behavior had caused problems, and it seemed the Queen had to remind her about royal manners more than once.
Reports of Meghan’s Behavior with Staff:
According to The Daily Mail, some palace staff members even formed a group called the ‘Sussex Survivors Club’ because they found it difficult to work with Meghan. While some people defended her, saying she was just adjusting to royal life, others felt she was often harsh with employees.
Why the Queen Stepped In:
Queen Elizabeth II was known for treating everyone with respect, whether they were royal family members or staff. She believed in maintaining dignity and kindness in all interactions. So, when she heard about Meghan’s behavior, she made sure to correct it immediately.
The Queen’s words to Meghan—“In this family, we don’t speak to people like that”—showed how important respect was to her. This was not just about rules but about basic human decency.
How Meghan Responded:
There is no clear information on how Meghan reacted to the Queen’s advice. However, some reports suggest that she tried to improve her behavior afterward. Being new to royal life, she may not have fully understood the expectations at first.
Public Reaction:
When these stories came out, people had mixed opinions. Some felt Meghan was unfairly criticized, while others believed she should have been more careful with her words. Royal experts say that adjusting to palace life is not easy, especially for someone who was not born into it.
These incidents show that even royals get corrected when they make mistakes. Queen Elizabeth II made sure that everyone in her family treated staff with respect. While Meghan Markle may have had some misunderstandings early on, the Queen’s guidance was meant to help her adapt to royal traditions.
Respect and kindness are important, no matter who you are. The Queen’s lesson to Meghan reminds us all that how we treat others matters more than titles or status.
