Meghan Markle Made a Power Play After Palace Scolded Her for Attention-Seeking

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has made headlines from the very beginning of her time in the royal family. From the earliest days of her romance with Prince Harry, when the public and press couldn’t get enough of her, to the days before her controversial exit from the royal family, Meghan has always been a hot topic.

While many journalists and tabloids have portrayed Meghan as being difficult and hard to get along with, there are other reports that suggest that the former royal isn’t especially ill-natured — in fact, it could be that she just has no problems standing up for herself. A brand-new report substantiates this theory, detailing how Meghan was once rebuked by the palace higher-ups for a daring accessory choice, and how she bucked convention by choosing to do her own thing, regardless. 

Meghan Markle’s relationship with Prince Harry raised eyebrows

When it was first revealed that Meghan, a Hollywood actress and the star of the popular TV show Suits, was dating England’s Prince Harry, the whole world sat up and watched. The two seemed to be polar opposites, and certainly, they came from vastly different backgrounds. Many journalists questioned whether the relationship could possibly survive the scrutiny of the tabloids.

Still, Meghan and Prince Harry were determined to make their romance work, despite the odds. It didn’t take long before Meghan started getting slammed by the press, as people seemed bent on finding fault with her, regardless of what she did.

The relentless slew of negative press surrounding Meghan prompted Prince Harry to release a rare public statement, defending his girlfriend. However, after they were married in May 2018, the negativity and scrutiny only intensified. 

Meghan Markle’s controversial wardrobe

Critics found fault with everything from Meghan’s nail polish to the way she behaved at royal appearances. Still, it was her wardrobe that most often made headlines.

Although undeniably stylish, many reporters slammed Meghan for wearing expensive clothes and for reportedly spending a great deal more money on her maternity wardrobe than other royal women, such as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Reports suggested that Meghan consistently demanded clothes that were more expensive than Kate’s. Whether this was by design or accident is unclear, but the fact remains that the Duchess of Sussex wanted to be seen in only the best, and it frequently caused problems with the tabloids as well as royal fans.

The fact that she frequently bucked royal tradition by wearing shorter hemlines, distressed denim, and tailored suits probably didn’t help her case, either, since the royal family is notoriously conservative. 

Meghan Markle’s bold ‘power move’

As an actress, Meghan knows what clothing and accessories will make the biggest impact. Therefore, she had to know that when she began wearing a gold necklace displaying her initials, along with Prince Harry’s, that everyone would take notice.

A recent report claims that Kensington Palace didn’t approve of Meghan’s “H and M” charm necklace, and told her during a tense conversation in 2016 that wearing the necklace was causing the tabloids to pay even closer attention to her actions. According to the report, Meghan didn’t speak out to defend herself but was reportedly “distraught” after the conversation.

According to Finding Freedom, a biography on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex authored by royals experts Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Meghan “knew the aide had good intentions, the surreal experience of having someone from her boyfriend’s office tell her what kind of jewelry to wear or not to smile at a photographer was too much.”

Still, if the story is to be believed, Meghan found the strength to stand up to the palace’s wishes. In 2019, she was spotted wearing another, similar necklace, this one also emblazoned with her and her husband’s distinct initials. As Glamour notes, it was a “power move.”

It seems as though Meghan decided that she wasn’t going to let the confines of royal protocol dictate her accessory choices — and notably, only a few months after she stepped out wearing the piece, she and Prince Harry announced that they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family.