For years, critics of Meghan Markle have pushed the theory that the Duchess of Sussex never intended to fully embrace royal life and instead influenced Prince Harry to step away from the monarchy. But a new royal book is pushing back on that narrative.
In “Divide & Rule,” author Catherine Mayer challenges claims that Meghan entered the Royal Family with a secret agenda, disputing suggestions that she convinced Harry she would settle into royal duties only to later pull him away from his family. Instead, Mayer argues the reality behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure was far more complicated.
According to Mayer, one popular theory, promoted by critics including Meghan’s biographer, Tom Bower, and royal photographer, Arthur Edwards, suggests Meghan always intended to separate Harry from royal life.
The narrative alleges Meghan led Harry to believe she would accept the role of a working royal while privately planning a very different future. But Mayer says her own reporting uncovered a different story. “My own research, which has included conversations with deeply informed sources, produced a different picture,” Mayer writes.
Rather than manipulation, Mayer describes “two people, naively optimistic that they could develop their own interpretations of the royal job, thrown off balance as they hit resistance and swiftly developing a siege mentality.”
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Reportedly Wanted To Reimagine Royal Life
According to the book, Harry and Meghan initially had no intention of abandoning royal service altogether. Instead, Mayer suggests the couple hoped to carve out a more modern version of royal work while maintaining their support for Queen Elizabeth II. At one point, the Sussexes reportedly envisioned living abroad while continuing to serve the Crown “still doing work for the Queen, but beyond the reach of the press.”
Mayer also argues that Meghan appeared to thrive in many aspects of royal life despite criticism from palace insiders. “Her in-laws might recoil from her hugs, but strangers on the street leaned into them,” the author writes, suggesting Meghan naturally connected with the public.
Meghan Markle Was Reportedly Viewed As ‘Too Political’
The book also addresses criticism that Meghan was viewed by some within royal circles as overly political. However, a well-informed source cited by Mayer suggested Meghan never viewed herself as rebellious.
Instead, the source claimed Meghan’s public support of the #MeToo movement in 2018 stemmed from the belief that ending sexual harassment was a mainstream goal rather than a political statement. Still, tensions reportedly escalated as Harry and Meghan encountered resistance from palace officials while attempting to shape a new role for themselves inside the institution.
Mayer writes that, unlike couples who balance one another out in moments of conflict, Harry and Meghan often reacted similarly under pressure. “Where some couples moderate each other’s responses, the one more inclined to conciliation, the other to confrontation, Harry and Meghan share similar reflexes,” the author writes.
Why ‘Megxit’ Eventually Became Unavoidable
According to Mayer, palace officials increasingly viewed Harry and Meghan as unpredictable during a pivotal period for the monarchy. With Queen Elizabeth II aging and future transitions to King Charles III and Prince William looming, palace priorities reportedly shifted toward stability. In that environment, Mayer claims that some insiders began to see the Sussexes less as an opportunity for modernization and more as a potential risk.
The book claims concerns grew that Meghan “would not have respected boundaries” and that Harry and Meghan risked becoming “more Andrew-and-Sarah than Anne-and-Timothy.” As tensions mounted, Mayer argues the institution focused less on helping Harry and Meghan expand their role and more on containing them.
For the author, “Megxit” was not the result of a master plan, but the breakdown of a relationship between two people who believed they could reshape royal life and an institution unwilling to bend with them.
Meghan Markle Is Compared To Princess Diana
Elsewhere in “Divide & Rule,” Mayer also draws striking comparisons between Meghan and the late Princess Diana, arguing Prince Harry’s fears about history repeating itself may have shaped many of the couple’s decisions.
According to the author, Harry became increasingly protective of Meghan as media scrutiny intensified, believing his wife faced many of the same pressures his mother endured during her years inside the monarchy.
Mayer writes that Harry sought to protect Meghan “in a way he could not protect his mother,” while also suggesting Meghan’s growing public backlash mirrored the criticism Diana once faced before eventually becoming one of the most beloved figures in royal history.
