Lady Glenconner: Meghan Markle had unrealistic expectations

The Duchess of Sussex ‘didn’t understand she would have to work hard’ and believed she could ‘drive around in a golden coach’ when she joined the royal family, according to Princess Margaret’s closest confidante Lady Anne Glenconner.

Lady Glenconner, 87, told The Guardian that she believed Meghan Markle, 38, didn’t realise that all members of The Firm had to work hard when she married Prince Harry, 35.

The former lady-in-waiting revealed: ‘I think she thought she could drive around in a golden coach. But it’s actually quite boring.’

Meghan and Prince Harry, 35, are currently self-isolating in Canada following their last official engagements as working members of the royal family earlier this month. 

Lady Glenconner went on to say that her close friend Princess Margaret ‘did so much charity work’ but often ‘without any photographers’, adding that this was ‘unlike’ Princess Diana. 

She also revealed that she believes Prince William, 37, and Prince Harry dwell too much on their mother.

She said the brothers ‘go on about their mother the whole time. I think it’s a bit much.’  

Royal experts have previously said that the Duchess had had ‘unrealistic expectations’ of her role in the royal family and ‘naively thought’ her position came with ‘instant popularity’.

The former lady-in-waiting and close confidante of Princess Margaret said royal life could actually be ‘quite boring’ (pictured in November 2019)

In January, Omid Scobie told listeners of the Heirpod podcast that Meghan joined the royal family believing ‘the role came with an almost instant popularity’ and said she had ‘unrealistic expectations’ of her position. 

He revealed: ‘I think one of the biggest mistakes Meghan made, and I’ve heard this from sources close to her, is that she naively went in thinking this role came almost with an instant popularity.’

Prince Harry and Meghan are currently holed up at their Vancouver Island waterfront mansion, and are working with experts on how to best serve the public during this time, believing the pandemic is also a mental health crisis and feel ‘compelled to help’.

Earlier this week, sources told how the couple feel they are now able to ‘create their own life’ and have felt a ‘relief’ since leaving the UK. 

Lady Glenconner suggested Meghan believed she would be ‘drive around in a golden coach’ when she joined The Firm (pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018)  

‘This is what Meghan and Harry have always wanted — to create their own life,’ a source said, speaking to People Magazine. ‘It’s got to feel like an immense relief to get out of the UK and go down their own path.’

When the couple announced they were stepping down from The Firm it was believed they would split their time between the UK and North America.  

However, it is now thought the couple will primarily reside on the western side of the Atlantic, having only made fleeting official visits to the United Kingdom to wrap up their final royal duties.

Since relocating to Vancouver Island the couple have the ‘freedom to do whatever they want’ because the locals ‘don’t bother them’, the source added.  

The couple are currently isolating in in a waterfront Vancouver Island mansion  after stepping back from life as senior members of the royal family earlier this month 

Lady Glenconner grew up living next to Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret at Holkham Hall, which neighboured Sandringham. 

She became great friends with Margaret, and was her lady-in-waiting until the royal’s death in 2002.

She has also known Prince William and Prince Harry since they were children, even bathing the boys together when they were young.