Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
ROYALS

Queen 'told Meghan she didn't have to give up acting' when she married Harry

7 Apr, 2021 01:38 AM3 minutes to read
The Duchess of Sussex was told by the Queen that she was not obliged to be a full-time member of the Royal Family, biographer Andrew Morton claims. Photo / Getty Images

The Duchess of Sussex was told by the Queen that she was not obliged to be a full-time member of the Royal Family, biographer Andrew Morton claims. Photo / Getty Images

Daily Telegraph UK

The Duchess of Sussex was told by the Queen that she was not obliged to be a full-time member of the Royal Family when she married Prince Harry and was free to keep acting, a royal biographer has claimed.

The Duchess revealed to Oprah Winfrey in a blockbuster interview last month that she was forced to give up her passport and driving licence when she joined the family in 2018, and that at times she felt suicidal and alone.

But Andrew Morton, who wrote a leading biography of Princess Diana, told the Royally Obsessed podcast that the Duchess was not prevented from pursuing her career or a private life and said Her Majesty gave the Sussexes different routes to take within the family.

"The Queen gave them [the Duke and Duchess] the opportunity to go wherever they pleased," Morton said. "They were given a degree of latitude.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Read More

  • Piers Morgan unleashes on Meghan Markle in Tucker Carlson interview: 'I was right not to believ...
  • Daniela Elser: Meghan and Harry's PR war with royal family is only ramping up - NZ Herald
  • Meghan Markle felt like an 'outsider' when she began royal life - NZ Herald
  • Harry and Meghan's first Netflix series will centre on Invictus Games - NZ Herald
The Duchess told Oprah Winfrey that she felt trapped at Kensington Palace, claiming she "left the house twice in four months" in 2019. Photo / Harpo Productions
The Duchess told Oprah Winfrey that she felt trapped at Kensington Palace, claiming she "left the house twice in four months" in 2019. Photo / Harpo Productions

"They were told: 'Here are your first-class tickets, pick which country you want to go to, we're going to make you youth ambassadors for the Commonwealth.'

"They did say to Meghan: 'If you don't want to embrace royal duties full time please be our guest and continue your acting career.' Those opportunities were open to her."

The Duchess told Winfrey that she felt trapped at Kensington Palace, claiming she "left the house twice in four months" in 2019, a claim disputed by Morton, who said the Duchess was often spotted shopping and eating at restaurants in west London.

He said: "When I was watching the interview, I was ticking off 'yes, sense of isolation', 'yes, sense of desperation', exactly what Diana was saying to me.

"But then again, friends of mine said they've seen Meghan walking from Whole Foods supermarket on Kensington High St with bags of foods back to Kensington Palace.

"It didn't seem too much like a prison. Other friends have seen her out and about with friends at restaurants, so she seems, to me, to have led a normal life."

Related articles

ROYALS

Opinion: Why I'm sick of hearing about Megxit

06 Apr 07:00 PM
ROYALS

Is wine Harry and Meghan's new business venture?

06 Apr 12:49 AM
ROYALS

Why Kate Middleton is careful not to 'outshine' Prince William

05 Apr 08:29 PM
ROYALS

Kate aces major test Meghan failed

04 Apr 05:00 PM

Morton also claimed that the Sussexes had been hasty in stepping back from royal life in 2020 and did not fully consider the consequences of leaving.

"I think neither of them gave it the thought they should have done," he said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"I think that famous warning from Prince William of 'steady on, think about what you're doing', that Harry bridled at, was probably meant more with affection."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

'Stop her': Mortified wedding guest's mistake

19 Aug 06:48 AM
Lifestyle

Stunning reason woman in labour boots husband out of delivery room

19 Aug 01:18 AM
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why are young men so insecure about their looks?

19 Aug 01:00 AM
Lifestyle

Lead investigator recalls 'emotional' meeting after Diana's death

19 Aug 12:30 AM
Lifestyle

The coolest looks of the week, from Cynthia Erivo, Michael B. Jordan and more

19 Aug 12:00 AM

Most Popular

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations
New Zealand|Politics

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children
New Zealand|Crime

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
Premium
Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price
Business

Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price

19 Aug 05:32 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP