Meghan Markle ‘naively thought’ that joining the royal family would guarantee ‘instant popularity’, says royal expert

MEGHAN Markle “naively” thought that her role in the royal family would come with “instant popularity”, says a royal expert. 

Royal commentator Omid Scobie said that the Duchess of Sussex believed that the role would come with a “honeymoon period” and she would be allowed to make “mistakes”. 

Speaking on his podcast with royal expert Victoria Arbiter, he said that former actress Meghan brought some “unrealistic expectations” to the role. 

Omid said: “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.

"(Meghan thought) you start in a good place and there is this, no matter what, there is a honeymoon period that comes with marrying into the royal family that allows you to falter at times, or figure something out, or whatever it is.

"I think that that was one of the key things, and I think that towards the end she felt she wasn't given that by the press or members of the royal family, by aides or courtiers within the households.

"I think everyone somehow had this level of expectation from her from the get-go that was perhaps somewhat unrealistic, and perhaps she herself had some unrealistic expectations from the role too."

Meghan came under a great deal of scrutiny in her time as a royal and admitted on ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey last year that she was finding life a struggle. 

She said to Tom Bradby: “I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair and that's the part that's really hard to reconcile."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sensationally announced they were stepping down as senior royals earlier this month. 

The Queen then spent a crunch few days thrashing out a hard Megxit deal to determine their new roles. 

Under the terms of the deal, the royal couple will have to repay the £2.4million spent on Frogmore Cottage by taxpayers and it ";will remain their UK family home".

The couple will now be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and "will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family".

And Harry will lose his Captain General of Marines, Hon Air Commandant, Commodore-In-Chief and Youth Ambassador titles.

The Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations, but they "no longer formally represent The Queen" - and will split their time between North America and the UK.

Earlier this week, Prince Harry jetted to Canada to be with Meghan and Archie, after a deal was reached on their departure from the family. 

Meanwhile, Prince William held his first solo reception at Buckingham Palace, accompanied by Kate, and the duchess has also toured the UK as part of her early years work.