SUSSEX SPLIT
All the people ‘Duchess Difficult’ Meghan Markle has fallen out with & the pals she’s ‘desperate’ to keep, claims expert
Including the reason she is said to no longer speak to her former best friend, Jessica Mulroney
SHE counts Oprah Winfrey, the Clooneys and Kris Jenner as close pals.
But while Meghan Markle’s phone book may be brimming with showbiz contacts, there are also a whole group of famous faces she won’t be exchanging messages with any time soon.
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Since getting married to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan has fallen out with her own inlaws, namely the Prince and Princess of Wales, her best friend Jessica Mulroney, and the Beckhams.
There are also rumours of tension with tennis star Serena Williams, while Sophie Trudeu has reportedly ‘distanced herself’ from Meghan.
She is even now referred to as ‘Duchess Difficult’ in some circles after her own staff allegedly complained about her manner.
Denise Palmer-Davies, director of PR agency Borne Media, told Fabulous, it is “no coincidence” that the 42-year-old struggles to keep friends.
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“Meghan’s friendships, particularly those that have broken down, are interesting," she said. "While we are all guilty of not staying in regular contact with people, it is quite unusual for an adult woman to lose so many friends.
"It doesn’t seem like a coincidence and there have long been reports about her conduct, particularly towards her employees.
"It really isn’t a good look brand or PR wise if there are continuous reports about behaviour and broken friendships. People will start to question why.
“It’s little wonder she appears desperate to cling on to her friendships with the likes of high profile stars Ellen [Degeneres] and Oprah, it shows she can at least hold some relationships down.”
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Here we take a look at the stars Meghan has fallen out with, and the ones she refuses to let go of…
Fall outs
Kate and Wills
Meghan hasn’t seen her inlaws for over two years, last seeing Prince William and Princess Kate at the Queen’s funeral in 2022 - and even then there was very little interaction. The rift ignited following Meghan’s appearance on Oprah where she alleged a member of the royal family was racist and that Kate ‘made [her] cry’, an allegation sources have refuted, claiming it was actually the other way around.
Jessica Mulroney
Meghan and Jessica were once best friends - Jessica’s three children were even pageboys and bridesmaid at Meghan’s 2018 Windsor wedding. But the pair fell out two years later when Jessica was embroiled in a race row with Black Canadian lifestyle blogger Sacha Exeter. Jessica issued two public apologies, but Meghan is believed to have kept her distance.
Meghan bullying claims 'are not surprising' - signs already there, expert says
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The Beckhams
She was once a close horse for Victoria Beckham’s designs, but things turned sour last year when Meghan allegedly became concerned about Victoria’s “indiscretion". It was claimed Harry accused Victoria and her husband of leaking stories about Meghan in a tense call that reportedly left David “furious".
“Any making up now is so unlikely,” a source said.
Serena Williams
Rumours of a fall out between the pair began when Meghan was absent from Serena’s baby shower last summer. They seemingly put reports of a rift to bed when they were pictured together in April, but then the tennis star appeared to make a dig at Meghan and Harry at a recent event and fans thought the body language was off between the pair.
At the ESPY awards, Serena joked ‘try not to breathe too much tonight’ in case they ‘overshadowed’ the night, and while sources say it was said in jest, Meghan appeared to grimace.
Sophie Trudeu
Once described by Meghan as a ‘dear friend’, Sophie appeared to distance herself from the Duchess when she was asked about her in an interview. “I know her,” Sophie replied, not saying anything more, with the journalist noting that while Meghan had been full of praise for the Canadian Prime Minister’s wife, "she does not gush back".
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Close friends
Oprah Winfrey
The chat show host cemented herself in Meghan’s circle when she was invited to the Sussexes private wedding reception for close friends and family.
Since then, Meghan and Oprah have exchanged gifts, supported each other at events, and of course Meghan gave her pal the exclusive first interview following Megxit.
Ellen Degeneres
Meghan met the chat show host at a pet shelter when she was an actress appearing on Suits. The pair became firm friends with Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi even visiting Meghan and Harry in London when Archie was born. Ellen also use her show to defend the couple from scrutiny saying it was “not fair” to see them “get attacked.”
She added: “They are two of the most down-to-earth compassionate people, they’re doing so much good for the world.”
Kris Jenner
Meghan has been in Kris orbit on several occasions. Last February she was a guest at Ellen and Portia’s vow renewal where Kris was officiating.
Meghan and Kris were also pictured partying in an exclusive box at Beyoncé's Renaissance tour a few months later. And it isn’t just Meghan with links to the Kardashians.
Meghan’s mother Doria has also rubbed shoulders with Kris and her famous family as she was pictured alongside the momager and Kim at a charity event in LA last summer, meanwhile Harry has hung out with Kris’s partner Corey Gamble.
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The Clooneys
Hollywood star George Clooney and his wife Amal scored an invite to Harry and Meghan’s wedding despite not knowing each other.
According to reports, Meghan and Amal grew close following the nuptials, with the human rights lawyer attending the Duchess’s New York baby shower when pregnant with Archie.
However, recent reports suggest that while Amal and Meghan still talk, George has distanced himself in favour of a relationship with King Charles and his wife Camilla.
Tyler Perry
The American actor reached out to Meghan and Harry in 2020, asking if they would like to stay at his Los Angeles home during “a difficult summer” for the couple.
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After revealing public scrutiny became “overwhelming” for Meghan, Tyler said: “It is very important for people in this business to have a safe place to land, to have a place where they can trust and talk freely and get advice that’s not going to be biased or from somebody who wants something from them.”
And the friendship has continued, with Meghan and Harry recently pictured at Tyler’s 55th birthday bash in Montecito.
Buy tickets for The Sun's Royal Exclusive Live special
BUY tickets for our Royal Exclusive Live special at The News Building .
Tickets are £5 and include a free drink.
Guests can get the lowdown on the Royal Family including all-things Harry, Meghan, William and Kate.
Our expert panel will be The Sun's Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, The Sun's Royal Photographer Arthur Edwards and ex-BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond.
The trio will share some of their favourite stories about the Firm, lifting the lid on what it's like to work with them, and some of their biggest scoops to date.
Guests will also get the opportunity to ask questions about what really goes on behind the doors of the palace.
So come prepped to quiz the panel in front of a live audience at our London Bridge offices on October 4, from 7pm until 9pm.
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