Royal expert: Meghan is 'too Californian' for Britain, playing against Kate

Royal expert Catherine Mayer believes Meghan Markle never had a strong chance of succeeding as a British royal. Mayer, a writer and journalist who covers the British monarchy, stated that Markle's background and attitude did not align with the unspoken expectations of the royal family and the public.

"People [the British] don't like her because she is too Californian," Mayer told correspondents in London. She explained that Markle's Californian traits, openness, chattiness, and informality, clashed with the reserved nature valued by the British court. Even her Californian way of speaking was perceived as "inauthentic" in Britain.

Markle, an American actress, married Prince Harry in May 2018, becoming the Duchess of Sussex. However, the couple, along with their children, left Britain and their official royal duties in early 2020, and now reside in California.

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People [the British] don't like her because she is too Californian

Mayer, who is a dual U.S. and British citizen and has written about King Charles, explores the position of royal women throughout history in her new book, "Divide & Rule – Royal Women and Their Battles." She argues that the focus on royal women, from Anne Boleyn to contemporary figures, is often overlooked by mainstream media, leaving a distorted picture.

Mayer contends that it is detrimental when only tabloids and conservative media cover royal women, as it skews the overall perception. She noted that while feminist circles in Britain might dismiss the royals as uninteresting, there is still a strong public opinion about Meghan. "If you don't pay attention to Meghan, it's like ignoring Anne Boleyn and other women in history," she said, highlighting the importance of analyzing Meghan's public narrative within a broader historical context of royal women.

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If you don't pay attention to Meghan, it's like ignoring Anne Boleyn and other women in history