MEGHAN Markle didn’t like playing “second fiddle” to the rest of the royals but could have “played a key role”, according to a royal expert.
Broadcaster Sarah Hewson told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show that the Sussexes would have been “front and centre” now if they had stayed as working royals.
Sarah revealed to The Sun’s Matt Wilkinson: “We’re told Meghan didn’t like playing second fiddle well, they wouldn’t have been playing second fiddle right now would they?
“They would have been front and centre and they could have played such a key role and I think it’s really, really sad to see just how things have changed.
“He and Meghan both actually could have made such a difference.”
Sarah pointed out that the Royal Family is currently “thin on the ground”, with King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer recoveries, and Princess Anne’s recent injury.
The Princess Royal, 73, spent five days in hospital after suffering a concussion in a horse accident on the Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.
Sarah continued: “And particularly now, when you look at the Royal Family, and how difficult and how thin on the ground they have been, over the past few months with the absence of the King, the Princess of Wales, of course, we’ve had Princess Anne’s ill health lately as well.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as working royals in 2020, and relocated to California, where they live with Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
The royal expert pointed out that when Prince Harry was in the Royal Family, he managed to bring about a lot of change.
Sarah, who is Royal Correspondent of Talk TV, shared: “When Harry spoke people listened.
“And when Harry wanted something done, it was done.
“And you saw that in Lesotho with Sentebale and that the pride that he got from something that he’s that started as a gap year project for him to then a lasting legacy of project making a difference to a generation of young people, children, many of whom have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS who contracted the disease themselves in the AIDS epidemic.”
KATE’S HEALTH JOURNEY
Kate has been absent from royal duties since Christmas, and only made a handful of appearances since then.
The Princess of Wales was taken into hospital for planned abdominal surgery in January and spent 13 nights at the London Clinic before continuing her recovery at home with her family.
In March, Kate bravely released a video revealing “tests after the operation found cancer had been present” and that she had started preventative cancer treatment.
The Princess said the diagnosis had come as a “huge shock” – but vowed: “I am well and getting stronger every day”.
Princess Kate gave an update on her health last month – just hours before Trooping the Colour.
KATE’S MESSAGE
She told how her treatment is “ongoing and will be for a few more months” as she revealed she is “not out of the woods yet”.
But she told how it is a “joy” for her to still engage with school life and spend time “on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home”.
She said: “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.
MEGXIT TERMS
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced on January 8, 2020, they would be stepping down as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family.
On January 18 it was announced that the Sussexes would “no longer be working members of Britain’s Royal Family”, and would not use their “Royal Highness” titles.
A Palace spokeswoman said the couple would no longer receive public money and that they would repay the £2.4million cost of refurbishing their cottage — Frogmore — in Windsor, Berks.
The following day, Harry said in a heartfelt speech: “Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
The Duke of Sussex said he had found the “love and happiness I had hoped for all my life” with Meghan.
“It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.
“On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to
your body resting.
“But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”