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Hello royal fans, welcome to another edition of royal news and analysis. As we've seen in the past few years, rumors and alleged bullying claims have dogged both Meghan Markle and the late Princess Diana during their times as senior royals. Let's take a closer look at how their experiences compare and the ongoing speculation around these issues.
Royal fans have unsurprisingly drawn parallels between Meghan and Diana ever since Harry famously said in their engagement interview that he was protective of Meghan and didn't want her to go through what his mother experienced. Before moving to California in early 2020, Meghan faced accusations of bullying staff members at Buckingham Palace. The claims, which Meghan vehemently denied, prompted an investigation by the Queen into HR policies and procedures. However, it was recently revealed that the Queen will not publicly release the findings of this inquiry for fear of reopening tensions with Harry and Meghan.
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Australian royal expert Daniela Elser noted that from the outside, this decision seems a prudent one by the Queen to avoid further stoking division. However, she argued it also permanently denies Meghan the chance to clear her name. Comparisons have also been made to Diana, who in the early 1990s found herself blamed for a string of staff departures from Prince Charles's inner circle, with some using rather uncharitable language to describe her. Diana hit back at the time, insisting she was not responsible for any sackings and did not arbitrarily dismiss employees.
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The parallels don't stop there. Just as Meghan faced a barrage of negative press coverage in the lead-up to her engagement and marriage to Harry, Diana endured an intense amount of media scrutiny. Some even argue it was this press intrusion that ultimately led to Diana's tragic death in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi photographers. Harry has never hidden his belief that the unyielding pressure from tabloid journalists contributed to his mother's demise, and this no doubt influenced his desire to shield Meghan and their children from a similar fate.
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After Harry and Meghan's successful tour of Oceania in 2018, tensions seemed to rise further when Prince William's private secretary filed a complaint against Meghan for alleged bullying. This, combined with other events such as their decision to skip spending Christmas with the royal family that year in favor of being with Meghan's mother, fueled rumors of a rift between the brothers and their wives. It has led many to question whether negative rumors were purposefully circulated about Diana and Meghan to undermine their popularity.
One Twitter user argued this directly, writing that just as Charles grew concerned over Diana's popularity in the early 90s and allegedly leaked bullying claims against her, William likely filed the complaint against Meghan after she and Harry's successful tour down under. Several commenters pointed out ominous similarities between Meghan and Diana's experiences with rumors, press intrusion and alleged bullying accusations emerging right as their popularity soared.
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Perhaps the biggest parallels come from Harry himself. Just as many perceive Diana wanted to leave England and distance herself from the constant pressures of palace life, Harry has stated he needed to get his family to a safer environment away from the British tabloids. His decision to step back from royal duties and build a new life with Meghan in California strongly echoes Diana's desire for more independence and space from the stifling protocols of the monarchy. In Harry's eyes, he was bound and determined not to let history repeat itself after what befell his beloved mother.
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As with many aspects of the royal family, there are two sides to these stories that we may never fully understand. While we can acknowledge similarities between Diana and Meghan's marriages and treatment by some quarters of the press, only those directly involved truly know the truth of these private matters. What is clear, however, is that the ghosts of Diana still haunt the palace decades later through her son Harry, who continues to honor her memory by protecting his own family from the same fates she faced. For that reason, comparisons between the People's Princess and the Duchess who captured Prince Harry's heart may never fully be put to rest.
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In conclusion, while the Queen's decision to keep the bullying inquiry results hidden aims to prevent further firestorms, it also adds intrigue by keeping speculation over these issues alive. Only time will tell if one day the full facts emerge vindicating Meghan as she wishes, or if the saga of Sussexes versus the Palace continues its inexorable progression, with Princess Diana's unforgettable presence still keenly felt echoing through it all. Thank you for reading this analysis of Meghan and Diana's experiences through a royal lens. Please share your thoughts on these persistent parallels and rumors in the comments.
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