was allegedly left “hurt” after , and “flinched” , a new royal book has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have previously opened up about the Royal Family’s lack of affection; however, a royal author has now delved deeper into the moments that created a “tense atmosphere” for the couple.
Author Tom Quinn alleged in his new book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, parts of which have been serialised in , that Meghan’s common “California” habit would not go down so well even with equerries in the Royal Household.
He wrote: “Tension developed between William and Harry as a result of Meghan’s warm, friendly, hug-everyone approach. Kate, William and Charles tended to flinch when she moved in for a hug.
“Meghan was understandably hurt, as everyone apparently hugs everyone in California.
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A new royal book brings fresh claims about Meghan Markle into the spotlight (Image: Getty)
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“Meghan even tried to hug a singularly stiff Old Etonian equerry.
“He too flinched as if she’d tried to poke him in the eye, as another member of staff put it.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex married in 2018 but left the Firm two years later, due to their ongoing feud with the royals and moved to the US.
In 2022, the Sussex couple opened up about Meghan’s hugging .
The duchess said: “Even when Will and Kate came over, and I was meeting her for the first time, I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot.
“Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn’t realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales and King Charles ‘flinched’ at Meghan Markle’s hugs, claims book. (Image: Getty)
“I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward-facing way of being and then you close the door and think, ‘OK, we can relax now’.
“But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me.”
Meanwhile, Harry alleged in his memoir Spare that his brother “recoiled” when Meghan hugged him during their first meeting.
He wrote: “[It] completely freaked him out. He recoiled. Willy didn’t hug many strangers. Whereas Meg hugged most strangers.
“Will had hoped that she would greet him with standard reverence per the protocol, [but] she didn’t know it and I hadn’t told her.”