Meghan Markle to undergo 6 months of training for smooth entry into British royal fold
We have all wished that our life was like a movie sometimes. If Meghan Markle ever wished for this as a little girl, then her dreams sure are coming true. To add to her extraordinarily glamorous life, she’s going to get the chance to live the iconic transformation scenes of Mia Thermopolis from ‘The Princess Diaries.’
Of course, she doesn’t need a physical makeover, but as ‘The Princess Diaries’ taught us, there’s more to being a royal than just looking elegant all the time. Just like Mia walked around with a book on her head and learnt how to use multiple forks, Meghan too will be learning the royal rules. Looks like reality is a lot like the movies, for the royal family at least.
Daily Mail reported that the queen has requested the former Suit’s actress to complete six whole months of royal training. Referring to the training, a source said: “It will be six months of listening. She is seeking out advice from a range of people. She is going to proceed with humility. It is not going to be quiet, though. It is going to be a very busy office. She has worked every day of her life. She is used to a demanding schedule.”
Apparently, there is a rather bizarre list of rules that a royal must adhere to, like wearing weights on dress hems, shunning hats after 6 pm, curtsying to the Queen when she enters the room and eating only when the Queen does. Also, E! News reported that sitting with your legs crossed is frowned upon, which means that ‘The Princess Diaries’ was a rather accurate representation of reality.
The queen's most trusted aide, Samantha Cohen, has been assigned the task of preparing Markle for her new life as a member of the royal family. Cohen is also going to guide the newlyweds through their first year of marriage.
Cohen, a 49-year-old mother of three, has a rather feisty reputation. She has 17 years of experience with the royals. If there’s someone who knows how to transform someone into a royal, it’s her. She was given the nickname ‘Samantha the Panther’ in the noughties, for she lives life with a no-nonsense approach.
She was once asked to organize a special party to celebrate the 200 most powerful women in Britain by the Queen. At the party, she encountered Victoria Beckham and snapped at her, saying, “being rich was not enough” for an invite, reported Daily Mail.
Apparently, she has already moved into Kensington Palace, Prince Harry and Markle's new home. She sure is living up to her reputation and getting straight down to business. Looks like the Duchess of Sussex is gearing up for a challenging six months, but she sure seems up for the challenge!
For the past few years of her life, Markle has been deeply involved with shooting for her hit show 'Suits.' Her schedule has been extremely busy, and she wants her future to look the same. She will spend the rest of her year learning from Cohen and meeting with charities. Her only break will be her honeymoon.
Cohen was described being “deeply committed-to serving the Monarchy.” She was one among the first group of women to take control of a Palace media office, a position primarily held by men in the noughties. She started as a PR consultant and worked her way to the top, becoming the Queen's private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt's assistant in 2010.
In 2017, a fallout between Sir Christopher Geidt and Prince Charle and Prince Andrew led to him resigning after serving the royal family for 15 years. In solidarity, Cohen too resigned but was persuaded to stay.
She was present at the royal wedding and was said to have played an extremely important role in prepping Markle for her first appearance as Her Royal Highness family at the Buckingham Palace garden party.
Cohen also assisted with Markle’s first appearance as the Duchess of Sussex at Prince Charles’ 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace, where more than 6,000 people attended the event.
Markle has been applauded for all of her official appearances so far. With Cohen's guidance, it seems her entry into the royal fold is bound to be extremely smooth. But the hard part is yet to start. Let's hope Markle's training goes just as well!