Prince Harry's aunt Sophie says family tried to help Meghan Markle settle and adjust to life as a royal
Prince Harry's aunt, the Countess of Wessex, Sophie, has opened up on Harry and Meghan Markle's new life in the US. Sophie is married to Harry's uncle, Prince Edward, and spoke to the Sunday Times on Saturday, June 6 regarding her own struggles to fit into the royal family after she wed Queen Elizabeth's youngest son in 1999. She admitted, "It took me a while to find my feet."
She also made some comparisons between her situation and Meghan's romance with Harry. While speaking of her relationship with Edward, Sophie said, "Remember I’d had five years to adjust and for our six-month engagement I was even staying in Buckingham Palace. Not that you necessarily know how it will pan out." According to the Sunday Times, Sophie had become a confidante to Meghan when she and Harry moved into Frogmore Cottage in Windsor which is just 10 miles from Sophie and Edward's home. "We all try to help any new member of the family," she added.
Harry and Meghan eventually stepped down as senior members of the royal family and shifted base to the US. Sophie shared, "I just hope they will be happy." Sophie was also asked whether she and Edward would have to take on additional duties since Harry and Meghan stepped down. "We’ve all got our own little portfolios. I don’t see anything changing, but if we’re asked to do more … I don’t know because it hasn’t really happened," she revealed.
Harry and Meghan have been living in Los Angeles, California after moving to the US last minute before the borders were shut amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The couple has reportedly been staying at an ultra-luxury Beverly Hills mansion that belongs to Tyler Perry. Perry's mansion boasts of eight bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and is located on 22 acres on top of a hill in the exclusive Beverly Ridge Estates guard-gated community. A source spoke to US Weekly and said, "Meghan feels more at home too and she’s really starting to feel like herself again."
"For Harry, the thing is, he’s always wanted Meghan to be happy, safe, and comfortable. He will go wherever she goes, and he’s made that clear … It’s the next chapter for him, and a breath of fresh air from his former duties," the insider continued. We recently shared that Meghan is upset over the sense of urgency and support that her sister-in-law Kate Middleton received from the Palace in light of negative press, a Daily Mail report revealed. "Meghan said Kensington Palace never once came to her defense when she was being shredded by the media," a friend of Meghan's shared.
"Now Kate gets a bit of negative press, and the Palace comes out in less than 24 hours to rebuke the claims made against her," the friend added. It seems that Meghan, who is currently living in Los Angeles with her husband Prince Harry, told her friends that when she was bombarded with negative press, the Palace did not interfere despite Harry's pleas. "This is really a slap in the face for Harry because he repeatedly asked for an updated, revised media policy or at least a conversation about his concerns," the friend revealed.