A royal insider has revealed the surprising, and touching, reason why so many people felt intimidated by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Despite her global stature, the late monarch did not inspire fear through anger or authority, but through something far more personal.
“Yes, everyone was scared of her, but not because she might be angry – she wasn’t an ogre,” royal expert Robert Hardman explained. “They were just terrified of letting her down.” Speaking in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Hardman’s remarks shed light on the late Queen’s leadership style, suggesting those around her were driven by a quiet desire to meet her expectations rather than avoid her temper. It also highlights the warmth she showed behind palace walls – including towards Meghan Markle in her early days as a royal.
In a gesture described as a “rare honour” by Mr Hardman, the Queen invited Meghan to join her on a solo trip aboard the royal train – a privilege seldom extended to new members of the family.
“The Queen [also] gifted her a pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings to make her feel special,” the royal expert said, whose new book, Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, has been released to coincide with her centenary. Meghan last wore the sentimental jewellery publicly at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022, where she joined senior royals at Westminster Abbey.
This account stands in stark contrast to later claims of tension within the Royal Family. In interviews after stepping back from royal duties, Meghan suggested she had struggled behind the scenes, describing feelings of isolation and confusion over royal protocols. She also spoke about a lack of support during difficult periods. Reports at the time also pointed to disagreements between households, including rows involving bridesmaid dresses and mounting pressure in the lead-up to the wedding.
The situation escalated further following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back as senior royals in 2020, with divisions laid bare in subsequent media appearances. Their announcement – which came without the Palace’s full agreement – triggered crisis talks and ultimately led to a definitive split, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocating to North America and stepping down as working royals.
Tensions were thrust firmly into the spotlight during their high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, during which the couple made a series of explosive claims about life inside the Royal Family. Among the most damaging were allegations of a lack of support, concerns raised within the family about their unborn son, Prince Archie, and Meghan’s account of struggling with her mental health while feeling unheard.
The Palace responded with the now-famous statement that “recollections may vary”.