.jpg?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&crop=top&auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Who could forget that Princess Diana interview, in which she sat down for a Panorama special and sensationally lifted the lid on her troubled life as a member of the royal family? In 55 minutes, she rocked the monarchy to its core, with revelations about her and Prince Charles’ extra-marital affairs, her own mental health battles, and her feelings of alienation from within the “establishment”.
So, needless to say, Meghan Markle’s comments about her time as a member of “the institution” have sent shockwaves straight to Buckingham Palace. After all, the royals weathered the storm once, but there’s no knowing what Meghan could say if she decided to emulate her late mother-in-law and sit down for a tell-all chat.
But insiders claim Meghan’s got other ideas. Instead of giving “one big, definitive interview on TV”, we’re told she’s going slow and steady, taking her time to address “all the untruths and misconceptions about her, while avoiding drawing too many parallels to Diana. And if she drops a few digs at the royal family in the process, then so be it.”
“Meghan knows it would be playing into her critics’ hands if she gave a blockbuster sit-down interview,” says an insider close to the Duchess of Sussex, who’s spent the past year making what some people believe to be thinly-veiled digs at the royal family.
Earlier this month, she said “the institution” had run her and Prince Harry’s Instagram account – echoing court documents filed by her lawyers in July, in which they claimed she’d been “unprotected by the institution and prohibited from defending herself” while pregnant with son Archie.
CHECK OUT Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship from the start
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relationship (slider)
1 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met in London in July 2016.
2 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
They were introduced by mutual friend Markus Anderson, who is the director of Soho House.
3 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In October 2016, the Express became the first newspaper to publish news that Prince Harry had a new girlfriend.
4 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 8th 2016, Kensington Palace released an unprecedented statement which referring to Markle as Harry's girlfriend for the first time.
5 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In the statement, Prince Harry condemned the 'wave of abuse and harrassment' faced by Markle, saying that he was 'worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.'
6 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Marklec
'It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm,' the statement continued.
7 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple were papped together for the first time in December 2016, shopping for a Christmas tree in London at the Pines and Needles store.
8 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later that week, they were seen on London's West End, catching a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
9 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In February, Prince Harry wore a his 'n' hers bracelet on the cover of Town & Country magazine, just weeks after Markle was pictured wearing the same one on Instagram.
10 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In March 2017, Meghan joined Prince Harry in the Caribbean for the wedding of his friend's Tom 'Skippy' Inskip and Lara Hughes-Young.
11 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
It was the first time that Markle accompanied Harry to a wedding, marking another milestone occasion for the couple.
12 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The first public event attended by the couple was the polo at Coworth Park in May 2017.
13 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later in May, Markle attended the party portion of Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Middelton.
14 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry was seen driving her to the event after the church ceremony.
15 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple were photographed together the following day at the wheelchair tennis.
16 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple 'broke with royal protocol' by holding hands and appearing affectionate while at the Invictus Games.
17 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Meghan referred to Harry as her boyfriend numerous times, saying: 'We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people understand is that this is our time.'
18 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In early November 2017, it was reported that Meghan Markle was leaving Suits after seven series.
19 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Much was made of Markle's choice of outfit: ripped jeans and a white blouse called 'The Husband'.
20 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Although Prince Harry was sat next to First Lady Melania Trump at the event, rather than his girlfriend, she was only seated a few rows behind him.
21 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple made their first official public appearance in September, when Markle attended the opening of Prince Harry's Invictus Games.
22 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In mid-November 2017, bookies suspending betting on an impending royal engagement, as speculation grew that an announcement was about to be made.
23 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 27th 2017, Prince Charles announced the engagement of his younger son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after 15 months of dating.
24 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple later appeared at a photocall, with Markle wearing a white dress coat by Canadian brand Line The Label. The website has subsequently crashed.
25 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The engagement ring, by Cleave and Company, was reportedly designed by Prince Harry himself, using two stones that belonged to Princess Diana.
26 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
When asked by waiting photographers if the proposal was romantic, Harry joked 'of course!'
27 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple indulged in some PDA at the closing ceremony.
28 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Meghan wore a maroon midi dress with a pleated chiffon skirt by one of her favourite Canadian brands Aritzia.
29 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
She teamed it with a matching burgundy biker jacket by Mackage.
30 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry reportedly spent time with Meghan's mother Doria while at the Games too.
31 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry was photographed kissing Meghan.
32 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In late September 2017, it was reported that Meghan had met the Queen, prompting speculation that the relationship was getting serious.
The source adds, “She wants to limit the hysteria surrounding her and Harry, and she’s also keen to draw people’s attention towards the positive things they’re doing. But that’s not to say she doesn’t want to address all the untruths and misconceptions about herself. She just wants to do it in a more dignified, strategic way, which means staggering out her messages at the right time, and on the right platform.”
Despite leaving the UK to pursue a more private life earlier this year, Harry and Meghan have kept their heads well above the parapet, taking part in a number of Zoom chats and interviews. Last week, they posed for a new photo, in which Meghan wore a Cartier watch and an Aquamarine ring that had belonged to Princess Diana – causing some to speculate she was sending a message that, just like her mother-in-law, she wouldn’t keep quiet. They then took part in an online talk on the dangers of social media, with Meghan claiming she’d quit her accounts as the “bad voices” had been “so loud and damaging”.
Look! More news!
Kim Kardashian's heartbreaking birthday present from Kanye West
Adele finally confirms relationship status amid Skepta dating rumours
According to our source, she still believes that she and Harry have been treated unfairly by the royals and the British press – sentiments that haven’t changed since she told ITV’s Tom Bradby last year that she was unhappy with the status quo and argued, “It’s not enough to just survive something… you’ve got to thrive.” Since then, we’re told, she’s been consciously drip-feeding her true feelings about everything and, since moving back to the US, she feels more empowered than ever.
“Meghan feels a lot more in control in her own country,” says our source. “When she steps forward to make a speech or promote a project, she won’t think twice about slipping in her own stories or anecdotes to fit the topic. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best way to finally set things straight, slowly but surely.”
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine - OUT NOW.