Let’s be real, when Meghan Markle walked into the British Royal Family back in 2018, things got messy pretty quickly. Whether you’re Team Meghan or think she shook things up a little too much, there’s no denying the drama that followed her royal entrance.
From awkward family dinners to full-blown public feuds, the Duchess of Sussex has been at the center of more royal controversies than a Netflix series could handle. So grab your tea (literally, we’re talking about the Brits here) as we rank every major fight she’s been accused of starting, from minor mishaps to monarchy-shaking moments.
8. The “Baby Brain” Comment That Sparked a Royal Showdown
Okay, so picture this: you’re at a family gathering, and someone makes a comment about your hormones. Awkward, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened when Meghan allegedly told Kate Middleton she had
baby brain because of her hormones
during a tea party at Kensington Palace. Princess Kate had just given birth to Prince Louis, so yeah, probably not the best timing.
According to Prince Harry’s memoir (via Harper’s Bazaar), things escalated quickly. Prince William jumped in, calling Markle “rude” and pointing his finger at her, which led to Markle telling him to
keep your finger out of my face.
Princess Kate wasn’t having it either, reportedly saying
We are not close enough for you to talk about my hormones.
Yikes. The whole thing ended with everyone hugging it out, but it highlighted the cultural clash between Markle’s casual American style and the more formal British approach. Sometimes a friendly comment can backfire when dealing with centuries-old protocols.
7. The HRH Title Controversy
Here’s where things get a bit technical, but stay with us. When Prince Harry and Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020, they agreed to keep their fancy titles but not use them for business. Pretty straightforward, right? Well, fast forward to 2025, and Meghan sent someone a gift with a card that read
With the Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.
Cue the collective eye-roll from royal watchers everywhere. The whole thing sparked debates about whether she was sticking to the deal she made with the family.
Now, was it a genuine mistake or a subtle power move? That’s up for debate. But it didn’t help the “we’re totally independent now” narrative.
Sometimes the smallest details can cause the biggest headaches, especially when you’re dealing with an institution that literally invented the phrase “protocol matters.” It’s like that friend who says they’re over their ex but still wears their hoodie – mixed signals much?
6. Queen Elizabeth’s Curtsy Mockery
This one still makes people cringe. In Prince Harry and Markle’s Netflix documentary, Meghan decided to recreate her first curtsy to Queen Elizabeth. She bowed at the waist and spread her arms wide in either direction while saying
I mean, Americans would understand this.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. This aired just three months after Queen passed away. People were not having it.
Many felt she was making fun of a tradition that meant a lot to British people, especially when the nation was still mourning their longest-reigning monarch.
We get it; curtsying probably feels weird when you’re from California. But maybe save the comedy routine for when you’re not talking about someone’s beloved grandmother who just passed away? The whole moment just felt tone-deaf and disrespectful to a lot of people. It’s like making jokes at a funeral. You can do it technically, but that doesn’t mean you should.
5. The Thomas Markle Family Estrangement
Family drama is never pretty, but when you’re marrying into the royal family, your personal issues become very public very quickly. Markle’s relationship with her dad, Thomas Markle, has been rocky for years, and it’s caused some serious headaches for the royals.
Both Queen Elizabeth and King Charles tried to encourage Markle to visit her father in Mexico to sort things out, but she refused, giving what royal author Tom Bower called (via Daily Mail) “far-fetched” excuses. The Queen and King Charles were apparently
perplexed by Meghan’s conduct
and found to have her reasons “completely unrealistic.” And the drama isn’t over. Markle’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, is still trying to appeal a defamation lawsuit against her, with oral arguments scheduled for September 2025.
This ongoing family mess continues to complicate any potential reconciliation with the royals. Sometimes you can’t choose your family, but when you’re in the public eye, their drama becomes your problem, whether you like it or not.
4. The Prince William and Princess Kate “Hugging” Misunderstanding
This one’s almost funny if it wasn’t so sad. Apparently, Markle’s American habit of hugging everyone (including Prince William) made him super uncomfortable. Royal expert Tom Quinn claimed
this tactile manner made William uncomfortable
and that it “deepened the rift” between the brothers (via The London Times). In her Netflix series, Markle even admitted:
I was a hugger. I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t realize that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.
Cultural differences, right? But what started as an innocent misunderstanding apparently turned into something much bigger. Royal experts now say that “mistrust of Meghan” is still “a major reason” why William won’t reconcile with Harry. It’s wild to think that a hug could contribute to breaking up two brothers, but here we are.
Sometimes the smallest gestures can have the biggest consequences, especially when you’re dealing with people who’ve been trained from birth to keep their emotions in check.
3. Meghan Markle Staff Bullying Allegations – The Buckingham Palace Investigation
This is where things get really serious. Back in 2018, the palace’s communications secretary, Jason Knauf, filed a complaint that’s still causing waves today. He alleged that Markle
was able to bully two PAs out of the household
(via The New York Post) and was “bullying” a third staff member,
seeking to undermine her confidence.
The palace launched an investigation in 2021, but here’s the kicker: they never released the findings. They cited confidentiality, which honestly just made everyone more suspicious.
Then in 2025, Vanity Fair published new allegations, with staff describing Markle’s behavior as reminiscent of “Mean Girls,” with some needing therapy after working with her. Markle has consistently denied these allegations, calling them a
calculated smear campaign.
Some current staff have also defended her. But Knauf recently doubled down, saying he
wouldn’t change anything
and has “no regrets” about coming forward. Whether you believe the allegations or not, they’ve definitely damaged her reputation and credibility in a way that’s hard to repair.
2. The Bridesmaid Dress Drama That Made Princess Kate Cry
Ah, the infamous bridesmaid dress incident. This one’s got more plot twists than a soap opera. The original story was that Markle made Princess Kate cry during Princess Charlotte’s dress fitting for the royal wedding. But then Markle flipped the script during her Oprah interview, claiming
the reverse happened
and that Kate actually made her cry, then apologized with flowers. Royal expert Hilary Fordwich called this incident “the beginning of the end” for their relationship, describing it as
a flashpoint exposing far deeper tensions.
When Markle publicly contradicted the narrative on global TV, it was apparently
the last straw in the eyes of royal courtiers.
Recent reports suggest both women were crying, with royal author Tom Quinn claiming in his book, Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life Of Royal Servants, that
both said things they later regretted
(via Mint). The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but the damage was done. This controversy established a pattern of conflicting narratives and public contradictions that would define future royal relationships. Sometimes it’s not about who’s right or wrong, it’s about how you handle the aftermath.
1. Breaking Queen Elizabeth’s “You’re Either In or Out” Rule
Here’s the big one: the controversy that literally changed the monarchy forever. When Prince Harry and Markle wanted to be “part-time royals,” keeping some duties while pursuing their own projects, Queen Elizabeth wasn’t having it. The Queen reportedly observed that
Meghan and William and Kate are not working well
and was “particularly” concerned about “the two girls.” Her famous response?
You’re either in or out.
No middle ground, no compromise. This forced Prince Harry and Markle into their complete royal exit, aka “Megxit.” Royal experts believe the Queen would have been “horrified” by Harry’s subsequent public interviews about the family (via Daily Record).
Even in the Queen’s final hours, tensions persisted. Prince Charles reportedly told Prince Harry that Markle should “stay away” from Balmoral Castle as the monarch was dying (via The Royal Observer). This fundamental disagreement about royal duty versus personal freedom created the irreparable rift that continues today. Sometimes, standing your ground means losing everything else, and this decision reshaped the entire royal family’s future.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry walked hand-in-hand as they joined members of the royal family for a service at Westminster Hall to honor Queen Elizabeth. https://t.co/Nqrp2gvDTa pic.twitter.com/oMTkcLbxEX
So here we are, years later, and the drama is still unfolding. Prince William’s “mistrust of Meghan” remains a major obstacle to any family reconciliation, and honestly, it doesn’t look like things are getting better anytime soon.
Whether you think these controversies were legitimate concerns about Meghan’s behavior or unfair targeting of an outsider trying to modernize an ancient institution, one thing’s for sure – her entry into the royal family created unprecedented public drama that’s still making headlines.
A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan)
The real question is: was this inevitable when you bring someone from Hollywood into a thousand-year-old institution, or could things have been handled differently? Either way, it’s been one hell of a ride, and we’re probably nowhere near the end of this royal soap opera.
What’s your take on all this royal drama? Do you think Markle was unfairly treated, or did she really shake things up too much? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. We love a good debate!
And if you’re still hungry for more royal content, don’t forget to check out the latest episodes of The Crown and Harry & Meghan on Netflix for even more behind-the-scenes drama.
