As one of the women who helped make Meghan Markle’s iconic wedding dress, the professional embroiderer Chloe Savage had a behind-the-scenes peek at the royal wedding that would capture the world’s attention.
It’s a move that surprised many. But Savage told Insider she believed the former actress wasn’t adequately prepared for the pressure that comes with being a royal.
“I think she misjudged the role,” Savage said. “The royal family has broken people before. Kate had plenty of time to adapt and adjust to it. They gave her time, whereas Meghan sort of dived in headfirst.”
Savage said she didn’t think Markle was prepared for all the “rules and regulations” required of a British royal.
“It virtually broke Diana; it broke Sarah Ferguson,” Savage said. “It has broken people before. I know it’s looser now than it used to be, but even then, I don’t think [Meghan] was prepared for the things she could and couldn’t do, say, and wear.”
She added: “She could have carved herself an outstanding role, but I think she found the whole thing very difficult. She’s always been able to do as she’s pleased when she’s pleased, and unfortunately, with the royal family, granny rules – quite simply.”
Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Markle and Harry have been open about the immense pressure they’ve felt over the past few years
Gallery: A complete timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reported rift with Prince William and Kate Middleton (INSIDER)
A complete timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reported rift with Prince William and Kate Middleton
November 2018: Reports of tension between the couples emerged after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced plans to move out of London’s Kensington Palace, where they resided with the Cambridges.
November 2018: It was reported that Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton argued at a bridesmaids’ dress fitting, though this was later denied by Kensington Palace.
March 2019: The royal women were pitted against each other in the media.
March 2019: Harry and Markle announced they were officially splitting their office from the Cambridges.
May 2019: Prince William and Middleton took eight hours to acknowledge the birth of Harry and Markle’s son on social media.
May 2019: ITV royal editor Chris Ship said the “issue” was between William and Harry, and had nothing to do with their wives.
June 2019: Harry and Markle cut ties with the charity they shared with William and Middleton.
July 2019: Markle and Middleton made a number of public appearances together, including at Wimbledon.
October 2019: Prince Harry confirmed rumors of a rift between himself and his brother, saying they were “on different paths.”
November 2019: Harry and Markle attended the same Remembrance event as William and Middleton but they didn’t appear to speak to each other.
January 2020: Prince William attended the Queen’s crisis summit over Harry and Markle’s future after the couple announced their “step back” on January 8.
January 2020: William and Harry made a rare joint statement denying a report that the Sussexes had been “bullied” out of the royal family.
March 2020: Harry, William, Middleton, and Markle came face to face for the first time in months — but the reunion appeared to be awkward.
May 2020: The brothers reportedly got back in touch after Harry and Markle moved to California.
January 2021: Markle and Harry reportedly hope 2021 will be a “time of healing” for the royal family.
“My story had been told one way, my wife’s story had been told one way, and then our union sparked something that made the telling of that story very different,” he told Fast Company in an interview published Friday.
“That false narrative became the mothership for all of the harassment you’re referring to. It wouldn’t have even begun had our story just been told truthfully,” he added.
Markle said she wasn’t prepared for the attention she would receive from British tabloids after she began dating Harry
“It’s hard. I don’t think anyone can understand that, but in all fairness, I had no idea,” she told the journalist Tom Bradby in her famous candid interview featured in the ITV documentary “Harry and Meghan: An African Journey” in 2019.
Markle said that when she first told her British friends she was dating Harry, they told her to end it.
“My British friends said to me, ‘I’m sure he’s great, but you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life,'” she told Bradby.
But Markle said she had thought they were overreacting.
“What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not in tabloids,” she recalled telling them. “I didn’t get it.”
The Duchess of Sussex said she then ‘tried to adopt this British sensibility of a stiff upper lip’
“I tried, I tried. But I think what that does internally is probably really damaging,” Markle added. “It’s not enough to just survive something, right? That’s not the point of life. You’ve got to thrive; you’ve got to feel happy.”