A new book by royal author Tom Quinn, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, offers insights from staff who worked with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry during their time as working royals. The book, excerpted in The Times, claims that Meghan’s American mannerisms and independent nature caused friction within the royal household, despite an initially warm reception from the family.

According to the book, Meghan struggled with the British royal hierarchy, finding it frustrating and outdated. She was reportedly surprised that Prince Harry was worth around £20 million instead of being a billionaire, as she had assumed. A former staff member claimed that Meghan believed the royal family “behaved like babies” and that they were belittling Harry. Additionally, she found it difficult to adapt to the structured nature of palace life and initially approached meetings with staff as if she were in charge, rather than following traditional royal protocol.

Meghan was also allegedly disappointed by the couple’s first royal residence, Nottingham Cottage. She reportedly saw the modest two-bedroom home as a reflection of how the family diminished Harry’s importance. This sentiment was echoed by Harry in his memoir Spare, where he admitted feeling “embarrassed” showing Meghan the small home, especially in contrast to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s larger residence within Kensington Palace.

One of the biggest cultural clashes came from Meghan’s warm and affectionate nature, which was at odds with the more reserved British royal family. The book claims that her hugs and cheek kisses made Prince William uncomfortable and even led to gossip among staff that she was flirting with him, though this was dismissed as a misunderstanding. Kate, William, and King Charles were reportedly uneasy with Meghan’s frequent physical gestures, and Meghan was said to have been “hurt” by their reactions.

Despite later tensions, Meghan was initially well received. William and Kate were reportedly excited to welcome her into the family and even shared a lighthearted moment in which she and William danced together in a parody of a 1950s jive. The Queen also played a key role in integrating Meghan into royal life, personally inviting her to an official event before her wedding—an unusual move that signaled the monarch’s desire for Meghan to be embraced by the family.

Palace staff reportedly gave Meghan several nicknames during her time as a working royal. Among them were “Duchess of Difficult,” due to her high expectations, and “Mystic Meg,” referencing her modern and progressive views. King Charles had his own moniker for her—“Tungsten”—a nod to the metal’s strength and durability, which he believed reflected Meghan’s personality.

Meghan has previously spoken about her surprise at how the royal family maintained formality even in private settings. In the Sussexes’ Netflix documentary, she recalled realizing that the public-facing decorum extended behind closed doors. Both she and Harry have mentioned that William and Kate found her love of hugging unusual, further highlighting the cultural divide that played a role in the tensions that developed.

Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants is set for release on February 18, 2025, and promises further behind-the-scenes revelations about the experiences of royal staff.