Lizzie Cundy doesn’t acknowledge the American starlet she as soon as knew.
The British mannequin and TV presenter informed Fox Information Digital she first met Meghan Markle in 2013 when the future Duchess of Sussex was starring within the authorized drama “Fits.” On the time, the Hollywood actress appeared desirous to revamp her profession throughout the pond.
Meghan Markle attends the UK Premiere of “The Starvation Video games: Catching Hearth” at Odeon Leicester Sq. Nov. 11, 2013, in London. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press by way of Getty Pictures)
“I met Meghan means earlier than Harry,” stated the socialite. “She got here to a charity occasion, and she or he actually didn’t know anybody. … Nobody knew what [‘Suits’] was actually. Nobody had watched it. The man that was internet hosting the occasion stated, ‘Lizzie, are you able to take care of this American actress?
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“‘She doesn’t actually know anybody, and we want somebody to care for her.’ I used to be somewhat bit cheesed off to be trustworthy with you as a result of I wished to be with my buddies [at] the desk. And it’s troublesome whenever you don’t know somebody. … However we truly acquired on like a home on fireplace.”
Lizzie Cundy (left) stated she met Meghan Markle (heart) in 2013. (Lizzie Cundy)
“She talked all about her profession,” Cundy shared. “She wished a profession in England. She cherished the British life and would like to have labored right here. There was a show here called ‘Made in Chelsea’ that she actually wished to be on. I knew the producers and other people, so we have been speaking [about] that. And she or he wished an English boyfriend. So I used to be going by means of my cellphone pondering, ‘Perhaps I might assist her out with everybody that I do know.’ We acquired on very effectively, and it was form of a girly chat, doing selfies and having a number of giggles. However she was nice enjoyable. She cherished the English life.”
Meghan Markle starred as Rachel Zane in “Fits” from 2011 to 2018. (Nigel Parry/USA Community/NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Pictures)
Cundy claimed that Markle was desirous to immerse herself in English society. Being single, she was able to mingle on the pink carpet. When Markle noticed Cundy at an occasion, she excitedly requested her new pal to interview her on digicam.
“She was in awe,” Cundy claimed. “I simply thought, what a stunning, younger, fresh-faced American actress [who] cherished London. She cherished the entire pink carpet scene, cherished the glamour and celebrities.”
Meghan Markle attends the London World Reward Gala at ME Lodge on Nov. 19, 2013, in London. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press by way of Getty Pictures)
However the blossoming friendship ended shortly, she alleged. Cundy claimed Markle “ghosted” her in 2016 after Markle met Prince Harry that summer season.
“I understood it,” Cundy defined. “I used to be somewhat unhappy as a result of I assumed we acquired on very effectively, and there was no yet another blissful than me for her to satisfy Harry. I imply, look, she received the lottery. He was the most well-liked royal. All of us cherished Harry, and we have been so blissful he met the love of his life. Everybody in England embraced them and cherished them.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry met in 2016. That is when Lizzie Cundy claimed the previous American actress “ghosted” her. (Chris Jackson/Getty Pictures for the Invictus Video games Basis)
“A Hollywood princess may be very completely different from being a royal princess,” she shared. ‘She couldn’t have the identical buddies that have been hanging across the celeb circuit doing the pink carpet occasions. It’s a really completely different life. So, I acquired it.
“And I quickly noticed that she [did] this to lots of people. … [But] I feel, trying again, folks served a function in her life. Once you served your function, she moved on to the subsequent. I feel that’s what she’s like. Meghan will get what Meghan needs. However, look, I simply wished her happiness. I used to be very blissful that she met Prince Harry.”
Lizzie Cundy attends the London World Reward Gala at ME Lodge Nov. 19, 2013, in London. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Pictures)
The couple stated “I do” in 2018, however a fortunately ever after behind palace doorways wasn’t meant to be. In 2018, the couple introduced they have been stepping again as senior royals. The couple alleged that the Duchess of Sussex, who’s biracial, confronted racist attitudes from each the palace and the U.Ok. press. The remedy contributed to their determination to depart the nation and transfer to the U.S.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex married Might 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Ben Stansall/WPA Pool/Getty Pictures)
“To be trustworthy, I used to be fairly shocked at that,” stated Cundy. “It’s a privilege to be on this royal household. She knew what she was stepping into earlier than she married Harry. … I’ve acquired a sense that it simply wasn’t thrilling sufficient. It’s arduous work being a royal. … It’s not the Hollywood way of life. And I feel, for Meghan, it was an excessive amount of for her. So she wished out, which I assumed was very unhappy. She might have been the subsequent Princess Diana. … It’s an actual disgrace and an actual waste.”
However the couple didn’t merely fly off into the California sundown. Since shifting to the rich, coastal metropolis of Montecito, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spoken out about their struggles with royal life. Most notably, in 2021, they gave a televised interview to Oprah Winfrey, which was seen by practically 50 million folks globally.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped again as senior royals in 2018. (Dominic Lipinski /Pool /Getty Pictures)
They continued to air their grievances in a six-part Netflix docuseries that premiered in December 2022. Then, in January of this 12 months, Harry launched a memoir, “Spare,” which included particulars of personal conversations together with his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William. It continued to fan tensions between the couple and the royal household within the public eye.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex detailed their struggles with royal life in a six-part Netflix docuseries. (Paul Edwards /Pool/Getty Pictures)
In March, the couple confirmed they have been requested to vacate Frogmore Cottage, their house within the U.Ok. The Solar newspaper reported that the king began the eviction course of a day after the guide was printed.
In April, Buckingham Palace introduced that Harry, 38, would attend his father’s coronation on Might 6 solo. Markle, 41, will keep behind in California with the couple’s two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry will attend his father’s coronation solo. (Victoria Jones/WPA Pool/Getty Pictures)
Cundy known as the choice “a surprising disgrace.”
“She must be supporting her husband,” stated Cundy. “[And] it’s an opportunity for her kids to have time with their grandfather. They’re going to overlook out on this large historic day. It’s dwelling historical past. Her kids are going to should say to her, ‘Mummy, why weren’t we there?’
“They may have been with their cousins watching the coronation. And, sadly, she’s stopped them from doing that. I feel it’s very sad for King Charles. … It was an exquisite time to simply make issues proper once more and possibly clear the air. … [And] the youngsters might see their grandfather on his greatest day. … It’s very unhappy.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla will probably be topped Might 6 at London’s Westminster Abbey. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Cundy stated she’s additionally upset Harry will reportedly make his go to to his house nation temporary. It’s understood that Harry will probably be heading house swiftly in time for Archie’s birthday, which additionally falls on the identical day because the coronation.
Meghan Markle will keep in California along with her son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
“He’s acquired an opportunity now to make amends together with his household,” she stated. “That is about his father. This isn’t about Harry, and it’s not about Meghan. … I feel it’s very disrespectful, and I feel it’s the unsuitable transfer. I feel it’s a transfer he’ll look again on and remorse.
“It’s hurtful to our king. It’s hurtful to his spouse, our queen. I simply assume it’s disrespectful in each sense of the phrase. … I feel, in a means, King Charles ought to have been more durable and stronger with them. … However he supplied an olive department for his son.”
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Lizzie Cundy stated King Charles supplied an olive department to his son Prince Harry. (Alastair Grant/WPA Pool/Getty Pictures)
Cundy is adamant that the largest mistake the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have dedicated since making their royal exit is “speaking about their household endlessly.”
“We’ve acquired extra books, extra interviews coming, I’m certain,” she claimed. “It’s disloyal. It feels to me like they’re attempting to convey down the monarchy. And we love our king. We love our royal household right here within the U.Ok.
“It simply feels prefer it might have been so completely different for them. They’re nice at doing charity work … however that is all unsuitable. [They’re] tarnishing the royal household …. [which] has made everybody flip towards them.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Athletics Competitors through the Invictus Video games April 17, 2022, in The Hague, Netherlands. (Chris Jackson/Getty Pictures for the Invictus Video games Basis)
Cundy stated there’s nonetheless hope the couple might revamp their picture. However the street forward of them will probably be “fairly troublesome.”
Lizzie Cundy stated the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can anticipate a troublesome street forward of them. (Tristan Fewings/Getty Pictures for Paramount Footage UK)
“They’ve acquired to seek out their very own identification,” she stated. “They will’t maintain speaking in regards to the royal household, trashing the royal household. … They’ve acquired to seek out one thing else to speak about … and do superb charity work. However, please, depart the royal household alone. We’re sick to demise of it. I don’t assume they may say anymore.
“However then I say that, and there will be one other guide popping out, or one other interview. And we’ll have the subsequent chapter be, ‘I used to be not noted of the coronation.’ Or, ‘Why I didn’t go to the coronation.’ And Harry, that is your flesh and blood. … I simply assume they should discover their very own function and focus in life and transfer on.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
