Meghan Markle's Close Pal Defends Duchess, Calls Out 'Ridiculous Double Standards' In Royal Family

Yahoo

17 hours ago

Journalist Bryony Gordon, a close friend of Meghan Markle, has criticized the royal family's "double standards," contrasting the way the duchess and Prince Andrew are treated.
She recalled Meghan's warmth at their first meeting and their ongoing friendship, questioning why minor actions, like early-morning emails, drew criticism.
Citing a book that alleges Prince Harry once physically confronted Andrew over remarks about Meghan Markle, Gordon expressed frustration at the disparity in how the two royals were treated.
Bryony Gordon Recalls First Meeting With Meghan Markle And Slams Royal Family's Scrutiny
Journalist and podcaster Bryony Gordon, a longtime friend of Meghan, has spoken out against what she describes as "ridiculous double standards" within the British royal family.
Gordon, who first met the Duchess of Sussex in 2018, said Meghan has faced far harsher scrutiny than other senior royals, drawing a pointed comparison to how Prince Andrew has been treated.
Writing in the Daily Mail, she questioned, "Can you blame the couple for wanting to escape the peculiar prison of royal life, especially given the ridiculous double standards applied to the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Andrew?"
Recalling their initial meeting at a Royal Foundation event, where she was hosting a mental health panel, Gordon said Meghan immediately put her at ease.
"She gave me a big old bear hug, the kind that makes you feel at ease — particularly when you are being presented to assorted royals in front of a bank of baying photographers," she wrote.
According to Gordon, "Meghan's down-to-earth demeanor worked like a charm, removing all the anxiety felt by myself and the other attendees."
Bryony Gordon On Meghan Markle: 'I Wonder What It Says About The World That She Could Be So Vilified'
Gordon shared that her friendship with Meghan didn't end after their first encounter seven years ago.
Since then, they've met for lunches, collaborated on charitable initiatives, and even spent time together at Frogmore Cottage, the Sussexes' former home, which they were eventually required to vacate. She has also visited Meghan at her residence in Montecito, California.
Reflecting on their conversations and shared moments, Gordon admitted she's often struck by the contrast in public perception.
"Each time we meet, or exchange texts about life, I wonder what it says about the world that she could be so vilified and trolled, while other members of the royal family seem to have been given a free pass to behave as badly as they want," she wrote.
One such figure, Gordon noted, is Prince Andrew, the subject of Andrew Lownie's recent biography, "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York."
The book includes a series of damning claims, among them an allegation that the Duke of York once berated a palace employee, calling them a "f-cking imbecile" for failing to use the Queen Mother's full title.
Bryony Gordon Slams Royal Double Standards: Meghan Criticized For Minor Acts While Prince Andrew Is Shielded
Gordon admitted she was "riveted" by the book's revelations about Prince Andrew, but said they only deepened her frustration.
"With each sordid allegation, I have become more and more furious that so little was done to help Meghan as she struggled with life in the royal family, while so much was done to protect Prince Andrew," she wrote.
She questioned how Meghan could be so vilified for relatively minor behavior, such as sending staff emails at 5 a.m., while others faced little to no accountability.
"Somehow, Andrew got away with it for decades, while Meghan was branded 'Duchess Difficult' the moment she so much as asked the Queen if she might be able to borrow a tiara for her wedding," Gordon noted.
Her central question remained pointed: "Why is it that people will tolerate all manner of misbehavior from the likes of powerful men like Prince Andrew, but not a woman who, according to critics, has a habit of occasionally emailing her staff at 5 a.m.?"
The Alleged Altercation Between Prince Harry And Prince Andrew
According to Lownie's biography, Harry once physically confronted Andrew over alleged remarks about Meghan, a claim Harry has categorically rejected.
In an excerpt obtained by the Daily Mail, Lownie writes that more than a decade ago, a heated argument supposedly ended with Harry leaving Andrew with a "bloody nose" after the Duke of York allegedly made a comment about Meghan behind his nephew's back.
The author claims Prince Andrew referred to the "Suits" actress as an "opportunist" and said Harry had gone "bonkers" for not doing "due diligence" into her past, per The Blast.
Prince Harry Slammed The Prince Andrew-Meghan Fight Story As 'Defamatory'
Harry's spokesperson has since firmly denied the story about the duke fighting his uncle, Andrew.
In a statement, they said: "I can confirm Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make the comments he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry."
The representative also called the allegations "gross inaccuracies" and "defamatory."
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