Prince Harry has long spoken about the similarities he sees between Meghan Markle and his late mother, Princess Diana, and according to a new book, those parallels may run far deeper than many realized. In “Divide & Rule,” author Catherine Mayer argues Meghan Markle’s turbulent royal journey echoed Diana’s in ways that ultimately shaped Harry’s decisions, including his determination to step back from royal life.
For Prince Harry, protecting Meghan Markle reportedly became deeply personal. The Duke of Sussex has repeatedly suggested he feared history could repeat itself, believing his wife faced many of the same pressures Diana endured from both palace life and relentless media scrutiny.
Mayer writes that Harry became determined to protect Meghan “in a way he could not protect his mother” from what he viewed as threats from both the institution and the press.
Harry Saw Familiar Patterns In Markle’s Royal Struggles
According to Mayer, royal women have historically faced intense scrutiny, often finding themselves embraced by the public one moment and vilified the next. The author argues that Diana and Meghan followed strikingly similar paths, both entering the Royal Family as symbols of change before becoming deeply polarizing public figures.
Meghan was initially celebrated as a modernizing force within the monarchy and briefly soared in popularity following her marriage to Harry in 2018. But Mayer argues the shift happened quickly.
The author describes Meghan as someone later portrayed by critics as “too ambitious” and “too difficult,” comparisons she says echoed how other royal women, including Anne Boleyn and Diana, were viewed when they challenged expectations.
Like Diana before her, Meghan increasingly became a lightning rod for public criticism.
Meghan Markle And Princess Diana Both Struggled With The Weight Of Fame
One of Mayer’s strongest parallels centers on fame itself. According to the book, Meghan and Harry’s marriage briefly pushed both royals to extraordinary levels of popularity, with Harry even surpassing Queen Elizabeth II at one point while Meghan climbed to sixth place in royal approval rankings.
But Mayer argues Meghan quickly learned a difficult lesson Diana knew all too well. “Soon enough, she learned the difference between manageable celebrity and her new level of fame: one opens doors, the other imprisons you,” the author writes.
Mayer suggests Diana experienced the same suffocating pressure decades earlier, with the late princess also struggling under the weight of constant attention and public obsession. “Princess Diana found herself in a similar position. And she, too, felt suffocated,” the author notes.
For Harry, watching Meghan navigate overwhelming fame may have intensified fears that his wife was following an all-too-familiar path.
Princess Diana’s Death Still Shapes Harry’s Fears
Mayer also revisits the aftermath of Diana’s tragic death in 1997, recalling a moment outside Buckingham Palace when a hotel worker pointed toward the monarchy and said, “They killed her.” The author stresses that the accusation was not intended literally but rather reflected public anger toward the Royal Family and perceptions that Diana had been left vulnerable.
After revisiting Diana’s story for the book, Mayer admitted her perspective had shifted. “In 1997, I remained dry-eyed. Now, I weep for Diana, and the damage such forces continue to inflict,” Mayer writes.
Harry has openly acknowledged fearing that Meghan’s treatment mirrored the pressure his mother faced decades earlier.
Why Meghan Markle Still Sparks Such Strong Reactions
Mayer also argues that Meghan’s significance extends far beyond royal gossip. The author points to Meghan’s unprecedented global recognition, noting that her name recognition recently reached nearly universal levels in international polling.
According to Mayer, Meghan’s identity as a woman of color and her public association with social causes have only intensified public opinions surrounding her. While critics blame Meghan for damaging the monarchy’s reputation, supporters, including members of the so-called Sussex Squad, argue that misogyny, racism, or a mix of the two fueled much of the hostility directed at her.
Mayer ultimately poses one lingering question to critics who continue calling for Meghan to disappear from public life: “What exactly has she done to earn such hostility?”
For the author, Meghan’s story may not perfectly mirror Diana’s, but the similarities are difficult to ignore, especially through Harry’s eyes.
