Princess Kate is a "stronger person" than Meghan Markle due to one key difference, a former royal staffer has claimed. The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex's approach to royal life has been compared a number of times as they both share a similar background and had to learn the details of royal life before they married in.
Now, a new royal book has claimed that both women encountered the same kind of criticism from courtiers during their early days in the palace; however, one of them managed it "better" and, as a result, has triumphed in her role.
In Tom Quinn's new book, Yes, Ma'am, a former staff member at Kensington Palace alleged that Kate could deal with it because she is "actually a much stronger person than Meghan in many ways."
The source claimed: "Kate was always happy to accept advice both from the lower staff, with whom she got on very well, and from the courtiers, even though some of them were initially very snooty about her.
"'It was the same kind of backbiting gossipy criticism that Meghan had to put up with. Yet what Meghan saw as Kate being pushed around, Kate saw as an essential part of being a member of the Royal Family."
Ex-royal staffers claimed that the two women's biggest difference was in how they dealt with staff, with Meghan allegedly thinking she "knew better".
One claimed: "Meghan thought she knew better than an institution that has been in business for 1,000 years and more."
Mr Quinn wrote that, according to courtiers, the palace became worried over Meghan's handling of royal life, which was not in accordance with the general rule of "you don’t do as you please, you do as you're told".
One former member of staff told the author: "She (Meghan Markle) really did have a messiah complex," with another one adding: "Kate is Meghan Markle without the messianic complex".
In the book, former members of staff talked about Meghan being dubbed "the Duchess of Difficult" but others said they liked her firey attitude and said it she was more of a "Duchess Different".
A royal source told the author: "It was extraordinary because she was so confident that you could see she wanted to run the meeting rather than learn about the Royal Family through the meeting.
"She was a great believer in grabbing the bull by the horns – except the Royal Family is not really a bull."
Neither Meghan nor Kate have ever commented on the staff claims.