CULTURE

Meghan Markle Has Caught On That the British Press Is Kind of Out for Her

She works too hard; she’s feuding with her in-laws; she’s a distraction. What can they say next?


Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Visit Edinburgh
Getty Images

Here’s a small sampling of what the tabloid press has said about Meghan Markle recently.

She works too hard; her staff can’t keep up so they must quit. (Meghan’s fault, obviously.)

She’s in a feud with Queen Elizabeth.

Or, wait, no, it’s Kate Middleton, a byproduct of an apparent rift between Prince William and Prince Harry.

She’s a distraction.

She’s breaking protocol by speaking out about the Me Too movement. And by hugging a young girl. Just generally, you know, protocol. Broken with reckless abandon.

Many of these rumors have been fomented by liberally anonymously sourced items in British outlets like the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, and the Sun, all of which have taken to covering these thinly reported microupdates with apparent glee. So it’s no wonder that Markle, as yet another anonymous source put it in an interview with Vanity Fair, “feels to a degree the British press is out to get her.”

“Meghan is a believer in karma and she doesn’t want to sit there reading negative online stories and comments about herself,” the source explained, per Vanity Fair. “While she’s aware of the news and what’s going on, she tries her best not to read all the stories about her.” After all, it’s only because these tiny derisive updates have found an avid audience that they keep getting produced; this is how online media works.

In any case, while Markle might not be reading updates, her sister-in-law has certainly kept apprised; after rumors emerged of her apparent feud with Markle, Middleton took great care to mention how it’s “such a special time to have little kiddies” and that Markle’s pregnancy is “really special.” Special!

So, yes, the British press seems to kind of have it out for the latest addition to the royal family, because royal feuds are the content gift that keeps on giving. Nothing personal.

Meghan Markle’s Ever-Evolving Hairstyles, From Her Signature Messy Bun to a Classic French Twist

Meghan Markle wore flowers in her hair on October 24, 2018, in Suva, Fiji. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Chris Jackson

Meghan Markle wore her hair in a low ponytail while in South Bondi Beach on October 19, 2018, in Sydney, Australia. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Chris Jackson

Meghan Markle wore her hair in a low ponytail to attend the naming dedication and unveiling of a new aircraft in the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) fleet at Dubbo Airport on October 17, 2018, in Dubbo, Australia. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Karwai Tang

Meghan markle wore her hair in a loose low bun on a visit to the University of Chichester’s Engineering and Technology Park on October 3, 2018, in Bognor Regis, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Max Mumby/Indigo

It’s rare, but sometimes Markle wears her hair down, like she did at the Sydney Opera House on October 16, 2018, in Sydney, Australia. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Karwai Tang

Meghan Markle wore her hair pulled back, with a few face-framing loose pieces, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on September 4, 2018, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Max Mumby/Indigo

Markle wore her hair in loose waves at the “100 Days of Peace” concert to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War at Central Hall Westminster on September 6, 2018, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Max Mumby/Indigo

Markle attended the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on July 26, 2018, in Windsor, England, with her hair in a chic, pulled-back bun. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Karwai Tang

Markle wore her hair in long, loose waves with a chic hat on June 9, 2018, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Max Mumby/Indigo

Meghan Markle let her hair loose at the U.K. Team Trials for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 at the University of Bath on April 6, 2018, in Bath, England. Photo courtesy of Getty images.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Meghan Markle wore her hair pulled back in a messy bun at Cardiff Castle on January 18, 2018, in Cardiff, Wales. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Samir Hussein

Meghan Markle wore her hair in a center-part updo at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London on August 29, 2018. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Meghan Markle wore her pulled back while attending the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 13, 2018, in London, England, with Kate Middleton. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Meghan Markle wore her hair down in loose waves at the Terrance Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair at Nottingham Contemporary on December 1, 2017, in Nottingham, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Chris Jackson

Meghan Markle on day three of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 on September 25, 2017, in Toronto, Canada. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Samir Hussein

Meghan Markle wore her long hair in a straight style at a Christmas Day Church service at Church of St. Mary Magdalene on December 25, 2017, in King’s Lynn, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Meghan Markle wore her long hair in curls, with a deep side part, in an appearance on Today on March 18, 2016, in New York, New York. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Josiah Kamau

Meghan Markle leaves the Today taping at NBC Rockefeller Center Studios on July 14, 2016, in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Meghan Markle styled her hair in a long sleek style on March 17, 2016, in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Desiree Navarro

Meghan Markle wore her hair in a messy bun at the USA Network’s Suits season five premiere, held at Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel on January 21, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Michael Tran
1/20