When Meghan Markle first joined the Royal Family, the late Queen offered a suggestion on how she could learn the ropes – but was taken aback by the actress’ response

Meeting your partner’s family for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience – especially if you’re desperate to impress.

So spare a thought for Meghan Markle, whose future in-laws happened to be members of the Royal Family. Luckily her future husband’s grandmother the late Queen was seemingly impressed with her grandson’s new love – and was keen to make her feel welcome. And when the pair became engaged and it was clear Meghan was going to be a full-time working royal like her husband, it the previous monarch was keen to offer her advice and get someone to show her the ropes.

However, according to a book, the late Queen was left ‘surprised’ by Meghan’s response to her offer of help and advice. According to the book, Our King, by royal expert Robert Jobson, Meghan sat down with the Queen during a one-to-one chat, where the grandmother said she was “so pleased Harry had at last found love” as she “warmly welcomed” Megan to the family. According to the author, the Queen advised Meghan to turn to Sophie, the now Duchess of Edinburgh, who would be able to provide support. But Meghan reportedly replied: “I’ve got Harry.”

Sophie, who is married to the late Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward, is often regarded as a safe pair of hands by fans – and has even been described as the royal’s secret weapon. So it seemed natural she would be able to mentor the royal newcomer.

But author and friend of the royals Gyles Brandreth writes in his book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait: “The Queen (who, of course, had seen it all before) understood that Harry’s girl might find adjusting to Royal life ‘challenging to begin with’ (as she put it). ‘It is very jolty, but you soon get used to it’ – that was Her Majesty’s experience going back many years.

“To help Meghan, the Queen suggested that her daughter-in-law, Sophie Wessex, would be an ideal mentor. ‘Sophie can help show you the ropes,’ said the Queen. But Meghan made it clear that she did not feel she needed Sophie’s help. She had Harry.” Meghan and Sophie’s bond came under focus last year when they travelled together in the same car during the Queen’s state funeral and her coffin procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

Sophie, who grew up in a middle-class family and founded a PR firm before joining the Royal Family, has been compared with Meghan – as they both underwent a huge transition upon joining the family. According to The Times, Sophie was the first member of the royal family to visit the Sussexes following the birth of Archie in 2019, going to the couple’s Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. And in a rare interview with The Sunday Times, Sophie compared her experiences to Meghan’s.

Speaking to the paper, she compared Meghan and Harry’s experience to hers with Edward, she commented: “Remember I’d had five years to adjust [to royal life]. And for our six-month engagement, I was even staying at Buckingham Palace. Not that you necessarily know how it will pan out.”

Speaking about the Sussexes exit from the firm, she added: “I just hope they will be happy.” But possibly more pointedly, she said that the royal family do all they can to try to assist new members to adjust to the royal life, adding: “We all try to help any new members of the family”.