Meghan Markle ‘complained she should be paid’ on 2018 Australian tour

Meghan Markle complained she should be paid for carrying out royal engagements with Prince Harry on a tour of Australia, it has been claimed.

Meghan Markle complained that she should get paid for carrying out royal engagements with Prince Harry, on a tour of Australia, it has been claimed.

Harry and Meghan were warmly welcomed on their Royal Tour of Australia in 2018, but all was apparently not well behind the scenes.

The Sun reports, the tour was having a draining effect upon Markle.

In Courtiers: the Hidden Power Behind the Crown, The Times royal correspondent Valentine Low claims Meghan moaned she should be getting paid for royal engagements.

Low writes how the Duchess was “feted as an inspirational role model” across Australia in October 2018, however “behind the scenes it was a different story. Although she enjoyed the attention, Meghan failed to understand the point of all those walkabouts, shaking hands with countless strangers.

“According to several members of staff, she was heard to say on at least one occasion, ‘I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this’.

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan walk down the stairs of the Opera House during their 2018 tour. Picture: AFP

The book, to be released next month, also looks into allegations Meghan bullied royal staff before her and Harry left to live in Canada and then the US in 2020.

“I think we both know I’m going to be one of your bosses soon.”

In 2017, after announcing their engagement, a senior aide spoke to the couple about concern among staff at their treatment.

The book claims the Duchess replied: “It’s not my job to coddle people.”

Meghan is also accused in the book of “speaking particularly harshly to a young female”.

The book adds: “After Meghan had pulled to shreds a plan she had drawn up, the woman told Meghan how hard it would be to implement a new one. ‘Don’t worry,’ Meghan told her. ‘If there was literally anyone else I could ask to do this, I would be asking them instead of you’.

Through her lawyers, Meghan has denied any bullying took place.

Buckingham Palace began investigating the claims of bullying around 18 months ago but has said the report will never be publicly released.

Low also claims in the book, that Meghan threatened to break up with Harry early on in their relationship, unless it their union was made public.

The dramatic ultimatum allegedly “freaked out” the Prince before the relationship was made public.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on Sydney Harbour during day two of the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018. Picture: Getty

“Harry became determined to protect his girlfriend,” the book claims

“Meghan, meanwhile, told him that if he did not do something about it, she would break off the relationship.

“A source said, ‘She was saying, ‘If you don’t put out a statement confirming I’m your girlfriend, I’m going to break up with you’.

The whole situation reportedly sent Harry into a mad panic.

“Another source said, ‘He was freaking out, saying, ‘She’s going to dump me’.”

Low wrote: “Meghan wanted public validation that this was a serious relationship.

“She was convinced the Palace was unwilling to protect her from media intrusion.

“She told Harry’s staff, ‘I know how the Palace works. I know how this is going to play out. You don’t care about the girlfriend’.”

The relationship was announced publicly in October 2016 and the couple became engaged just over a year later in November 2017.

MEGHAN MARKLE ‘SNUBBED’ QUEEN CONSORT CAMILLA

Markle snubbed Queen Consort Camilla, despite her attempts to befriend the Duchess of Sussex, according to royal biographer Angela Levin.

In her new book, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: From Outcast to Queen Consort, Ms Levin claims the Queen Consort greeted Markle warmly when she first came to London because she knew “more than anyone” how difficult it was to be accepted into the royal family.

According to The Sun, the book also reveals how the women had “lunches together” while Camilla “spent a lot of time offering advice on how to handle the pressure”.

Anew book claims Meghan Markle was “bored” by Queen Consort Camilla. Picture: Getty Images

But instead of being grateful, Markle appeared “bored, was unresponsive and preferred to go her own way”.

“She tried to be supportive, was happy to be her mentor and took her out for private lunches,” writes Ms Levin.

“A source at the time told me: ‘She doesn’t want to see anyone struggling and she is fond of Meghan.’

The book claims Queen Consort Camilla attempted to make Meghan Markle feel welcome after she joined the royal family. Picture: Getty Images

“Meghan, however, seemed bored, was unresponsive and preferred to go her own way, with the result that the Queen Consort’s advice landed on stony ground.”

The explosive book also claims disgraced Prince Andrew attempted to stop Charles from becoming king, lobbying hard to prevent the inevitable outcome.

Ms Levin alleges the Duke of York campaigned against his brother taking the throne, pushing instead for Prince William to be crowned before he turned 18, so he could take the position as Regent.

Prince Andrew also tried to turn Queen Elizabeth against his brother’s partner, and wanted to “rule the country in some way”, according to the author.

Author Angela Levin claims Prince Andrew tried to prevent his brother Charles from becoming King. Picture: AFP

Ms Levin writes: “Andrew lobbied very hard with the hope that Charles would not become king when his mother died, and that William would wear the crown.”

She also claims a senior insider at the palace told her when Princess Diana was alive, she plotted with Andrew – through her friendship with Sarah Ferguson – to try and push Charles aside.

The source said: “They were dark and strange times, where paranoia became reality, and this was a worry.

Ms Levin claims the late Princess Diana plotted with Prince Andrew to push Charles aside, via her friendship with Sarah Ferguson. Picture: Getty Images

“His behaviour was very, very negative and extremely unpleasant to Queen Elizabeth, who disagreed. I was told it was one of the rare occasions he didn’t get his way.

“Nonetheless, he was apparently very angry that he couldn’t rule the country in some way.

“He remained so hostile to Camilla’s emergence and acceptance that it’s doubtful it has ever been forgiven.”

In an extract of the book, published in The Telegraph, it’s alleged Prince Andrew claimed the Queen Consort was insufficiently aristocratic and “not to be trusted”.

The Queen was very fond of Camilla and requested she be known as Queen Consort. Picture: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth didn’t agree however, making an address to the nation earlier this year where she expressed her “sincere wish” that Camilla be known as Queen Consort when she dies.

“I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me,” the Queen said at the time.

“And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me.

“And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”