Meghan Markle "made it clear" she didn't need any help from Sophie Wessex in adjusting to royal life - despite a suggestion by the late Queen, a new book has claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex quit her acting career on marrying Prince Harry in 2018 and pledged to "hit the ground running" on becoming a working royal.
But according to a new book by author and friend of the royals Gyles Brandret h, Harry's grandmother the Queen knew that royal life can be "challenging to begin with".
In the book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, he writes that the monarch suggested that her daughter-in-law Sophie should show Meghan "the ropes".
But he says that Meghan felt she didn't need the help of Sophie, the wife of the Queen's youngest son Prince Edward.
An extract of the book in the Mail On Sunday says: "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.
"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 in September 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.
The monarch also invited her to several church services together and they enjoyed watching old movies together.
Her Majesty was also extremely close to Sophie's children, her youngest grandchildren - Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount James.
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.
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”.
