Meghan Markle didn't think she needed a royal 'mentor' – but Queen Elizabeth II thought otherwise

When former Suits actress Meghan Markle became part of the royal family, things couldn't have been more different from her Hollywood lifestyle. 

While her husband Prince Harry, whom she married in 2018, tried to "warn" her about entering the Firm, another key family member was also keen to give Meghan advice on her big transition into royal life. 

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The surprising family member who was 'keen' to help Meghan

Harry's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was  "very keen" to give her a helping hand, and the monarch reportedly "wanted Meghan to make a success of the marriage".

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She encouraged Meghan to get advice and mentoring from the Duchess Sophie, who became very close to Her Majesty following her wedding to Prince Edward in 1999. Like Meghan, she had an established career working running her own public relations agency, but sacrificed her job for her marriage. 

However, the secret offer was declined by Meghan, according to royal author Gyles Brandreth, who spoke on Daily Mail's Palace Confidential in December 2022.

"The Queen wanted Meghan to make a success of the marriage and of her new role, and indeed did everything that she could to encourage that," explained Gyles, whose books include The Queen and Philip: The Final Portrait.

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"I think she suggested to her that Sophie Wessex, who certainly was a favourite with her, and had been through it because she had married into the royal family, and married Prince Edward, might help her, be a sort of mentor.

"I don't think Meghan was interested in that. She felt she had Harry, she didn't need to be offered a mentor... The Queen was very keen at first."

Queen Elizabeth II's long-lasting marriage

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The late Queen knew first-hand the sacrifices of royal marriage, which is why she wanted Sophie, who made a similar transition from civilian life, to guide Meghan.

The late monarch, who died aged 96 on 8 September, and her husband, Prince Philip, had an inspirational marriage that lasted 73 years before the Duke of Edinburgh passed away aged 99 in April 2021. 

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Speaking about his grandparents' "adorable" relationship on Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, Prince Harry said: "The two of them together were just the most adorable couple, and I don't know if anyone's ever described them as adorable, but to me, knowing the cheekiness of him and knowing that behind what the world sees, you have two individuals who were very much in love and both who at a very young age, dedicated their life to service.

"The places that these two travelled, the things that they saw, the experiences they went through, that is an incredible bond between two people."

Marrying someone who 'would fit the mould'

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Harry later reflected on the intense strain placed on women marrying into the Firm in their Netflix docuseries titled Harry & Meghan. He compared the media interest in his wife to his late mother, Princess Diana: "The pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution, this feeding frenzy. I was terrified, I didn't want history to repeat itself."

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He also opened up about the "urge" for men within the royal family to marry someone who "would fit the mould". 

"I think for so many people in the family, especially the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould, rather than someone you are perhaps destined to be with," he explained. "The difference between making decisions with your head or your heart and my mum certainly made most of her decision from her heart. I am my mother's son."