It’s been a year since Elizabeth II’s death and Harry and Meghan are looking to make their move. With the Queen — that old bulwark of tradition — finally out of the way, the couple has judged it safe enough to return to the royal fold. Their in: Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Cockburn can only imagine what ruin the attention-loving couple has in store for the British royal family. And while he wouldn’t inflict Harry and Meghan on his worst enemy, Cockburn can’t hide his excitement that they are finally making their way back across the pond.
“Meghan and Harry have reconnected with Sophie and Edward, and this renewed connection may serve as their gateway back into the royal household,” said entertainment commentator Mark Boardman. He added that Sophie has “consistently been a confidante” for the disgraced prince and that the two couples are forging an “ongoing bond.”
Although Cockburn had to be reminded who they are, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are the third-highest ranking royal couple, after Charles and Camilla, and Wills and Kate. The under-the-radar royals are now Harry and Meghan’s last chance for reconciliation.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said the couple did not have a close relationship before this year, but that Queen Elizabeth had always hoped Sophie, who herself had a rocky start to her royal tenure, would help Meghan adjust her new life. “Neither were born royal, both, especially Meghan, have suffered from press harassment,” he said. “Both had ambitions to combine being royal with other activities after joining the royal family and found it was not possible.”
In 1999, Sophie fell victim to the “fake sheikh,” journalist Mazher Mahmood, who recorded her making less than flattering comments about the royal family and the British government. Disguised as a sheikh, Mahmood lured the then-countess into meeting under the pretense that she would secure a lucrative PR contract.
The Duchess allegedly called Cherie Blair, the then-prime minister’s wife, “just horrid. Absolutely horrid, horrid, horrid.” She also referred to Queen Elizabeth as “the old dear,” insinuating that Charles and Camilla would not marry until “the old lady dies.”
Of course, Sophie’s comments seem tame to those used to Meghan’s saccharine-cloaked venom and Harry’s pathological lies. If calling the Queen old twenty years ago resulted in public scandal, Cockburn wants to know what genuine, well-sourced accusations of racism would have gotten Meghan.
Thankfully, for the royal family, some sources have denied the validity of Boardman’s claim. “There have been no conversations between the families mentioned regarding the matters being suggested, or in this case fabricated,” one inside source said.
