Meghan Markle’s childhood ‘parallels’ with mother-in-law Princess Diana helped her form a bond with Prince Harry
"Diana and Meghan both identified as outsiders within the Royal Family"


Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Thank you for signing up to GoodTo. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
A historian has claimed that Meghan Markle’s childhood ‘parallels’ with her mother-in-law, Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana helped her to 'understand' her future husband and bond with him when they first met.
- Meghan Markle bonded with Prince Harry as both she and Harry's mother Princess Diana 'came from places of pain in terms of their childhood,' a historian has claimed.
- According to the expert, Meghan's 'outsider' status in the royal family mirrored Diana's own and encouraged Harry to 'find a path outside the Royal Family.'
- In other royal news, King Charles wants Prince Harry to bring grandson Archie to this big family celebration.
The world may have lost Princess Diana 25 years ago, but her legacy can still be tangibly felt both within the Royal Family and the public consciousness. From fans recreating the surprisingly ‘normal’ childhood meals she fed her two sons Prince William and Prince Harry to the sweet traditions she began that her children carry on with their own families, Diana's impact has been long ranging.
And, according to one royal historian, that deep-running legacy may have also helped Prince Harry in his love life and allowed him to develop a closer bond with his wife Meghan Markle.
The couple met back in 2016, then tied the knot in 2018 and now share two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. While they 'can't agree' on this very important aspect of their parenting and a royal expert has warned the couple that their children could feel ‘trapped’ in America, overall, the couple's love story has been a romantic tale for the history books, or for another Netflix movie.
But how did Diana influence that story? According to historian Tessa Dunlop, Meghan 'feels she relates to Princess Diana' due to their similar 'childhoods' and this allowed her to better bond with Prince Harry.
Dunlop told OK! Magazine that because both Meghan and Diana 'came from places of pain in terms of their childhood,' with Harry also facing public troubles at young age, Harry and Meghan were better able to develop a close bond as they 'understand' each other better.
Diana's parents went through an incredibly public divorce when she was younger, something Dunlop said Diana struggled to process when she was sent off to boarding school. The story mirrors Prince Harry's ordeal exactly, with Diana and King Charles III officially divorcing in 1996.
Meghan's own childhood was not dissimilar. As Dunlop revealed, Meghan faced a 'different set of challenges' to her husband and mother in law but they were 'parallel' storylines.
Meghan's parents also split when she was a child and she has since had an incredibly fractured relationship with her estranged father Thomas Markle Sr. The relationship is now non-existent with the 79-year-old missing Meghan and Harry's wedding and he has also never met his two grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Dunlop shared, "When you have that growing up slightly as an outsider within the family, you can see that slightly parallel in the way in which Diana and Meghan both identified as outsiders within the Royal Family."
Following the end of Diana and Charles' marriage, the expert said that Diana would have further felt like an outsider and was forced to then 'find a path outside the Royal Family,' much like Harry and Meghan have both done since stepping down as senior royals and moving their family to LA.
The expert added, "If you can find someone who understands them, that's really helpful and I think Harry found that with Meghan and I think Meghan would also share that with Diana."
Goodto Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse is royal news and entertainment writer for Goodto.com. She began her freelance journalism career after graduating from Nottingham Trent University with an MA in Magazine Journalism, receiving an NCTJ diploma, and earning a First Class BA (Hons) in Journalism at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute. She has also worked with BBC Good Food and The Independent.
-
-
Rihanna's children's names explained, and her second son is already living up to his namesake
Singer Rihanna has prompted fans to ask what are her children's names after dressing her son in pink
By Selina Maycock Published
-
How old is Kylie Minogue and does she have kids?
How old is Kylie Minogue and does she have kids? Here’s what we know about the Australian pop icon
By Daniella Gray Published
-
Meghan Markle could be set to publish her own 'huge' family memoir, royal expert reveals
The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly working on her own life story following in the footsteps of husband Prince Harry
By Selina Maycock Published
-
Meghan Markle’s father Thomas shares new heartfelt plea over grandkids Prince Archie and Lilibet
The Duchess of Sussex's estranged father has reached out once more with a new heartfelt appeal
By Selina Maycock Published
-
Meghan Markle reveals royal-approved sport she wants to teach Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
The youngsters will be carrying on a long-standing royal tradition
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Meghan Markle reveals relatable parenting struggle that meant she was ‘late’ to The Invictus Games
"It is so special to be here - sorry I'm a little late to the party!"
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Queen Elizabeth was reportedly left ‘confused’ after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walked out on her birthday plans for great-granddaughter Princess Lilibet
"They never turned up. That candle was never lit.”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Meghan Markle just nailed this karaoke favourite and here’s why Prince George might be impressed
The Duchess of Sussex showed off her singing skills
By Selina Maycock Published
-
Buckingham Palace set to make new documentary celebrating the King and there’s reportedly a ‘strict ban’ on family members mentioning Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
"They've already caused enough trouble to last a lifetime"
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Princess Diana ‘would have loved’ daughter-in-law Meghan Markle and taught her how to ‘survive’ life as a royal
“She had to learn as Diana had to learn, by being thrown in the deep end”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published