Introduction
The arrival of Meghan Markle and Letizia Ortiz to their respective royal families has been the subject of great media attention and inevitable comparisons. Both women, coming from commoner backgrounds and with established careers before their marriages, have faced similar challenges as they integrated into the monarchy. However, their trajectories and public perception of each have taken remarkably different paths.
Two Working Women
Both Meghan and Letizia share a background as middle-class working women, with experience in the media. Meghan as an actress in Hollywood and Letizia as a journalist and news presenter in Spain. Both became royals as divorced women, facing initial criticism for their lack of “blue blood” and experience in royal protocols.
Adaptation to Royalty
Despite these parallels, each woman’s adaptation to her new role has been markedly different. Letizia, after a period of adjustment, has managed to establish herself as a respected figure in the Spanish monarchy, carrying out her duties with professionalism and earning recognition for her work. In contrast, Meghan’s experience in the British Royal Family has been more turbulent, culminating in her and Prince Harry’s decision to step away from her official roles by moving to the United States in 2020.
Distant Relationship
Although they share similarities, interactions between Meghan and Letizia at royal events have been somewhat awkward, marked by an apparent lack of chemistry. Sources close to the royals suggest that there were certain disagreements between the two, attributed in part to Meghan’s attitude, perceived by some as haughty or “diva-like.” This behavior would have clashed with the perspective of Letizia, who, despite her position as queen, considers herself essentially an equal to Meghan in terms of her non-aristocratic origins.
Divergent trajectories
The difference in their approaches and adaptation to real life seems to have created a gap between the two women. While Letizia has chosen to focus on her royal responsibilities despite the scandals that have affected the Royal House in recent years, Meghan has maintained a more controversial presence in the media, especially after her departure from the British Royal Family, granting interviews incendiary statements in which she has criticized her husband’s family, accusing them of racism and controlling the narrative in the United Kingdom through their influence.
Conclusions
So while Meghan Markle and Letizia Ortiz share similar backgrounds and faced similar challenges entering royalty, their paths have diverged significantly. Letizia’s adaptation to her role as Queen of Spain contrasts with Meghan’s more controversial career, reflecting the unique complexities and pressures each has faced in their respective positions. This disparity has not only shaped their individual royal careers, but also appears to have influenced the distant relationship between the two, marked by less than cordial encounters and an apparent lack of mutual understanding.