Meghan Markle kept a DIARY of her time in the UK, friend claims

This summer sees the publication of Finding Freedom, the book hyped as going ‘beyond the headlines’ to reveal ‘unknown details’ of Prince Harry and Meghan’s life together.

But will that satisfy Meghan who, famously, chose to include three quills on her personal coat of arms, representing ‘communication and the power of words’?

For I can disclose that, according to one of the Duchess’s friends, Meghan — guest-editor of British Vogue in 2018 — kept a diary during her time in the UK.

Such a journal could form the basis of a definitive, first-person chronicle of her extraordinary journey from aspiring American actress to member of Britain’s Royal Family.

The possibility intrigues Andrew Morton, doyen of royal writers — author of Diana: Her True Story, and of Meghan: Hollywood Princess.

‘She is a good writer, with a nice turn of phrase,’ he tells me. ‘Remember she studied English in her first year at Northwestern College.’ He adds that a first-person account, based on her diaries, would also offer Meghan a prize beyond price: ‘She would have total control.’

There would seem little doubt that Meghan would be willing to venture in print where other royals might fear to tread. Two years ago, she memorably inscribed bananas with messages expressing support for sex workers in Bristol, while before her marriage, she wrote a lifestyle blog, The Tig, which she closed shortly before her engagement.

But she displayed more of her creativity in another blog, The Working Actress, which she wrote anonymously. ‘My hair is primped, my face is painted, my name is recognised, my star meter is rising, my life is changing.’

Coming soon: This summer sees the publication of Finding Freedom, the book hyped as going ‘beyond the headlines’ to reveal ‘unknown details’ of Prince Harry and Meghan’s life together

There would seem little doubt that Meghan would be willing to venture in print where other royals might fear to tread. Two years ago, she memorably inscribed bananas with messages expressing support for sex workers in Bristol

A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess, now staying in a £15 million LA mansion, declines to comment. The couple made clear last month that they would refuse to co-operate with the Daily Mail and other popular newspapers. However, this newspaper has continued to give them the chance to comment.

Reports suggest that several royals over the last century have kept personal diaries and even recordings, although their contents have not been revealed to the public. 

Biographer Andrew Morton is renowned for his work capturing the lives of the royals, and has written books on Edward VIII’s wife Wallis Simpson, William and Kate, and most notably Diana. 

According to the journalist, the Princess of Wales had become paranoid following the breakdown of her marriage, and that she needed to document her the reasons behind anything she decided to do, and had contacted Morton after finding he was research a book about her.

For his 1992 book, Diana: Her True Story, he controversially interviewed the Princess of Wales, via proxy for secrecy, through which he uncovered Prince Charles and Camilla’s love affair, her unhappiness, an eating disorder, and even suicide attempts. 

Several royals are reported to have kept personal diaries and even recordings. Biographer Andrew Morton worked with Princess Diana to publish personal details of her life over fears her true story may not be told

She agreed to make six taped recordings with close friend Dr James Colthurst in her sitting room at Kensington Palace, with their contents being used to compose the book. 

When the book was published, the vast majority of what Diana had said had been disguised to obscure her involvement. The initial reaction was ‘shock and disgust’ from critics.

‘In the ensuing furore, the book was banned by numerous major bookstores and supermarkets,’ wrote Morton in 2017.

‘Ironically, a biography written and produced with Diana’s enthusiastic co-operation was being piously boycotted on the suspicion that it was a pack of lies.

‘But it soon became apparent that the book really was, as it claimed, Diana’s own true story. And the Princess quickly began to receive the kind of support that always meant so much to her. Letters came flooding in — many from people who’d suffered from eating disorders themselves.’ 

The Princess of Wales had become paranoid following the breakdown of her marriage, and that she needed to document her the reasons behind anything she decided to do, and had contacted Morton after finding he was research a book about her

Morton has also previously criticised Meghan Markle’s to borrow from the Princess Diana playbook, after it backfired when her father has leaked an intimate five-page letter.

Princess Diana allowed friends to anonymously address rumours in the press, a tactic five of Meghan’s friends copied to speak to People magazine to address accusations of her being a bossy bride and made stinging remarks about her father, Thomas Markle.

He said that by allowing friends to speak to a magazine on her behalf, the Duchess of Sussex inadvertently goaded her father into making further humiliating revelations.  

Friends close to Meghan have said that she ‘desperately wants to shatter this image of being a demanding diva who was rude to royal staffers and others on her quest for fame and power’.

‘She said the book will help give her and Harry a clean slate. Meghan seems to think that readers will finally understand the monumental anguish and turmoil she had to endure with a stiff upper lip,’ an insider said. 

Hurry up! This comes after an insider exclusively told the Mail that Meghan, 38, is eager for the tome to be released promptly

Scribes: The upcoming book has been written by journalists [L-R] Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand and is set to be released worldwide online on August 11, with the hard copy on sale from August 20

‘Meghan said people need to see her vulnerable side, something the book does in great detail.’

The friend added: ‘I think [Meghan] wants people to feel sorry for her, or at least have compassion for her and all she’s been through, which has been anything but a fairy tale.’

The insider also revealed the Duchess ‘had plenty to say about what went into the book, much more than the public is being led to believe. 

Queen keeps a secret journal and spends 15 minutes writing her true feelings in it every night 

The Queen is said to make handwritten nightly entries into a private diary, new reports claim.

According to actor Michael Palin, 76, the royal, 93, made the revelation to him during an official dinner following his knighthood last month.

The Monty Python star (below) said how he was sat next to the monarch during an official dinner at Windsor Castle, when he revealed how he kept a nightly journal. 

 

To his surprise the Queen revealed that she also kept a private diary, which she spent 15 minutes writing her thoughts into at the end of each day before going to sleep.

‘We were talking about diaries after I had mentioned that I kept a nightly journal of where I’d been and the people I encountered, she said she did too, the difference being that while mine may have been for publication hers were definitely not,’ Michael told the Sun.

‘She commented that she found it quite difficult because it always made her a bit woozy and said, “I usually manage to write for about 15 minutes before my head goes bump”, and then she did an imitation of her head hitting the table, as if she had fallen asleep.’ 

‘The only way Finding Freedom was ever going to be published, was if Meghan had the final say and gave her seal of approval.’

Co-author Omid Scobie recently said the biography gives a real inside account of the royals’ story, saying: ‘I’ve been on so many engagements and around them as much as possible, and spoken to so many people in their lives, so no stone has been left un-turned.

‘I’ve seen the couple remain faithful in their own beliefs and stand strong in the face of adversities which have been publicly played out in the press, and I would like to think this tells the definitive version of their lives together.’  

The book’s description says that ‘few know the true story of Harry and Meghan’. 

It promises to go ‘beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan’s life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond’.

It continues: ‘With unique access and written with the participation of those closest to the couple, Finding Freedom is an honest, up-close, and disarming portrait of a confident, influential, and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition, determined to create a new path away from the spotlight, and dedicated to building a humanitarian legacy that will make a profound difference in the world.’

Last week, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed the royals were staying at Tyler Perry’s ultra-exclusive mansion in Beverly Hills, and that they were whisked away by the producer and actor on an early morning flight.

The couple have never been seen in public with Perry — best known for his cross-dressing portrayal of feisty Madea in his series of hit films — but are believed to have met him through their mutual close friend Oprah Winfrey.