Paul Burrell, a former royal butler, said in a new book and in an interview published by the Daily Mail that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sought a "starring role" in the British royal family and that the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Harry is "inevitable."
Burrell, who chronicles his decades of service to members of the royal household in The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana, framed his comments around what he described as cultural differences between Meghan and the institution. "I don't think Meghan ever considered being a supporting actress," he wrote, adding that she would "always have second billing to the future Queen Catherine."
Burrell, whose official roles included footman to Queen Elizabeth II in 1976 and later butler to Charles and Diana before serving exclusively for Diana from 1992 until her death in 1997, discussed the material in a recorded interview on the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel. He told interviewer Emily Cooper that the marriage united two very different cultures and that a "fault line" between them would eventually "crack."
"Think about it. Harry came from this very busy world of the Royal Family with lots to do," Burrell said in the interview. "Even in his spare time, he could play polo and do whatever he wanted. He is sat in Montecito, twiddling his thumbs, thinking: 'What do I do next? What is my role? Where is my work?'" Burrell said he believed that situation would "wear thin" for the Duke of Sussex.
In his book and the interview, Burrell also commented on Meghan's post-royal career, citing her involvement with Netflix. He speculated that her ambitions could continue to grow, saying, "She will just go off and her next step is a billionaire because she's got millions so why not step up to a billionaire?" He further suggested Meghan might pursue politics, asking rhetorically, "Why not become governor of California?"
Burrell described Meghan as an American who, in his view, "struggled to understand the culture of the Royal establishment with its rules and protocols." His remarks repeat themes from his book, which mixes memoir and assessments of the royal household based on his years of service.
Prince Harry and Meghan married on May 19, 2018. Since stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020, the couple have pursued commercial and philanthropic ventures, including a multi-year deal with Netflix and other media projects. Burrell presented his comments as personal observations rather than official pronouncements from the palace.
The interview and book extract were published by the Daily Mail, and Burrell used the appearance to discuss and promote his memoir. The Palace and representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not provide comment in the material published by the Daily Mail.
Burrell's career in royal service and his close work with Princess Diana have made his assessments notable in UK public discourse about the monarchy, though his interpretations represent one voice among many on the dynamics of the modern royal family. The Royal Insider expands on his experiences from the mid-1970s through the 1990s and his later observations about the contemporary royal household and its public-facing members.