Meghan Markle 'complained about not getting paid’ for classic royal duty

Meghan Markle reportedly complained about not being paid for one of the most iconic royal duties, walkabouts, during her time as a working royal, according to a bombshell royal book.

The claims come from Valentine Low, royal correspondent for The Times, in his tell-all book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown. 

The book alleges that Meghan didn’t fully grasp why walkabouts, where royals greet the public and shake hands, were such a big part of the job.

During Harry and Meghan’s first major overseas tour in October 2018, which took them to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand, the Duchess of Sussex was met with massive crowds and glowing public support, especially in Australia. 

Meghan was also newly pregnant at the time. But behind the scenes, it was apparently a different story.

"Although she enjoyed the attention, Meghan failed to understand the point of all those walkabouts, shaking hands with countless strangers," Low writes.

Meghan was also overheard saying: “I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this.”

An insider also claimed Meghan was puzzled by the public fanfare, allegedly telling staff after seeing crowds outside the Sydney Opera House: “What are they all doing here? It’s silly.”

What Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 2025 has been like so far

Since the start of 2025, Meghan has been busy with major projects, including relaunching her lifestyle brand as As Ever, launching her new Netflix series With Love, Meghan, and debuting a new podcast Confessions of a Female Founder.

Meanwhile, Harry has been dealing with the emotional fallout from his court defeat regarding his family's UK security, culminating in a bombshell interview with the BBC.

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