Meghan Markle’s transition into royal life was anything but smooth, and according to a new report, palace staff even gave her an unflattering nickname due to her alleged demanding nature.

British journalist Tom Quinn revealed in The London Times that the Duchess of Sussex was referred to as the “Duchess of Difficult” by some staff members “for a while.”

“She could be difficult because she was finding life difficult — trying to feel her way and work out the intricacies of a positively medieval, labyrinthine system,” an anonymous palace staff member reportedly told Quinn.

One of the key struggles Markle allegedly faced was understanding the formality within the royal family. She reportedly questioned why King Charles III maintained such a stiff relationship with his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. “She once said, ‘But they’re mother and son — why are they so completely stiff with each other?’” the insider recalled.

Despite the harsh nickname, Markle was also reportedly called “Mystic Meg” by staff members due to her perceived “new agey” and “woke” perspectives. However, another source defended her, explaining that she wasn’t accustomed to the hierarchical nature of palace staff.

“Through absolutely no fault of her own, Meghan wasn’t always great with her staff — she just wasn’t used to it as Harry was,” the source said. “One minute she would be really friendly, perhaps overfriendly, hugging staff and trying to make friends with them, and the next she would be irritated by the fact they wouldn’t respond instantly at all times of the day and night.”

Markle’s proactive approach to royal duties also reportedly caused friction. A former Kensington Palace staffer described her early meetings as untraditional. “It was extraordinary because she was so confident that you could see she wanted to run the meeting rather than learn about the royal family through the meeting,” they said. “She was a great believer in grabbing the bull by the horns — except the royal family is not really a bull.”

However, not all staff members viewed Markle negatively. According to Quinn, some palace employees appreciated her direct nature. “Many of the ordinary staff liked the fact that she was very straightforward and matter-of-fact,” a former Kensington Palace communications team member said. Yet, the so-called “old guard” of the palace reportedly “had it in for Meghan.”

Her bold personality reportedly led to tensions with senior royals as well. Prince William, for example, was allegedly “uncomfortable” with Markle’s overly affectionate demeanor. “This tactile manner made William uncomfortable because Meghan hugged him virtually every time they bumped into each other,” Quinn’s report claimed. Even King Charles was said to have “flinched” at her approach.

While Markle has faced accusations of bullying palace staff—claims she has denied—the larger narrative remains complex. As Quinn pointed out, challenging the status quo within the royal family often leads to resistance. “If you make waves in the royal family, the senior royals will always back the courtiers, because in many cases the senior royals have been friends with the courtiers since childhood.”

A spokesperson for the Duchess declined to comment on the latest revelations.

Markle and Prince Harry stepped away from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California, where they have since spoken openly about their struggles within the institution. However, tensions between the couple and the royal family remain, with little sign of reconciliation in sight.