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 Like Diana's union to heir-to the-throne Prince Charles in 1981,
Markle and Harry's wedding next month has captivated the world's
media and drawn inevitable comparisons between the two.
And there are indeed many similarities, said Andrew Morton whose
explosive book about Diana in 1992 first blew apart the myth of
a fairytale marriage and who has now penned "Meghan: A Hollywood
Princess", a biography of the new royal-to-be.
"Diana died at 36, Meghan comes into the scene at 36. In a way
she's picked up Diana's baton - she's both elegant, she's
glamorous and also she's a humanitarian," he told Reuters.
"So Diana would have very much have approved of Meghan and seen
that kind of working of fate almost."
Morton's biography of Diana was an international best-seller,
revealing her union with Prince Charles was broken beyond repair
and that she had suffered eating disorders and been driven to
suicide attempts by the misery of her life with Charles.
After her death in a Paris car crash in 1997, Morton revealed
she had been his prime source and had smuggled tape recordings
out of the palace to him.
In his latest book about Markle, which he describes as a
snapshot, saying a fuller picture would probably emerge in 10
years' time, he has had to rely on those who knew her growing up
in California where he conveniently has a home, some family
members and colleagues as well as people who work at the palace.
"I still have my ins there," he said.
Extracts from the book include how Ninaki Priddy, a childhood
friend of Markle said the actress had been fascinated by the
royal family. "She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0," Priddy is
quoted as saying.
It's not a description Morton shares.
"Her friend was rather exaggerating," he said. "I think Meghan
wants to be Meghan 1.0, that is to say known for being Meghan
not for being in the shadow of somebody else."
That is not to say she was unaware of Harry's mother, who was
described as the world's most photographed woman before her
death.
"She certainly knew about Diana, she watched the funeral, she
was very affected by it, she and her friends collected toys to
give to needy children in response," Morton said.
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In a TV interview given after their engagement was announced last
November, Harry said Markle and his mother would have been best
friends and as "thick as thieves", disclosing that the ring he gave
his fiancee and which he designed contained diamonds from jewelry
once owned by Diana.
HALO RELATIVELY INTACT
Extracts from Morton's book published in the media have given the
impression of Markle as a social climber who has turned her back on
friends and even on her first husband in a quest for fame and
success, even sending her wedding ring back in the mail.
"Some people have fallen out with her, some people adore her," said
Morton, who has also penned biographies of actor Tom Cruise, singer
Madonna and Monica Lewinsky, The White House intern whose affair
with Bill Clinton almost toppled the U.S. president.
"As people who've read the book say, she's emerged with her halo
relatively intact."
Whereas Diana famously found adapting to royal life incredibly
difficult, Morton thinks Markle will find the change much simpler.
Being photographed on red carpets had prepared her for the royal
walkabouts and meeting the public.
"I think the royal family has changed. I think the impact of Diana
has been to make the royal family more accessible both inside and
outside Buckingham Palace," he said.
"Here is a woman who is camera-ready, not camera-shy, a woman who is
very confident who is very assertive, who took control of the
engagement interview for example."
However, he suggests some royal protocol will be hard to get used
to.
"This is a girl who was a gender equality advocate for the United
Nations having to bow and courtesy to the queen and even Kate
Middleton (wife of Harry's elder brother William) in private
occasions," he said.
"I think Meghan will cope but she will find some of the flummery
difficult to bear."
(Editing by Stephen Addison)
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