Royal expert Robert Jobson has suggested Meghan Markle won’t be able to turn around the British public’s perception of her, unlike Queen Camilla.

Queen Camilla and Meghan Markle

Queen Camilla didn’t speak publicly during the period her popularity was at rock bottom (Image: Getty)

Doubts have been raised as to whether Meghan Markle can turn around the British public’s perceptions of her by a leading royal expert. Robert Jobson made a comparison between Queen Camilla declining to comment publicly when her own popularity was in the doldrums with Meghan’s worrying about whether she is liked or not.

Mr Jobson told podcast Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered that Camilla in recent months has shown how important it was for King Charles to have a good wife by his side over what must have been a difficult period of time, given the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.

He added: “It would have been nice for [Harry] if she (Meghan) had been there. I think she was probably quite wary of, perhaps, the reaction.”

The royal expert was commenting on Meghan’s absence from the UK last week when Prince Harry was in London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

Mr Jobson expressed some surprise at Meghan not being in Britain, given her usual appearances at events linked to the sports competition for veterans which was founded by her husband, going on to consider the Duchess of Sussex and Queen Camilla.

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The Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service

Mr Jobson said Prince Harry cut a lonely figure at the Invictus Games 10th anniversary event (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Lagos

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reunited for their visit to Nigeria (Image: Getty)

Fellow royal expert Kinsey Schofield pointed to ongoing public support for Camilla, who she said has been seen as carrying much of the weight in terms of the public-facing aspect of the monarchy during Charles’s recent absence. She added: “Not one complaint. She is just graceful and executes [her royal duties].”

The podcast host asked Mr Jobson if he could see any similarities between Camilla and Meghan, posing the question: “Could Meghan turn her public perception around through her actions and change people’s opinions of her?”

Camilla had been viewed as a threat tot he future of the monarchy thanks to her affair with King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, during his marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales.

Diana blamed Charles and Camilla for the break up of their marriage, but Camilla has gone on to transform her public image over the years.

Mr Jobson replied that the one thing Camilla never did during a period when public perceptions of her were largely negative is the one thing Meghan has done.

He added: “Through all of the bad times she had, [Camilla] never said a word. She never spoke publicly about anything.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla at a garden party

Mr Jobson praised Queen Camilla for stepping up during the King’s absence from public-facing duties (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle in Abuja

Mr Jobson raised doubts as to whether Meghan Markle can transform her relationship with Britons (Image: Getty)
 

The royal expert said Camilla just got on with it, comparing her to the late Duke of Edinburgh who he said was also a stoic figure.

Mr Jobson said: “That’s what’s likeable about her. She’s a very likeable person. She’s got a great character and she’s not looking for anybody to like her…

“If Meghan spends her life worrying about whether she’s liked or not invariably [she’ll] end up disappointed because some people like you and some people don’t, that’s just the way it is. So can she turn herself around, Meghan in the UK? I doubt it, I doubt it.”

Miss Schofield suggested Meghan not joining Harry for the Invictus Games ceremony in London may have been because she was fearful of how she would be received.

Mr Jobson reminded viewers that last time the Duchess of Sussex attended an event at St Paul’s – to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – she was booed by some members of the crowd outside the cathedral.

He said: “I don’t think she should have been that concerned about boos. I think it would have just been nice for Harry to have his wife alongside him.”

The royal expert suggested too that if the Sussexes were to bring Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to London, then it would enhance the chances of their meeting the King, who would want to see his grandchildren.