By Royal Insider Correspondent, December 30, 2025** In a jaw-dropping twist that’s reigniting old royal scandals just in time for the new year, fresh allegations surrounding Meghan Markle’s past have cast a shocking new light on one of the most infamous anecdotes from Prince Harry’s memoir *Spare*.
Remember when Harry proudly recounted how his wife supposedly mistook Prince Andrew for the late Queen’s “assistant” during her very first meeting with the monarch at Royal Lodge? Well, sources are now whispering that this “adorable” blunder was nothing more than a calculated cover-up – especially in the wake of explosive claims tying Meghan to an alleged affair with Ben Mulroney, husband of her former best friend Jessica.

The story, first detailed in *Spare*, paints Meghan as the ultimate royal novice: an American actress so oblivious to the Windsors that she genuinely believed the Queen’s son – holding her handbag and escorting her to the door – was just a lowly staffer. “That man holding the purse. That man who walked her to the door. That wasn’t her assistant? Who was it?” Meghan allegedly asked Harry, leaving him stunned before revealing it was his uncle, Prince Andrew. Harry even quipped that she “definitely hadn’t Googled us,” framing it as proof of her wide-eyed innocence.
But hold on – royal watchers and online sleuths are calling BS louder than ever. The meeting took place at *Royal Lodge*, Prince Andrew’s own sprawling residence in Windsor, where he lived with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. Fergie herself reportedly dashed out to the car to give Meghan a crash course in curtsying. How could Meghan know who Fergie was – and feel comfortable enough to accept her etiquette lessons – yet claim zero recognition of the man whose home they were in?
As one insider sneered, “It strains credulity. If she truly thought Andrew was the help, why inquire at all? The whole tale reeks of damage control.” And now, timing couldn’t be more suspicious. Just as rumors explode that Jessica Mulroney’s 16-year marriage to Ben Mulroney has crumbled amid whispers of Meghan’s involvement, this old Andrew story is resurfacing with a vengeance. Gossip channels and blind items are buzzing:
Did Meghan and Ben share more than just friendly “penetrating conversations” back in their Toronto days? Jessica, once Meghan’s inseparable stylist and confidante – whose kids even served as page boys and bridesmaids at the 2018 royal wedding – has reportedly gone radio silent on the Duchess since a 2020 fallout. Sources close to the Mulroneys hint at betrayal on a personal level, with some boldly claiming Meghan’s ambition knew no bounds, even extending to her inner circle’s husbands. Critics point out the pattern:
Meghan’s pre-Harry life in elite Canadian circles overlapped with high-profile figures, and Ben – son of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney – was right in the mix. Photos of the trio laughing together at events now feel loaded, with eagle-eyed fans zooming in on “chemistry” that allegedly went beyond platonic. One viral YouTube exposé even dubs it the “hidden fallout” that’s haunted Jessica’s marriage for years. Tie this to the Andrew “assistant” fib, and conspiracy theorists are having a field day.
Anti-Meghan forums like Reddit’s SaintMeghanMarkle are ablaze, arguing the story was fabricated to quash even older whispers: that Meghan crossed paths with Andrew in far shadier circles long before Harry. “Yacht girl” rumors – baseless but persistent – suggest pre-royal connections to controversial figures, making her feigned ignorance a convenient shield.
Why else would Harry go out of his way to emphasize her naivety about Andrew specifically, when the disgraced prince’s scandals were already simmering? Royal experts aren’t holding back. “This wasn’t innocence; it was insulation,” one commentator fumed. “By portraying Meghan as clueless, they deflected from any possibility she’d known Andrew – or anyone in those circles – beforehand.” Others note the irony:
While Meghan played the wide-eyed outsider, she was networking fiercely in Toronto’s power scene, befriending the Mulroneys and leveraging those ties for her lifestyle brand The Tig. Fast-forward to today, and the fallout is palpable. Jessica and Ben’s split has tongues wagging, with insiders claiming the stylish powerhouse is “devastated” but finally free.
Meghan, meanwhile, remains in Montecito, pushing her American Riviera Orchard jams and podcasts – far from the royal drama she once courted. But this resurfaced photo – Meghan beaming alongside Harry and Andrew at that fateful Royal Lodge lunch – now screams awkward cover-up rather than cute misunderstanding.
Was the “assistant” gaffe a harmless mix-up from a fairy-tale romance? Or a deliberate lie to bury deeper secrets, amplified by the Mulroney mess? As 2025 ends with Harry reportedly reaching out for family reconciliation, one thing’s certain: Meghan’s past keeps catching up, and this “innocent” anecdote just got a whole lot darker. Royal fans, what do YOU think? Innocent mistake or masterful misdirection? Drop your theories below – this saga isn’t over yet! *Sources include excerpts from Spare, insider reports on the Mulroney separation, and ongoing online discussions.*
Markle knew what she was doing. If she knew all about Diana then she would have checked out all the family as well. She played Harry like a violin. A clever, cunning and nasty person.