Meghan Markle didn’t spend too much time as a working royal and has been open about how difficult it was. However, a royal author claims Meghan once complained she wasn’t ‘getting paid’ for duties.

Meghan Markle joined the royal family in 2018, but she got a taste of what to expect while dating Prince Harry throughout 2016 and 2017. Harry and Meghan only spent about two years in the family as true working royals together before ultimately stepping down in 2020, but during that time, Meghan saw everything she needed to see.

The Duchess of Sussex didn’t have the easiest time in the family, but now, a royal author suggests she wasn’t pleased with at least one aspect of the job and didn’t “understand the point” of one surprising task.

Meghan Markle greets fans during a royal walkabout in 2018 | Michael Bradley/Pool/Getty Images

Meghan Markle reportedly didn’t ‘understand the point’ of royal walkabouts

Harry and Meghan began dating in 2016, and once their relationship went public, Meghan’s life changed forever. She and Harry wed in 2018 after less than two years together, and they attended their first royal tour only a few months later.

Valentine Low, the author of “Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown,” wrote that Meghan wasn’t happy with having to do royal walkabouts. The pomp and circumstance of them was a little much for her.

“Massive crowds were turning out to see them, and Meghan’s refreshingly informal approach to royal visits was proving a hit with the Australian public,” Low wrote in his book. However, when nobody was watching, things were reportedly different. “Behind the scenes, however, it was a different story. Although she enjoyed the attention, Meghan failed to understand the point of all those walkabouts, shaking hands with countless strangers.”

Low continued, “According to several members of staff, she was heard to say on at least one occasion: ‘I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this.’” It’s unclear if the claims are true, as sources don’t appear to have been named.

Meghan Markle has been working to rebuild her reputation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been working hard to rebuild the reputation that was ruined after their royal exit. Harry and Meghan had their own reasons for leaving, and it’s hard to fault them for doing what they felt was best for themselves and their family. But the couple’s exit became controversial when they sat down for plenty of interviews and documentaries trashing the royal family.

These days, Harry and Meghan are more focused on their brand than anything else. Harry continues to do charitable work while Meghan is focused on her lifestyle content, including American Riviera Orchard and her upcoming Netflix cooking show. Time will tell if the two are able to rebuild and become more likeable in the public eye.