Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 7, 2025 · Entertainment

Duchess Difficult: Meghan Markle vs. The Royal Double Standards

Meghan at the 2018 Royal Foundation event. Each time we meet, or exchange texts about life, I wonder what it says about the world that she could be so vilified and trolled, says Bryony Gordon

The Royal Scandal That Will Leave You Speechless

It's time to spill the tea on the royals, folks! The latest scandal rocking the palace involves Prince Andrew, a man with morals so loose he makes a Playboy bunny look like a nun. According to extracts from Andrew Lownie's book, serialised this week in thescholarlynote.com, even the notorious paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein thought Andrew was a bit too perverted for his taste.

It seems that Prince Andrew has been living a life of luxury and debauchery, lavishing taxpayers' money on ridiculous luxuries while doing business with nefarious characters across the globe. And let's not forget his alleged affair with a member of the royal household, which left a nanny so traumatized she quit her job. "When I started," one employee claimed, "I was warned to stay away from him... it seemed everyone was aware of his behavior, but little was done about it."

Bryony meeting Meghan for the first time at the event, at which Bryony was chairing a panel

But what really gets our goat is that while Prince Andrew was living it up with the Epstein crew, Meghan Markle was being villainized and trolled for simply trying to live her best life as a duchess. It's time to call out the hypocrisy! Why should powerful men like Prince Andrew get away with their misbehavior while women like Meghan are scrutinized and belittled?

The Double Standards of Royal Life

We're still shaking our heads over the fact that Prince Harry had to deny Lownie's claims that he got into a physical fight with Prince Andrew. Can you blame him? If I were in his shoes, I'd be itching for a scrap too! And what about the allegations that Andrew called a member of staff a "f*ing imbecile" and bragged about dragging "the worst bunch of tarts up to dine with his mother"? Talk about a recipe for disaster!

'She gave me a big old bear hug, the kind that makes you feel at ease – particularly when you are being presented to assorted royals in front of a bank of baying photographers,' Bryony writes

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle was being villainized for asking her staff to work late hours or sending emails at 5 am. Give me a break! If anyone knows what it's like to be under scrutiny, it's the royals. And yet, they can't seem to get their act together.

Gary Lineker: From BBC to ITV in a Flash

While we're on the topic of scandals, have you heard about Gary Lineker's new gig hosting The Box on ITV? Yep, the same network that's been cutting episodes of Lorraine and Loose Women to spend more on next year's World Cup. We predicted it was only a matter of time before they signed him up, and now he's got his own Saturday night game show.

ITV has signed up Gary Lineker to host a Saturday night game show called The Box – having made cuts to Lorraine and Loose Women

Let's hope Gary doesn't get too comfortable in his new digs – we hear the Loose Women can be a bit... feisty. After all, they've been known to call out even the most powerful men in the industry for their misbehavior. If anyone needs a reality check, it's Prince Andrew.

Consciously Uncouple from Your Mum, Apple

We're taking a break from royal drama to talk about Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter, Apple Martin. The 21-year-old looks like her mom, but don't let that fool you – she's got her own style and sass. We hear Amy Odell's biography of Gwyneth suggests the actress might be a bit of a Mean Girl.

Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple Martin was spotted on a beach in the Hamptons earlier this week

It's time for Apple to consciously uncouple from her famous mum and forge her own path. After all, being compared to your mom can be tough, especially when she's as iconic as Gwyneth Paltrow. Maybe it's time for Apple to take center stage and show the world what she's made of.

Nothing Beats a Jet2 Holiday!

Last but not least, we're giving a shout-out to our favorite budget airline, Jet2. Who knew their holidays could be so much fun? Our recent trip to Mallorca was a blast – zero queues or delays, delightful staff, and even a voucher for duty-free shopping! If you haven't tried them yet, what are you waiting for?

The verdict: Prince Andrew's behavior is as scandalous as it gets, and we're still shaking our heads over the double standards applied to Meghan Markle. Let's hope Gary Lineker doesn't get too comfortable in his new gig – the Loose Women might just give him a piece of their mind. And finally, Apple Martin, don't let your mom define you – forge your own path and show the world what you're made of!