Meghan trained to curtsy and survive kidnapping, new book claims

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle was given training in everything from curtsying to surviving kidnapping attempts to prepare her for life in the royal family, a new book claims.

In the early days of her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan was also given advice about the jewellery she was wearing after she bought a $300 14-carat gold chain with the initials M and H.

Co-authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote in their book Finding Freedom, which chronicles the last few years of the Meghan and Harry’s life as royals: “Two days after Meghan was photographed buying flowers at her usual florist, wearing her new initial necklace, she received a phone call from a senior Kensington Palace aide.

Meghan has encouraged Harry to take up yoga and meditation (Aaron Chown/PA)

“She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage the photographers to keep pursuing such images – and new headlines.”

The book claimed she knew the aide had good intentions, but she felt “frustrated and emotional“ following the call and thought it was a “surreal experience”.

After Harry and Meghan’s engagement announcement in 2017, the duchess received training to prepare for a new life as a royal – just like Kate Middleton.

The book claimed: “Set to undergo the same informal training Kate had embarked upon following her engagement to William – a series of instructions that covered everything from how to most gracefully exit your chauffeured sedan while wearing a pencil skirt to when to courtesy to members of the family several rungs up the hierarchy from you – Meghan was connected to a team of experts.”

Meghan and Harry have started a new life in America (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

But the instructions did not stop there, the former actress also underwent a two-day security course with the SAS.

The authors wrote: “The training – which all senior member of the royal family except the Queen have completed at SAS headquarters in Hereford – is preparation for all high-risk security scenarios including kidnapping, hostage situations and terrorist attacks.”

Finding Freedom, which is published on Tuesday, described how Meghan was “bundled into the back of a car” by a “terrorist” and driven to a location before she was saved by officers.

The book also claims Meghan expanded Harry’s “spiritual world”, introducing him to yoga through her own practice and with her encouragement he began a daily session of meditation.

A spokesman for the couple said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom. This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”