According to a new book by royal correspondent Robert Jobson, Meghan Markle was struck by the material disparity between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, during her first visit to the Waleses’ apartment. Jobson’s book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, reveals that Markle believed Harry “deserved more materially” than he received from the royal family.

The visit occurred in January 2017, when Markle accompanied Harry to Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, the opulent residence of William and Kate Middleton. Markle was reportedly taken aback by the contrast between their lavish living conditions and Harry’s more modest home, Nottingham Cottage, according to the New York Post.
A source close to the couple reportedly said, “Meghan was not envious but was surprised by the difference in their living conditions. She felt that Harry deserved more in terms of material comfort from the royals.” This sense of disparity may have contributed to the growing tension between the couples.

Harry himself had expressed his discomfort with Nottingham Cottage’s modest size in his memoir Spare, revealing that he felt embarrassed about bringing Markle to their small home compared to the grandeur of William and Kate’s residence.