The new book Finding Freedom claims senior Royal Family members, courtiers and aides came up with different names or phrases to mock Meghan Markle, and they made fun of her TV acting career.

A senior member of the Royal Family, courtiers and aides trashed Meghan Markle and called her names behind her back, a new book claims.

Finding Freedom claims one senior royal referred to the Duchess of Sussex – who had starred in the US TV series Suits – as “Harry’s showgirl”, and another said the divorcee “comes with a lot of baggage” as concerns were raised over her relationship with the prince.

The former Suits actress was also referred to as “Duchess Different” and she felt as though she was wrongly being branded “difficult” or a “bitch” behind her back due to racist and sexist attitudes.

It is said some palace aides resented having to serve “an actress on a cable show”, and a senior courtier is said to have been overheard telling a colleague: “There’s just something about her I don’t trust.”

The bombshell allegations – along with new claims about Megxit and the rift between the Sussexes and Cambridges – were revealed in excerpts published by the Times and the Sunday Times this weekend ahead of the book’s release next month.

The book, serialised by the Times and the Sunday Times, claims a frustrated palace staff member had described the Sussexes’ team as “the squeaky third wheel” of the monarchy.

Amid a row over money as the Sussexes stepped away from royal life, courtiers joked that Meghan would start a beauty product line when she left her role as a senior royal for private life, it is alleged.

Meghan believes successful women of colour like her are wrongly labelled “demanding or aggressive”, and she is said to have thought some of the stories about her were “sexist and prejudiced”, says the book.

A close friend told the authors that Meghan was regarded as “Duchess Different” and that she was not liked by some because she stood out.

The book says: “It was open season on Meghan, with many looking for anything and everything to criticise.”

The book’s co-authors, Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, wrote: “Meghan felt as though some of the commentary and tabloid stories were more than a culture clash; they were sexist and prejudiced.

“If a man got up before dawn to work, he was applauded for his work ethic. If a woman did it, she was deemed difficult or ‘a bitch’.

“The double standard was exacerbated when it came to successful women of colour, often labelled demanding or aggressive.”

The book says racism is “ingrained” in Britain and “a major theme of racism in the UK centres on the question of who is authentically ‘British’.”

According to the biography, the Duke of Cambridge feared his brother had been “blindsided by lust” in his haste to wed Meghan.

The authors claim Harry was offended by William’s advice to “take as much time as you need to get to know this girl”.

According to the pair, William was happy for his brother, but “just wanted to make sure that Harry wasn’t blindsided by lust”.

But his younger brother allegedly took offence to the phrase “this girl”, and interpreted it as “snobbish and condescending”.

Harry’s belief that the palace was out to sabotage his relationship was the beginning of the rift with his brother, it is said.

He is said to have felt “unprotected” by the institutions around the monarchy, and derided by the old guard for being “too sensitive and outspoken”.

He was aware of her being trashed behind her back.

A source claimed: “He understands that a lot of people are against them, and he will do everything he can to keep her safe and away from getting hurt — even if that means distancing himself from those people.”

Senior courtiers, the “men in grey suits” as Princess Diana had called them, were apparently given a new name in Harry and Meghan’s circle.

The book claims the old guard was referred to as the “vipers” by a friend.

The Duchess of Cambridge apparently did little to bridge the divide and never really got to know Meghan.

Another source said the coolness between the princes was the reason for Harry and Meghan’s move to Windsor.

“He wanted to get away from the goldfish bowl that was Kensington Palace,” the said.

“Everywhere you turn, you’re surrounded by staff and family. He was at a point in his life where he was working with his brother, doing the foundation with his brother and living by his brother.

“It was too much.”

A spokesman for Harry and Meghan said the couple did not contribute to the book.

The revelations come after the Sussexes launched legal action in Los Angeles after drones were allegedly used to take pictures of their 14-month-old son Archie.

A complaint filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday claims an unnamed individual photographed Archie at their home during lockdown.