A new kind of royalty - or a would-be princess?

Front page exclusive in the Daily Mail yesterday

 Princess-to-be Meghan Markle strode into the history books  this week with a mix of confidence and compassion, challenging the ancient traditions that  have long defined the British royal family.

With eyes for Prince Harry only, many believe Ms Markle  is just what the country needs if the monarchy is to survive into the next century.

Inevitably labelled the 'spare' to future king William, Harry might well have become just another playboy prince had he not inherited  his mother's desire to make the world a better place. Meghan, with her humanitarian work, stunning looks and spirited nature  has changed all that.

Strong American women have a habit of changing British history. Last night's Channel Five drama/documentary The Queen That Never Was.  showcased Wallis Simpson who was blamed by many for the abdication of King  Edward VIII  in 1936, an event that changed the course of history.

Fascinated by the story of Wallis since I was a child, I have read many opinions of her over the years, most of them harsh, some assumed without any knowledge of the woman herself.

For the first time last night, in what appeared to be uncanny timing, we saw a different side to the woman who helped seal her own fate with a mixture of naivety and ambition.  Morally, it seems, the world was shocked by her actions.  Why didn't she slip away quietly leaving the king to carry on with his life? Why were the couple so open about their relationship - cruising together in the Mediterranean when she was still a married woman - when such things were frowned upon  in far more lowly circles.

If we are to believe this  drama documentary, supported by Mrs Simpson's own diary entries, she was traumatised by the hate people felt for her; she did not want to be queen. She begged the king to let her go but  he threatened suicide if she did not go along with his wishes.

Years later when the Duchess of Windsor, as she was known after her marriage, stepped back on to British soil, clad in black coat and veil, for her husband's funeral in 1972, she cut a very lonely figure. In all those years the British royal family had pretended she no longer existed.

My generation grew up with the words be careful what you wish for ringing in our ears and though we believe we invented feminism, strong women have always made sure their voices are heard.

The tragedy of Edward and Mrs Simpson, as they were known, will never be fully understood, but for once I prefer to look forward than to ponder what might have been. Meghan Markle's childhood friend Ninaki Priddy, who provided the 1996 photograph (above) told the Daily Mail 'She's been planning this all her life.'  Let's hope this story has a happy ending.



'The Queen That Never Was' stars Georgina Rich as Wallis and Alex Avery as Edward.