Meghan Markle Gets Royal Jitters as Duchess Poised to Face 'Palace Lions' — Will Portugal 'Golden Visa' Become Her Crown Jewel in Rift?

Meghan Markle reportedly "wants to show" the royals "they can't trample over her," but the former actress is still allegedly "petrified of the palace lions" that made her royalty.

A source spilled, "Following reports that she and Harry have recently purchased a property in Portugal, their new European home means that Meghan will be close enough to fly back to the U.K. and finally face the royals in what is likely to be an explosive showdown."

The former Suits supporting player is said to feel "intimidated" by senior royals and "could barely look them in the eyes at the Platinum Jubilee and late Queen's funeral in 2022," another royal insider stated.

Those two encounters played out when Meghan and Prince Harry only had the 2021 Oprah interview to their credit. The December 2022 Netflix documentary, Harry's bestselling Spare and much more have unfolded since Meghan's last visit with her regal in-laws.

This led the first source to add, "The wounds Meghan suffered from her experiences in the royal family cut very deep. Since all the drama over her and Harry’s split from The Firm, she’s been incredibly nervous about facing them again. But she now accepts it’s got to be done."

They continued, "Meghan’s stance is that if Harry is going to go back and make a deal with the royals, she needs to be part of it as well. She wants to show them they can’t just trample all over her and then have Harry come back on his own, as though she can be tossed aside."

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank have long been rumored as Harry and Meghan's only allies in the royal family. Now, the royal rebels have moved only an hour from Prince Andrew's youngest daughter in Portugal, which has many wondering what ulterior motives are at play.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said the Sussex move "makes clear that they are connected closely to part of the royal family."

Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, have stepped up their public support for Prince William at various events. This increased presence has fueled speculation that William may assign them more prominent duties within the monarchy when he takes the throne.

Despite her growing alignment with William, however, Eugenie has also preserved a close relationship with the Duke of Sussex, maintaining ties across the family divide. This "sly" tactic has many royal and Sussex fans wondering what the junior royal's motives truly are, and where her "loyalties lie."

Her connection to Meghan dates back to before the Duchess of Sussex and Harry became a couple. The two reportedly met through fashion designer Misha Nonoo, and both were guests at Nonoo’s wedding in 2012 to Alexander Gilkes, a close friend of Harry from their school years.

The Sun reported on the insider revelations.