The simmering tensions between Meghan Markle and the British Royal Family have exploded back into the headlines — this time, with one of the Duchess of Sussex’s closest friends launching a fiery attack on the monarchy’s “utterly ridiculous double standards.”

Bryony Gordon, the outspoken journalist and podcaster who has known Meghan since 2018, says the Firm’s treatment of the Duchess stands in stark — and shocking — contrast to how senior royals like Prince Andrew have been handled.

In a blistering column for the Daily Mail, Gordon openly questioned whether anyone could blame Meghan and Prince Harry for escaping what she called “the peculiar prison of royal life,” especially given what she describes as the vastly harsher scrutiny Meghan endured compared to the disgraced Duke of York.

“Can you blame the couple for wanting to escape… especially given the ridiculous double standards applied to the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Andrew?” Gordon wrote.

A Friendship Born in a Royal Spotlight

Gordon first met Meghan at a Royal Foundation mental health event in 2018, where she chaired a panel discussion. Far from the stiff formality often associated with royal introductions, Gordon says Meghan greeted her with “a big old bear hug” — the kind that instantly melted away the nerves of meeting a member of the royal family under the glare of photographers.

“Meghan’s down-to-earth demeanor worked like a charm,” Gordon recalled. “It removed all the anxiety felt by myself and the other attendees.”

The two quickly struck up a friendship, staying in touch over the years through lunches, charity work, and visits to Frogmore Cottage before Harry and Meghan were forced to vacate their UK home. Gordon says she has also spent time with Meghan in Montecito, California, where the Sussexes now live with their children.

‘Vilified and Trolled’ While Others Were Protected

But beneath those warm personal memories lies Gordon’s simmering anger at the way Meghan’s time as a working royal unfolded.

“Each time we meet, or exchange texts about life, I wonder what it says about the world that she could be so vilified and trolled, while other members of the royal family seem to have been given a free pass to behave as badly as they want,” she wrote.

That “free pass,” Gordon argues, is most glaring in the case of Prince Andrew.

The Shadow of Andrew’s Scandals

Andrew’s chequered history was thrust back into the spotlight with the release of historian Andrew Lownie’s explosive book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York. Among the many allegations, the book claims Andrew once verbally abused a palace staffer, calling them a “f–king imbecile” for failing to use the late Queen Mother’s full title.

The book also recounts claims that Prince Harry once confronted Andrew over comments about Meghan — allegations Harry has dismissed as “gross inaccuracies, damaging and defamatory remarks.”

Still, Gordon says she was “gripped” by the book’s sordid details. “With each sordid allegation,” she wrote, “I have become more and more furious that so little was done to help Meghan… while so much was done to protect Prince Andrew.”

‘Duchess Difficult’ vs. Decades of Indulgence

Gordon also took aim at the narrative that Meghan was “difficult” to work with — a label she says was applied unfairly and with remarkable speed.

“Somehow, Andrew got away with it for decades,” she wrote. “While Meghan was branded ‘Duchess Difficult’ the moment she so much as asked the Queen if she might be able to borrow a tiara for her wedding.”

That single request, Gordon argues, became symbolic of the double standard: a woman accused of being demanding for wanting a family heirloom, versus a man whose controversies have spanned decades yet has often been shielded by the institution.

The 5 A.M. Emails That Sparked a Media Frenzy

Even Meghan’s work ethic, Gordon notes, became fodder for criticism. The media seized on claims that she occasionally emailed staff as early as 5 a.m., painting her as overbearing.

“Why is it,” Gordon asked, “that people will tolerate all manner of misbehavior from the likes of powerful men like Prince Andrew, but not a woman who… has a habit of occasionally emailing her staff at 5 a.m.?”

A Firestorm Reignited

Gordon’s comments are the latest in a long-running debate about how the Royal Family treats its members — particularly those who, like Meghan, enter from outside the aristocratic fold.

Her column has already reignited fierce discussion online, with supporters applauding her willingness to call out the institution and critics accusing her of rewriting history.

One thing is certain: with Prince Andrew’s scandals continuing to cast a shadow over the monarchy, and Meghan and Harry forging their own path in California, the rift between tradition and modernity in Britain’s most famous family shows no sign of closing.

And for Gordon, the issue is deeply personal. Her friendship with Meghan has convinced her of one thing — the Duchess may have left the royal stage, but the double standards that pushed her away are still very much alive.