In his new book, "Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family" (opens in new tab), author Tom Quinn writes that Meghan Markle was "greatly disappointed" by the royal family during her time with the current royal family.

Quinn spoke with a staff member at Kensington Palace for the book, who apparently "remembered Meghan well." That staff member told Quinn that Meghan was "a very kind, smiling, super-positive person" and "always felt in control of her own destiny" until she married into the royal family in May 2018. Later, according to OK, she knew that she "could not influence" the organization to which she now belonged.

"She was dazzled by the worldwide fame that being a princess would bring, but shocked by the palace ceremonies and the fact that she was not and could never be first in the pecking order," the source said.

Regarding the rivalry between Meghan and Kate Middleton, the staff member said, "She [Meghan] hated being second to a second-rate princess, namely Catherine Middleton. For example, she thought she was going to live at Windsor Castle, but when she and Harry were given Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, she couldn't believe it."

This staff member also added that Meghan never wanted to follow the expected rules, saying, "She hated the fact that she had to do what she was told and go where she was told in the endless and largely meaningless royal rounds."

"I don't think there has ever been a bigger gulf in history between what someone expected when they became a member of the royal family and what it was actually like," the source said. 'She was greatly disappointed. She was a global superstar, but she was dictated what she could and could not do, what she could and could not say. She didn't like that."

Meghan "quickly found herself treated a bit condescendingly by the royal establishment and her aristocratic advisors because she was not royalty by blood," the source said.

In her book, Quinn draws comparisons between Meghan and her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, saying, "It is very easy to see why Meghan identifies with Princess Diana. Their views on the royal family are identical. They are very similar. Diana disliked the stuffiness." Quinn added that the way the press attacked Meghan "is very similar to Princess Diana," and said, "I think when Meghan thinks of Princess Diana, she sees a kindred spirit."

"Gilded Youth" will be released in the U.S. this December