Meghan Markle, newly named Duchess of Sussex, will be supported in her first six months by a top advisor to the Queen, Samantha Cohen. When we saw the news, we were excited: a Jewish mom! Advising the Duchess! But we were sadly mistaken.
Cohen, from Australia, started working for Buckingham Palace in 2001, and was appointed press secretary to the Queen in 2007. As the Jewish Chronicle reported back in 2007, they telephoned Cohen to congratulate her on the role, but Cohen apologized and told them she was not Jewish. She explained that “a great-grandmother on her father’s side might have been Jewish” and she knows her name is Jewish, but she is not.
Cohen had planned to leave Buckingham Palace (a.k.a. the Queen’s “household”) this summer, but agreed to stay on at Kensington Palace (the “household” that represents Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and now Markle) for Markle. As The Times reported, “When the duchess became engaged to Prince Harry, she had meetings with Ms Cohen, who briefed her on the Commonwealth and the workings of the monarchy.”
The Duchess of Sussex “has worked every day of her life. It’s going to be a demanding schedule.” (thank you @WayAheadUK) pic.twitter.com/9p6ft0Qzrd
— Mad About Meghan (@MadAboutMeghan) May 24, 2018
Nevertheless, Markle still has a Jewish mom by her side: her best friend, Jessica Mulroney. Mulroney was crucial in helping her plan the wedding (and her adorable kids played a major role on the big day), and she will undeniably be there for her throughout her new life.
Header Image via Kensington Palace on Instagram.
