Meghan Markle is reported to have cut short a visit to a Fiji market after being “snubbed” by the UN.

This happened in October 2018, and the then-pregnant duchess muttered to a bodyguard, prompting security to whisk her away.

At the time, advisers blamed the pregnant duchess’s decision to depart after just eight minutes on the heat, humidity, and crowds.

She left behind disgruntled Fijian merchants who had hoped to see her at the market in Suva, the country’s capital.

However, royal biographer Robert Lacey speculated that Meghan’s unexpected rush might have been due to the fact that UN Women was organizing the event.

“[Meghan] had rubbed shoulders with the likes of Hillary Clinton… and might have hoped to join UN Women’s distinguished roster of goodwill ambassadors that included celebrities such as Nicole Kidman and Emma Watson… but in those pre-Harry days UN Women only assigned the cable actress the lesser role of advocate,” royal biographer Robert Lacey wrote in Battle of Brothers.

Mr Lacey also cited a Hollywood screenwriter as saying, “Meghan does not cope well with what she perceives as rejection.”

“She’s nice and smiley as can be until you step in her way or don’t give her what she hopes for. Then she can be remorseless – heaven help you!”

A royal aide was reported at the time as stating the site was “a lot busier than expected.”

But according to a source, Meghan said that she would only go to the market if there was no UN Women branding.

Lawyers for the duchess denied she departed because of the organization, saying she met with other UN Women officials later in the trip.

Crowds had gathered outside the market to welcome the royal visitors, with residents chanting songs and youngsters waving flags.

During her acting career, she advocated for the foundation’s activities, and in 2015, she gave a “rousing keynote address on gender equality” to members of the body in New York.

She got a standing ovation from guests including Ban Ki-moon, the then-UN Secretary-General, while she was an actor in the US courtroom drama Suits.

The Fiji visit was part of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first international royal tour.