How ambitious Meghan Markle "told friend she wanted to be president one day"

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is said to have told a former close associate that her ultimate ambition is to be president of the U.S.

The conversation apparently took place after Meghan began her romance with Prince Harry.

"Meghan was quite clear that she wanted to be president one day," the source claims.

Meghan has held the ambition since she was a little girl. In 2015, she reportedly told journalist Piers Morgan that she had not always sought showbusiness success.

"As a kid, I wanted to be either the president or a news broadcaster like you," she told Piers.

Speaking of Meghan's political ambitions, Sebastian Shakespeare wrote for Dailymail:

Meghan is still a U.S. citizen. She isn't a full-fledged British citizen yet because the process is expected to take three years. She is expected to retain her U.S. citizenship, as dual citizenship is permitted. Presidential candidates must be U.S. citizens.

Meghan has cultivated a warm friendship with former U.S. president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, while chat show host Oprah Winfrey, who is one of the most influential women in America, was given a prime seat at St George’s Chapel Windsor, opposite the Royal Family.

A royal historian says Meghan would find it difficult to enter U.S. politics while still married to Harry.

"It is a pretty strong rule that members of the Royal Family keep out of politics," he says.

But Harry could, of course, give up official royal duties. His mother, Princess Diana, was said to have considered moving to America.

And the claim appears to have caused consternation at Kensington Palace yesterday, with the Duchess giving her official spokesman permission to take the unusual step of issuing a public denial.

"This conversation you describe with an associate is fictitious," the spokesman insisted.

I am, though, not the only one to hear rumours that Meghan still holds political ambitions.

Former Times editor Sir Simon Jenkins says:

Her friends and associates affirm that she is a political animal. Such is her fame, she could perfectly well follow a route taken by a certain Ronald Reagan. She might lead for the Democrats against a Republican Ivanka Trump. All I can say is, why not?

Meghan’s best friend is Jessica Mulroney, whose father-in-law, Brian, was prime minister of Canada for nine years.

Meghan has strong political views and attacked Donald Trump in 2016 for being "divisive" and "misogynistic". She might have to reach an accommodation with her new chum George Clooney, who is said to hold political ambitions of his own. Perhaps he could be her running mate.