You can add "anti-kidnapping training" as another of the strange initiations for new members of the Royal Family.

According to the controversial book Finding Freedom, Duchess Meghan received military training to survive potential kidnappings while on duty for Queen Elizabeth II. The training included precise instructions on defending herself and interacting with captors.

Meghan Markle received anti-kidnapping training as a royal

In addition to explosive revelations about Prince Harry and his wife's complicated relationship with the Royal Family, Finding Freedom revealed some strange details about Meghan's orientation for work as a royal.

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Duchess Meghan

For example, in one chapter, the book details how she was trained by the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) to survive kidnappings and how to behave as a hostage.

Meghan underwent "the same informal training Kate had embarked upon following her engagement to William," wrote Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, authors of the book that hit the shelves in 2020.

The program included "preparation for all high-risk security scenarios including kidnapping, hostage situations and terrorist attacks."

Press reports claimed that Meghan participated in a military activation where she was taught to relate to her kidnappers and defend herself, among other things.

Duchess Kate, Princess Diana also trained for kidnappings

According to the authors, Meghan was not the only newcomer to receive military instructions. In fact, each and every royal — except the Queen — has been trained by the SAS at its headquarters in Hereford.

In 1983, two years after marrying Prince Charles, Princess Diana undertook military training. During the activities, a grenade dangerously exploded near the princess and burned part of her hair.

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Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) in June of 1997.

For her part, Kate Middleton did not receive instructions until after her wedding to Prince William in 2011. Meghan's case was atypical, as her training occurred months before her formal union with Prince Harry.

Royal sources indicated that the Duchess of Sussex was trained by the army before her formal entry into the House of Windsor due to the increase in Islamic State terrorism in 2018.

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