Meghan Markle is certainly bringing the California vibe to Kensington Palace, according to sources close to the Duchess. 

“There’s a false assumption that she lives in some gilded palace with staff and ladies-in-waiting and all these royal perks,” a confidante told People magazine. “It’s simply not true.”

Apparently, Meghan and Prince Harry‘s Kensington Palace home of Nottingham Cottage, where the couple has lived since their engagement, is “small” and “cozy” – and doesn’t come with the staff outsiders may expect from a royal household: “Meg cooks for herself and Harry every single day— there’s no chef or butler,” says the confidante, one of five members of Meghan’s inner circle who spoke to People.

“I was with her last month, and she was going on a public engagement. Harry and I were sitting with the dogs, and we were all chatty, and she’s painting her nails,” a close friend added. “Except for her wedding, she does all her own makeup. Dresses herself, styles herself.” 

“I said, ‘People think when you come out of the car that you went through some metaphorical reverse car wash. Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, and everyone’s doing all this stuff to you. They’re not picturing you sitting by the space heater doing your own hair and nails.’ She’s very self-service,” a friend explained. 

Read more at People!