I doubt that Andrew would be recognised by one American in 100,000 even after the Epstein scandal.
And I took her question about the elephant and roaring lions outside their tent as a bit of a joke.
As for the Press, I doubt any foreigner knows exactly what the British tabloid Press is capable of, especially one marrying in to the BRF. Not everyone takes that sort of mauling with a philosophical sigh, nor should they, in my view. And yes she did expect the Palace to protect her as Harry’s wife. Naively.
Obviously opinions will vary, but I took Harry's assertions about Meghan's reliance on his protection and her lack of knowledge about the British Royal Family as exactly the way he sees her and their story. I think he found what he perceived as her trust in him and reliance on him intoxicating and was flattered that she wanted him as a man rather than a prince. I don't necessarily think it was that straightforward from her side. Rather than debate it, I'll place the relevant passages here.
On lack of knowledge about the royal family:
Context: Meghan arrives back in London. It is the anniversary of Diana's death.
"On the big day, just after her arrival, she phoned as she was walking into her room at Soho House. I’m here. Come see me! I can’t, I’m in the car… Doing what? Something for my mum. Your mum? Where? Althorp. What’s Althorp? Where my uncle Charles lives. I told her I’d explain later. We still hadn’t talked about…all that. I felt pretty sure she hadn’t googled me, because she was always asking questions. She seemed to know almost nothing—so refreshing. It showed that she wasn’t impressed by royalty, which I thought the first step to surviving it. More, since she hadn’t done a deep dive into the On the big day, just after her arrival, she phoned as she was walking into her room at Soho House. I’m here. Come see me! I can’t, I’m in the car… Doing what? Something for my mum. Your mum? Where? Althorp. What’s Althorp? Where my uncle Charles lives. I told her I’d explain later. We still hadn’t talked about…all that. I felt pretty sure she hadn’t googled me, because she was always asking questions. She seemed to know almost nothing—so refreshing. It showed that she wasn’t impressed by royalty, which I thought the first step to surviving it. More, since she hadn’t done a deep dive into the literature, the public record, her head wasn’t filled with disinformation." (p.285)
On not recognizing Prince Andrew (even though this occurred at his home, Royal Lodge) :
"After a moment Meg asked me something about the Queen’s assistant. I asked who she was talking about. That man holding the purse. That man who walked her to the door. That wasn’t her assistant. After a moment Meg asked me something about the Queen’s assistant. I asked who she was talking about. That man holding the purse. That man who walked her to the door. That wasn’t her assistant. Who was it? That was her second son. Andrew. She definitely hadn’t googled us."
On not understanding Harry couldn't meet her in public:
"I asked if I could see her before she left. I watched the phone, waiting for the answer, staring at the endlessly fluttering ellipsis. … Then: Sure! Great. Now: Where to meet? I suggested my place. Your place? On a first date! I don’t think so. No, I didn’t mean it like that. She didn’t realize that being royal meant being radioactive, that I was unable to just meet at a coffee shop or pub. Reluctant to give her a full explanation, I tried to explain obliquely about the risk of being seen. I didn’t do a good job."
And on needing Harry's protection:
Then, a loud munching sound. Meg bolted upright. What’s that? Elephant, I said. Just one, from what I could tell. Just outside. Eating peacefully from the shrubs around us. She won’t hurt us. She won’t? Soon after, the tent shook from a loud roar. Lions. Are we going to be OK? Yes. Don’t worry. She lay down, put her head on my chest. Trust me, I told her. I’ll keep you safe.
When their relationship went public:
"Meg, you ready for what’s headed our way? Kinda. Are you? Yes. We were sitting on her sofa, moments before I left for the airport. Are you scared? Yes. No. Maybe. We’re going to be hunted. No two ways about it.I’ll just treat it as if we’re in the bush. She reminded me of what I’d said in Botswana, when the lions were roaring. Trust me. I’ll keep you safe. She’d believed me then, she said. She believed me now."
And how this made him feel later:
I felt wild with rage. And guilt. I’d infected Meg, and her mother, with my contagion, otherwise known as my life. I’d promised her that I’d keep her safe, and I’d already dropped her into the middle of this danger.
It also repeats again with regard to Meghan's mental health and the protection of their children. Indeed, protecting Meghan is one of the driving themes of the last third of the book.