9 Awkward Details About Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton's Relationship, Including The Reason Harry And Meghan Are Leaving The Royal Family
They're reportedly feuding.
getty To many, it may seem like the royal family is living a fairytale life. At a glance, they appear to really have it all. However, things might not be as picture perfect and close-knit as we think they are.
Before Archie was born, the couple revealed they would be moving out of Kensington Palace to raise their child somewhere else. Many speculated that Markle and Kate Middleton's relationship may be the reason for the royal couple's relocation.
Are Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle feuding? It would appear that Middleton and Markle are not exactly in each other's good graces.
This is far from the first time that the two royal women were thought to not be on the best of terms. In fact, rumors of their family feud have been circling since before Markle even married Prince Harry. And with Meghan and Harry's recent decision to "step back" from their royal duties, this may be fueling the fire even more.
So, is the strained relationship all just rumors or are the two women really royally mad at each other? Let's take a look at some of the awkward details surrounding the relationship between the two duchesses.
1. Middleton reportedly thought Markle would replace her.
Markle and Harry's wedding was obviously one of the biggest events of 2018. The lavish affair was said to cost $45 million, which would be about $10 million more than Middleton's wedding with Prince William. And according to sources, the Duchess of Cambridge was not very enthused by the price difference.
The source revealed, "In terms of money, it also seemed to Kate that much more had been spent on this wedding than her own, which made her extremely upset." Kate was also reportedly "jealous" of the wedding. A source close to the duchess reported that "Kate was incredibly bothered because of how much more over-the-top Meghan and Harry’s wedding was compared to her wedding to William."
However, rumors of Middleton's jealousy towards Markle and how she thought the new duchess would be taking her spot in the limelight have been circling since before the wedding. Although speculation that the cause of the feud is due to Middleton's resentment for Markle becoming the newest royal, it's never actually been confirmed that the duchess really feels this way towards her sister-in-law.
2. They have very different backgrounds.
Middleton and Markle's lives before they became duchesses were extremely dissimilar from each other. While Markle was born in Los Angeles, her sister-in-law grew up in England and her family had already been linked to the British Royal Family since before Middleton had even been with Prince William.
Markle was an actress, who starred on the popular series Suits. Middleton worked for her family's business, Party Pieces, before becoming a royal.
3. Did Queen Elizabeth take a side in the conflict between Middleton and Markle?
Even the queen herself seems to have a preference in the royal feud. Queen Elizabeth has reportedly become very close to Markle, much closer than she is said to be to Middleton.
"Since Meghan married Prince Harry [in May], she and the queen have become so close," a source said. "The queen has really gotten to know Harry’s bride and finds her utterly charming. She thinks everything about her represents the future of the monarchy. The queen adores Meghan’s warm personality, intelligence, and sense of humor," the source explained.
However, the Duchess of Cambridge is said to have an entirely different relationship with the queen than Markle does.
"Kate and Elizabeth have a formal relationship," noted the source. "Kate’s reserved and stiff in the queen’s presence, unlike Meghan, who’s always herself and doesn’t take it to heart if she messes up royal protocol." Middleton is reportedly "bitter" that the newer duchess has a better relationship with the queen and feels left out.
4. Markle is modern and Middleton is traditional.
The two duchesses have clashing perspectives on how they approach their lives as a part of the royal family. While the Duchess of Sussex has a more modern point of view, her sister-in-law is much more traditional.
According to body language expert Judi James, the differences between the two women an easily be picked up in their body language cues.
“With her perfect smile and impeccable royal demeanor Kate has not put one foot wrong since joining the royal family but — thanks to the age of the Queen and the rather low-key profile of Camilla she has gradually been evolving into the role of matriarch and even backbone of the royal family, thanks to years of slowly-growing confidence mixed with a strong respect for tradition. Kate earned her role as powerhouse and hub of the royal family by following tradition rather than instigating change."
On the other hand, James told Express that "Meghan is a mover and shaker, a feminist and a campaigner with an ability to speak up and to speak powerfully and inspirationally. Meghan's style of change is far more elegant, intelligent, modern and worthy but it might not be William and Kate's more traditional way of doing things and it could be this that has created a breaking up of the team rather than any actual tension between the two women.”
Despite all of the differences in their outlooks, James also pointed out that Markle may actually be looking to Middleton as a role model for what to do at certain important events.
5. Is the Kate Middleton / Meghan Markle feud the reason for their royal exit?
Upon the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moving to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor in Aprik 2019, their renovated apartment also happened to be right next door to where Prince William and Middleton reside.
The feud between the royal women was thought to be the reason for the couple's decision to move away.
"Harry and Meghan want to move, and need more space, but they don’t want to live next door to William and Catherine," a royal source reported. "Catherine and Meghan live very different lives, and that is likely to become more marked over time."
However, a royal correspondent disclosed that it was Markle's attitude that caused the relocation and not the quarrel between her and Middleton. The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of behaving a certain way towards official royal staff in the past. She has reportedly been "difficult" and has not conformed to the typical royal family protocol, something which she and Middleton have also not seen eye to eye on.
6. Their feud is reportedly affecting William and Harry's relationship, too.
The two duchesses aren't the only ones who have been affected by their reported dispute. It could also apparently be causing damage to Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship as well. And the final straw seemed to have been the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to move from Kensington Palace.
Another royal source revealed, “The initial plan was for Harry and Meghan to move out of their cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace and into one of the main apartments. But there has been a bit of tension between the brothers.”
7. Are Middleton and Markle really at odds?
Although there have been and still are multiple rumors suggesting that the two royals are engaged in a conflict with one another, there is no official confirmation that Middleton and Markle don't really get along. In fact, a royal biographer has even refuted the claims that the sisters-in-law are in conflict.
“It would be a real shame to Harry and William if their wives don’t get on, but it’s quite a big leap of speculation,” said Duncan Larcombe. "There is no particular incident or occasion where they didn’t get on. It is a very broad claim to be making, and is likely just gossip from palace staff.” However, he did acknowledge the fact that the two women are very different.
Some evidence even suggests just the opposite — that Middleton and Markle are good friends. They've reportedly gone on double-dates with their husbands and have even been caught wearing matching outfits.
8. Recent news says that they are, in fact, still feuding.
In December 2019, a source revealed that the two royal ladies were still wrapped up in their feud. The dispute was in regards to Prince Charles.
“It’s looking likely Charles will be the next monarch and not Catherine, which has given Meghan more of an incentive to get on his good side. She’s been kissing up to him and Camilla at every opportunity, not just with messages of support but gifts and offers to help out with practical matters over the holidays,” the source divulged. "This isn’t lost on Catherine, who is secure in her relationship with Charles but knows how susceptible he is to being wooed and charmed – particularly by someone as crafty and convincing as Meghan!”
9. But now, Harry and Meghan's decision to "step back" has caused more stress.
According to the Sunday Times, Meghan and Kate allegedly haven’t spoken in six months, which means that even before their decision to leave their duties, the two were at odds. Kate is apparently “disappointed” about the Duke and Duchess’ decision and that they didn’t even tell the Queen before revealing their decision to the press.
Sources also say that not only are the two not communicating on WhatsApp, but that Meghan was absent for Kate’s birthday on January 9, as well as her weekend birthday celebrations. Said a source, “Meghan feels like some members of the royal family look down on her because of her background. It has caused her a lot of upset and left relations in a very sorry state. They must find a way to resolve it and move forward as a family united.”
Sloane Solomon is a YourTango editor and writer who covers pop culture, lifestyle topics, and love and relationships.