Royal Row! New Details On The Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton Feud And Why They're Not Getting Along
Kate and Meghan seemed like best friends before the wedding. What changed?
getty It seems like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle should be as close as two friends can be. They're both style icons. They're both duchesses. They're both married to heirs to the British throne. But in recent weeks, the friendship that was growing between them during Meghan's engagement to Price Harry seems to have hit a rocky pacth.
Meghan has become the most visible — and most glamorous — member of the royal family since she said "I do" in May. After she and Harry returned from their honeymoon, she has been seen frequently at royal events, often in the company of the queen herself. But Kate, who's been home with baby Louis, is reportedly feeling left out.
What going on in the Meghan Markle Kate Middleton feud? Read on to find out.
1. Friendly feelings
From early in Meghan's relationship with Harry, Kate and husband Prince William have been welcoming to her. They reportedly spent private time together at their home and Meghan even attended the reception for Kate's sister Pippa's wedding.
2. Role model
Because Kate and Meghan will be sharing some responsibilities as members of the royal family, it was assumed Kate would take some time to teach Meghan the lessons she's learned from her years in the royal spotlight. After the two women appeared at a Royal Foundation Forum event in April, a body language expert told Good Housekeeping that it's "obvious that [Markle] looks up to Kate."
3. No honor
Many Americans assumes Kate would be in Meghan's wedding party but she wasn't. While this would have been a snub at an American wedding, it's different in England. In British weddings, children take on the roles of bridesmaids and page boys. While Kate didn't accompany Meghan down the aisle, her children Charlotte and George did.
4. Independence
There were rumors before the wedding that Meghan was intending to make her own name in London and have her own circle of friends instead of relying on her in-laws for company. A insider told InStyle, "I do hear plenty to suggest that they’re quite different people and that have quite different interests and that Meghan is quite independent and very confident and very keen to I think establish her own network of friends over here in London. So that’s certainly not to say she’s snubbed Kate in any way. I think they do spend time together. But I think Meghan’s keen not to rely too much on Kate and to have her own friends as well."
5. Queen's favorite
Since officially joining the family, Meghan has seemed to be getting closer and closer to Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The two have appeared at a number of royal events and it's been noted that the Queen seems to enjoy Meghan's company a great deal, often laughing when they're together.
6. Kate's disappointment
Now rumors are swirling that Kate is feeling dethroned by her sister-in-law. She had hoped to be a friend and mentor to the new duchess but Meghan has gone a different direction. Kate has been spending most of her time home with baby Louis and feels like Meghan is stealing her spotlight. A source close to the palace says, " "Kate feels like Meghan is trying to outdo her. Her feelings are hurt."
7. Lashing out?
Baby Louis's royal christening will be coming up shortly, an event where the parents will invite friends or family to act as godparents to the prince. It doesn't look like Meghan is on the list of potential godmothers, with British betting parlors putting the odds on her at 14 to 1. Hard to say f her feelings should be hurt or not since her husband isn't a godparent to the couple's older children. Kate and William have generally chose non-family members as godparents.
8. Will a baby change anything?
Meghan and Harry have said that they want to have kids right away. Perhaps a pregnancy and a new baby will bring Kate and Meghan closer together. Kate will be able to sympathize with the experience of being pregnant while also having to be flawless and in the public eye in a way no other woman in England or America can do. Motherhood is often the great equalizer. Maybe it will be for the royals as well.
Rebekah Kuschmider is a DC area writer with a background in non-profit management and advocacy Her work has been seen at Ravishly, Babble, Scary Mommy, The Mid, Redbook online, and The Broad Side. She is the creator of the blog Stay at Home Pundit and is a contributor the book Love Her, Love Her Not: The Hillary Paradox . She is a cohost of the weekly political podcast The More Perfect Union.