Meghan Markle reportedly felt overshadowed by Kate Middleton and believed she deserved more recognition within the Royal Family due to her self-made status and philanthropic background. The Duchess of Sussex, perceiving herself as having more practical experience than Kate, who did not have a notable career before her royal marriage, reportedly felt she was better suited to speak on certain matters.
“I think she found it difficult that the Royal Foundation was already a well-oiled machine by the time she got there,” they told The Telegraph. It comes after the Sussex’s unofficial mouthpiece, Omid Scobie, took aim at Kate and blamed her for failing to foster a “meaningful” relationship with Meghan in his first book Finding Freedom, which was written with the cooperation of the Sussexes.
Expectations were high for a close bond between Kate and Meghan when Meghan joined the Royal Family, with many anticipating that their shared experience of marrying into royalty would be a strong connecting factor. However, differences in personality and approach to royal life seemingly prevented a deep connection from forming between the two duchesses, according to the Daily Mail.
In Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” he recounts instances where Meghan and Kate appeared to be at odds during the early stages of his relationship with Meghan. He mentions a specific incident regarding bridesmaid dresses for his wedding, which left Meghan in tears, and notes an occasion where Kate’s reaction to Meghan borrowing her lipgloss seemed less than warm.
Additionally, Meghan herself commented on the dynamics with Kate during the “Harry & Meghan” Netflix docuseries. She expressed her surprise at the formal nature of the royal family’s behind-the-scenes interactions, recounting her first meeting with William and Kate. Meghan described how her casual attire and tendency to hug were unexpected and potentially uncomfortable for the British royals, highlighting the cultural and personal differences between them.
“I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go ‘You can relax now’, but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me.”