Meghan Markle reportedly had a complex view of her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, often perceiving her as “too eager to please.” This insight comes from royal expert Tom Quinn, who has gathered accounts from former royal staff for his upcoming book, ‘Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants,’ set to be published in February. The revelations shed light on Meghan’s time within the royal family, which was marked by a mix of affection and tension.
Tensions between Meghan and Kate
As per an extract quoted as per The Times, Meghan considered Kate “too eager to please” everyone and generally “too much a goody-two-shoes girl.” This likely created the problems within their relationship.
The relationship between Meghan and Kate has been fraught with misunderstandings. Despite both women coming from ordinary backgrounds before joining the royal family, they struggled to connect. Tom Quinn’s insights notes, royal staff members revealed Meghan Markle may have felt belittled by palace courtiers. Quinn notes that while some individuals can handle such feelings, “Kate Middleton is perhaps the supreme example, but others try to fight back, which is what Meghan clearly did”.
According to a former staff member, “You’ve got to hand it to her, she really is a fighter”. Quinn suggests Kate Middleton adapted to royal life effectively, partly due to coaching from Prince William and royal staff, which helped her avoid the difficulties Princess Diana faced. The staff member said, “She [Middleton] doesn’t jump in straight away and try to change everything to suit her way of thinking. She bides her time and is very intelligent and intuitive about other people, what they do and how they behave.” Conversely, Meghan reportedly clashed with the rigid rules of the institution. While Kate accepted being told what to do as part of royal life, Meghan sought independence and wanted Kate to be more assertive. This difference in outlook led to friction between them.
The baby brain remark
One notable incident that encapsulated their tensions occurred before Meghan and Harry’s wedding in 2018. During a discussion about wedding plans, Meghan made a comment implying that Kate’s forgetfulness was due to postpartum hormones—an observation that did not sit well with Kate. This exchange reportedly escalated into a confrontation involving Prince William. Although Meghan later stated in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that Kate had apologised with flowers and a note, the incident highlighted the underlying issues in their relationship.
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Meghan’s take on the Royals
During her time as a member of the royal family, Meghan Markle was known for her unconventional approach. As per Daily Mail UK, she broke with tradition by being openly affectionate and was often labelled as ‘Duchess Difficult’ due to her interactions with staff. Insiders have noted that Meghan would make jokes about the differences between her husband, Prince Harry, and his brother, Prince William. For instance, she would question why William and their father, King Charles, seemed so serious all the time. A former staff member recounted that Meghan joked about Harry not having the same parents as William, highlighting her view that Harry was more relaxed compared to his elder brother.
As time has passed since these events, experts suggest that Meghan is now feeling remorseful about her strained relationship with Kate. Reports indicate she is contemplating reconciliation, especially considering Kate’s current health challenges. However, despite her desire for peace talks, the complexities of their past interactions may make mending their relationship difficult.