Jealous Kate: Ill, stressed and feeling second best
The Duchess of Cambridge is ill, stressed – and feeling second best
Kate Middleton should be on top of the world, looking forward to the birth of her third child. But, as we have known for some time, the poor Duchess of Cambridge is anything but ‘blooming’.
It’s not just her extreme morning sickness taking its toll, however – friends are apparently concerned that Kate is ‘dreading’ returning to her royal duties after her morning sickness absence.
At the time of going to press, Kate was due at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night for a reception with Princes William and Harry, held to honour World Mental Health Day. She is then expected to attend the Women Of The Year Awards on Monday 16 October.
But a pal confessed the Duchess had been ‘very edgy and not looking forward to it – when you’ve been off work for a while, you get out of the habit of meeting people and making small talk’.
And, say friends, Kate apparently fears she has ‘ lost confidence’ and will be seen as ‘second best’ in comparison to Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Meghan Markle, 36.
Sometimes appearing thin, and with dark bags under her eyes, mum-to-be Kate isn’t glowing at present.
‘Catherine is going through a bad patch and is becoming somewhat withdrawn,’ a source told best. ‘She is suffering really badly from morning sickness and just doesn’t want to face the world. Although she is a lot better, she worries about being sick in public.
‘She’s lost a bit of confidence and has, frankly, been dreading being in the spotlight again.’
On top of that, said the insider, Kate, 35, is worried that she is now going to attract comparisons to her brotherin-law’s girlfriend, Meghan, as rumours swirl about their potential engagement.
No doubt the stunning American actress will be bringing new glamour and excitement to the royal scene.
Kate has met Meghan and is believed to like her, but she surely wouldn’t be human if she wasn’t jealous of the attention the Suits star is currently receiving.
‘She knows that, as soon as Meghan marries Harry, they will become the glamorous couple that she and William were five years ago,’ said the royal insider.
‘In some ways, she is glad she’s having a baby – she can duck out of the spotlight with good reason. But she doesn’t want to be constantly compared, being told she wears frumpy clothes while Meghan is ultra-trendy.’
You can’t imagine Kate stepping out in ripped jeans
and a ‘ husband shirt’ (the casual-smart outfit Meghan wore when she made her first public appearance with Harry at Toronto’s Invictus Games). Even if she wanted to dress more casually, royal protocol wouldn’t generally allow it.
Kate could also be fretting about being outclassed by Meghan as a public speaker. As an actress, Meghan can perform brilliantly, while Kate has battled nerves in the past when speaking in public.
‘She knows they’ll be put side by side all the time, and she’s not looking forward to it. It’s not as if Meghan is younger, either – she’s actually a year older!’ said the source.
Regardless, Meghan is going to seem like a bright young thing, while Kate is a mother approaching middle age.
When Kate’s third baby is born, it will mean Harry slips down to sixth in line to the throne. For him and his partner, that means more freedom – something Kate can only dream of now.
The new couple will be under scrutiny, but not as much as William and Kate, who are now expected to step up as king and queen-inwaiting behind Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla.
Meanwhile, veteran royal reporter Phil Dampier, who was in Toronto recently when Meghan turned up handin-hand with Harry to the Invictus Games, says it felt like a historic, exciting moment.
Phil feels that, as the couple made their first joint appearance at an official event, and, in addition, Scotland Yard personnel are now protecting Meghan, marriage is a case of not if, but when.
‘ What struck me was how happy and relaxed they looked, and I imagine Kate would envy that,’ he revealed.
‘Sometimes, Kate looks uncomfortable in the spotlight, but Meghan will take to it like a duck to water. She’s a born actress – that will help with her royal duties. Harry and Meghan will be huge worldwide, so I can see Will and Kate overshadowed for a couple of years.
‘The best thing for Kate to do is to regard Meghan as an ally who will take some of the pressure off her.’
Not being able to take her son George, four, to school must also upset Kate, though William, it seems, has been fantastically supportive.
Feeling ill, maybe suffering a touch of ‘mother’s guilt’, and envy at another beautiful woman taking the limelight… you can see why Kate might be desperate to regain her mojo.
‘Kate looks uncomfortable in the spotlight, but Meghan will take to it like a duck to water’