What rift? Meghan and Kate all smiles for Queen
THE Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Sussex were all smiles for the cameras at Buckingham Palace yesterday in spite of strained family relations at home.
Kate and Meghan put on their game faces when they joined their in-laws at the Queen’s traditional pre-Christmas party.
There were cheers from fans as pregnant Meghan, 37, was driven into the palace by Harry, 34.
William and Kate, both 36, arrived around 15 minutes later with their children and Spanish nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo in the back.
Kate, in a pink dress, smiled and waved enthusiastically at the crowd outside the front of the palace.
Five-year-old Prince George looked thoughtful while Princess Charlotte, three, peered out of the car window.
It was not possible to see if their eight-month-old brother, Prince Louis, was in the car.
Rift
It comes amid a continuing rift with her father, Thomas Markle, who went on television on Monday to appeal for her to make contact.
At least 40 members of the extended family were thought to have attended the lunch.
One of the first arrivals was Prince Philip, 97, who was driven in from Windsor Castle, but the Duchess of Cornwall was absent and had to cancel an official engagement at last night’s London International Horse Show at Olympia because she was suffering from a heavy cold.
Charles, 70, arrived alone. Others at the family gathering included Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Peter Phillips’ wife Autumn, Mike and Zara Tindall, the Duke of York and Princess Beatrice. Princess Michael of Kent, who caused outrage last year by wearing a Blackamoor brooch to Meghan’s first family party, arrived smiling with her husband Prince Michael of Kent.
Guests
The Queen’s other cousins, including the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra, were also among the guests along with Lord Frederick Windsor and his wife, actress Sophie Winkleman. Their daughter Maud is at school with Prince George.