Meghan’s plot to ‘out-common’ Kate
The Duchess is keen to win over the public
After a year of hellish headlines about royal rivalries, family feuds and private planes, who could blame Meghan Markle for wanting to change things up? Royal insiders say the Duchess of Sussex is taking her public image into her own hands, demanding a meeting with her husband Prince Harry, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton, to discuss putting their toxic rift behind them and working together to revamp their out-of-touch reputations.
“Meghan’s calling a family summit,” says an insider close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who married last year and welcomed baby Archie in May. “She wants to put any awkwardness behind them. She’s sent messages to everyone, asking for a date in the
diary to sit down. She is convinced it’s the only way to get the public back on-side, and that it will be much more damaging to let things continue to fester.”
But after a full year of tension between the royal brothers and their wives, Kate and Wills are not feeling particularly co-operative. “They say it’s too little, too late,” says the source close to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are parents to George, Charlotte and Louis. “They have no interest in hearing what Meghan’s got to say, and feel like she’s caused enough trouble as it is. William, in particular, has taken issue with the fact that his sister-in-law doesn’t seem to understand the hierarchy of the monarchy – he doesn’t take orders from Meghan.”
When it comes to PR, it hasn’t been the best year for Meghan, 38, and Harry, 34. As well as rumours of tension in the palace and embarrassing tell-all interviews from the former Suits star’s estranged family, more recent criticisms have focused on their jet-set lifestyle. As heat reported, the climate change campaigners were criticised when pictures showed them taking their fourth private jet in 11 days – causing outrage from environmentalists (and Piers Morgan), who labelled them“hypocrites”. And our insider says the couple are
desperate to re-establish their down-toearth reputation. “Meghan is determined to sort out their image,” says a source close to the pair, who were spotted visiting a local village pub in
‘Meghan is determined to sort out their public image’
Berkshire last week, enjoying a £15 roast. “Meghan’s been very upset about the recent criticism, and she’s now gone into PR overdrive. She wants to be seen as normal, and to ensure she ‘out-commons’ Kate. She knows they need the public back onside and will do whatever it takes.” n