10 Duchesses Kate and Meghan
The royal sisters-in-law reunite after 70 days apart
M EGHAN, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX, and her husband, Prince Harry, were bound by royal duty to join Duchess of Cambridge Kate and her husband, Prince William, on March 5 for a morning reception at Buckingham Palace. The event marked the forthcoming 50th anniversary of Prince Charles’ investiture (on July 1), when he was formally made the Prince of Wales, but for royal watchers, it was also notably the first time the four young royals reunited in public since their traditional Christmas church outing on December 25.
After meeting in January 2017, Kate and Meghan, both now 37, seemed to build a fast friendship, but rumours of a growing rift between the two had begun to plague the royal family by November 2018. “If you bring two independent-minded women from the real world into the royal world, they are going to want to have an impact,” a palace insider tells WHO. “They are very different characters.”
During their first joint royal engagement, “Making a Difference Together,” in February last year, Harry, 34, spoke on the foursome’s close relationship: “It’s really good that we’ve got four different personalities,” he said. “Working as a family does have its challenges. Of course it does … But we’re stuck together for the rest of our lives.” Added Meghan, “Togetherness at its finest.”
While a source tells WHO that talk of a feud between the brothers and their wives has been “overblown”, Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell claimed in UK’S The Sun that Meghan’s extravagant baby shower in New York on February 20 caused tension between the couples. “William has spent years working with the press to give them what they want, but also gets what he wants in return – privacy,” he wrote in a February 22 opinion piece. “Meghan is doing exactly what he doesn’t – courting attention all for her and her baby.”
Still, while some took Kate’s absence from the star-studded soiree – held at New York’s Mark Hotel with guests including Amal Clooney and Serena Williams – as a sign of a continuing rift, in fact, “her sister-in-law will host another bash in her honour in the United Kingdom,” a source tells Us Weekly. “There is still going to be some sort of private babycentric event for Meghan’s UK people, and Kate will host. Her glam people and other relatives will be there. Not sure if it’s a total baby ‘shower,’ but you could probably call it that.”
Indeed, after spending Christmas together at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England, the sisters-in-law managed to work through their issues. “Being under the same roof meant that they couldn’t avoid each other,” says an Us Weekly source.
The impending arrival of Meghan’s baby is set to solidify the family. “It’s such a special time to have little kiddies,” gushed Kate to well-wishers in November. “And a cousin for George and Charlotte as well, and Louis, so it’ll be really special.”
On February 28, Kate admitted she’s feeling “broody” as she met a 5-month-old baby during her and Prince William’s tour of Northern Ireland. Kate couldn’t resist going up to little James Barr, telling his dad, Alan Barr, “He’s gorgeous. It makes me feel broody.” Alan boldly asked Kate: “Baby No. 4?” Kate replied with a laugh: “I think William would be a little worried.”
For now, a niece or nephew will have to suffice. As the Sussexes make their move from Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage later this month,“the move will be the best thing for all of them”, says a friend. “Like Meghan and Kate, Harry and William have totally different roles. But the brothers will always come together because they are Diana’s sons.” Likewise, Kate and Meghan, “are two women under serious amounts of pressure, stress and under a huge spotlight that no-one can relate to,” says the source. “They will always have a bond that no-one can break.” •