20 Times Kate Middleton & Meghan Markle’s Feud Reminded Us of Fights With Our In-Laws
Almost from the very beginning of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's relationship, there was drama. Despite the various public appearances they made, during which they smiled nice for the cameras and seemed chatty with each other, it's looking more and more as if things between Meghan and Kate were a whole lot less sunshine and rainbows than they appeared. Although we may never know exactly why things didn't get off on the right foot for the duchesses, at this point it's pretty clear that even though they've tolerated each other for years, they've never been close and likely never will be.
To be honest, we totally get it. Feuds between in-laws usually happen because there are just some personalities that simply don't mesh well, and nothing can be said or done to change that. Just because someone becomes family doesn't mean they suddenly become more likable or pleasant to be around, and that's why so many families — including the royals — end up with feuding members.
As far as Meghan and Kate, those rumors of a feud that cropped up early on have never quite faded away, and there seems to be fresh fuel added to the fire on the regular, even though Meg and Prince Harry have put thousands of miles between themselves and the rest of the royal family. Sound familiar? We thought so, too. There are really so many ways the feud between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle remind us of fights with our own in-laws. See what we mean ...
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
From the First Moment
Although Meghan and Kate's first meeting in 2017 reportedly went well, with Meghan even bringing Kate a birthday gift, we all know what that first meeting with a potential in-law is like. No one wants to be judged, but just like the rest of the royal family, we're sure Kate couldn't help sizing up Meghan.
Kate Could Not Care Less
Kate is known to be quite a guarded person, and it seems that set the tone for her and Meghan's relationship right from the outset. "[Kate] had seemingly not shown much interest in finding out who this woman was who had made her brother-in-law so happy," a line in the controversial book, Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, read.
Kate Cautioned Harry
Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, are quite close, so we wouldn't be surprised if Harry told Meghan that his sister-in-law Kate warned him how difficult it could be for his and Meghan's lifestyles to mesh. Like any in-law situation, that likely wouldn't have gone over very well. Just imagine!
Public Validation
Though it's not clear what went on behind closed doors, it likely made Meghan feel pretty good when Kate publicly congratulated her and Harry on their engagement. That little spark of hope when we think the tides are turning with an in-law sometimes means an awful lot.
Friends? Not So Much
For a time, people believed that Meghan and Kate were actually becoming great friends. There was even a report that they were getting together regularly while Meghan and Harry were engaged to bond and talk about royal life. As time has gone on, though, it looks more and more like those claims may not have been accurate. We all have that in-law who exaggerates.
Wedding Woes
Anyone who has planned a wedding and dealt with in-laws while doing so can attest to how quickly drama can surface. Although at the time people claimed Meghan made Kate cry while she and Harry were planning their wedding, years later, it's been revealed that it was actually Kate who made Meghan cry. It was something related to the flower girl dress Meghan chose for Kate's daughter, Princess Charlotte. Sounds about right.
Meghan May Be Too Nice
The royals, of course, must maintain decorum, but had most of us been in Meghan's position, those pre-wedding tears would have quickly changed to all-out anger and resentment toward Kate. Kate did reportedly apologize, but it's hard for any relationship to recover after that kind of pettiness.
Keeping Up Appearances
Meghan and Kate were expected to keep up appearances publicly regardless of what they were going through with each other privately. For the most part, they were all smiles whenever they were seen together in public prior to Meghan and Harry stepping down from their royal duties. Most of us aren't strangers to having to grin and bear it when it comes to our in-laws.
Secret Plans
Sorry, not sorry! Harry and Meghan privately making plans to change things and step down from their royal duties and move to the United States is like the big-scale version of sneaking seasonings into the in-laws' food. It must have been such a relief to Meghan to know that she had an escape plan from her awkward relationship with Kate.
Meghan at the End
Everything changed when Meghan told Harry they had to peace out from royal life to protect their own mental health. Although there was definitely more at play, her seemingly ongoing feud with Kate — and all of the media drama surrounding it — undoubtedly contributed to Meghan's need to flee. She had to have taken a huge sigh of relief when she knew they were leaving.
Oh, she heard that?
When Harry and Meghan moved and eventually sat down with Oprah for that infamous interview, it certainly didn't help matters. Meghan told the world about some negative experiences she had with Kate, including the flower girl dress incident, and Kate was apparently not happy at all. In-laws always have a way of finding out things that are said in confidence, but this one was inevitable, especially because it had been reported earlier that Meghan made Kate cry.
Wait, Were They Watching?
The way that Harry and Meghan dropped bombshells during that Oprah interview, it seemed like they had no inkling of an idea that their royal relatives might be tuning in. They were that raw. It kind of felt like when our in-laws talk smack, not realizing what we already know, and shady things start to make more sense.
Kate's Concerns
OK, OK. Anyone would be angry if their sister-in-law threw them under the bus the way Meghan seemed to during the Oprah interview. Kate's feelings were probably justified, and we can only imagine she had a good riddance moment when it all hit the fan in the aftermath of the interview.
Mutual Feelings
At this point, Meghan and Kate are likely feeling the same way about each other. Meg may have given their relationship the old college try — at least one sister-in-law always has to — but both of them are probably pretty clear on the fact that they're never going to be the besties the public once dreamed they would be.
Unbothered
At some point in 2020, it was reported that Meg and Kate might have been open to making amends and that being in isolation had made them realize that their squabbles weren't as significant as they once seemed. However, when the Oprah interview came out, it became abundantly clear that wasn't the case. Meg is so over it, and we totally know the feeling.
Sweet Freedom
Meghan and Harry kept quiet for so long after they left the UK that people were left to wonder exactly what was going on between them. But the Oprah interview let us all know pretty clearly that they are embracing their newfound freedom. It's like when regular people move away from their in-laws and finally start living their own lives.
Kate Wants Her Turn
Apparently, Kate is itching for her turn to speak out and defend herself now that Meghan has broken protocol and spoken out against her royal in-laws publicly.
A source recently told Australian magazine New Idea that they have "never seen Kate so angry" and that she wants to do her own interview. It's like when there's a fight amongst the in-laws and someone turns to grandma to make their case.
We All Need a Break Sometimes
Although Prince Harry and Prince William are reportedly not on the best terms either, they've talked when necessary. However, we have yet to hear any reports that Meg and Kate have spoken since Meghan and Harry hopped the pond. It seems the two really needed a break from each other. It's probably a good idea for anyone with annoying in-laws to do the same every once in a while.
No Such Luck
It's now been over a year since Meg at least geographically escaped her feud with her sister-in-law, and although Harry's returned to the UK for his grandfather's funeral, Meghan didn't make the trip. She's pregnant with her second child, so she can't even have a drink to help her deal with her in-laws!
We all know how difficult it can be to socialize with in-laws, so we don't blame her for not wanting to go. She says her doctor advised her against travel, so she gets a free pass.
Always the Bad Guy
Meghan still always gets the short end of the stick, which probably puts an even worse strain on her relationship with Kate, who is ever the media darling. She's definitely the granddaughter-/sister-in-law who was driven to a breaking point before lashing out — however civilly — and still ended up looking like the bad guy compared to her sister-in-law.