New insights have emerged about the early days of the relationship between the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex, revealing a "touching" reason behind Kate Middleton's initial hesitation to meet Meghan Markle.
The Protective 'Big Sister' Instinct
According to royal author Christopher Andersen, Kate, who was once incredibly close to Prince Harry, acted with a protective instinct. In his book, Brothers And Wives, Andersen quotes a friend of Kate's who explained the Princess's mindset. "She's always been a substitute big sister to Harry, watching out for him and making certain no one takes advantage. I think she was a little frightened by what she was reading," the friend stated. This protective nature reportedly led Kate to repeatedly side-step early invitations for an introduction.
Prince William also shared concerns about the rapid pace of Harry and Meghan's romance. Andersen writes that "William worried aloud that things were moving too fast." The author further noted that Meghan had secured a level of influence over Harry that was unprecedented, leaving the future King and others in the family feeling uneasy.
Clashing Narratives of the First Meeting
When the meeting finally did occur, accounts of the event have varied significantly. In their 2017 engagement interview, both Harry and Meghan painted a positive picture. Harry claimed, "William was longing to meet her, and so was Catherine," with Meghan adding that Kate had been "wonderful."
However, a different story was told in the couple's Netflix documentary. Meghan described the encounter as "jarring," recalling she was in ripped jeans and barefoot when the Cambridges arrived for dinner. "I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits," she reflected, highlighting a cultural clash in formality.
In his memoir, Spare, Harry also recalled the notable difference in attire but initially thought it was "no big deal." He wrote of the evening, "Meg: ripped jeans, barefoot. Kate: done up to the nines."
A Rift Formed 'From the Get-Go'
The underlying tensions reportedly surfaced in other incidents. Harry recounted a disagreement over bridesmaid dresses before his wedding that left Meghan in tears and noted that Kate "grimaced" when Meghan borrowed her lip gloss. Harry speculated that Kate may have felt "on edge" about being compared to the new, glamorous American addition to the family.
In a January 2023 interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Harry confirmed the difficult start, admitting William and Kate didn't get on with Meghan "from the get-go." He suggested stereotyping played a major role, citing her identity as an "American actress, divorced, biracial" as factors that created a barrier. Harry implied that his family's consumption of British tabloid media shaped their perceptions, causing them to live in a "tabloid bubble rather than the actual reality."
The revelations from Andersen's book and Harry's own accounts provide a clearer, though complex, picture of the foundational cracks in a relationship that has since devolved into a very public and profound royal rift.
