The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has ignited fresh speculation of a royal rift after scheduling her new Netflix holiday special for a date that directly competes with Princess Kate's cherished annual Christmas event.
A Festive Scheduling Conflict
Just days after her husband, Prince Harry, faced criticism for the timing of his own announcement, Meghan has made a move that royal watchers suggest could be seen as a snub to the Princess of Wales. The Duchess took to her Instagram account to reveal that a festive episode of her show, With Love, Meghan, titled 'Holiday Celebration', will premiere on Netflix on December 3.
"Embrace traditions and make new ones this holiday season," she wrote in the post, which also featured a teaser image of her in a green dress, surveying a lavishly decorated dinner table.
The Royal Calendar Clash
While Meghan's fans are eagerly anticipating the special, the timing has raised eyebrows due to a potential overlap with the royal family's schedule. It was confirmed in September that Princess Kate will host her 'Together at Christmas' carol service once again this year.
This heartwarming event, which highlights community heroes and is traditionally held at Westminster Abbey, typically takes place in early December. Although Kensington Palace has not yet announced the official date for this year's service, last year's event was held on Friday, December 6, placing it squarely in the same week as Meghan's Netflix debut.
A History of Strained Relations
This latest incident underscores the well-documented lack of closeness between the two women. The gulf between the Sussexes and the Prince and Princess of Wales appears as wide as ever, despite Prince Harry's reported attempts at reconciliation with his family.
In the past, both Harry and Meghan have publicly commented on their early interactions with William and Kate. In the Harry & Meghan docuseries, Meghan recalled her first meeting with the couple, noting the cultural differences. "I was a hugger. I didn't realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits," she revealed, adding that she quickly understood the formality of royal life continued even behind closed doors.
Prince Harry provided further insight in his memoir, Spare, describing a dinner where Meghan, dressed in ripped jeans and barefoot, offered a sneezing Prince William homeopathic remedies, while Kate was "done up to the nines." He noted the "marked difference in how the two women dressed" was apparent to both of them.
With this new scheduling conflict, it seems the personal and calendar divisions between the two couples are set to continue, casting a shadow over the festive season.
