Princess Catherine is said to have found a new royal ally as tensions within the Royal Family continue over their rift with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Royal insiders claim the Princess of Wales has confided in a friend during this unresolved family dispute.
Newfound Friendship
The Princess has reportedly quietly found an ally in Harriet Phillips, the new wife of Peter Phillips. Peter, the son of Princess Anne, married Harriet, a 45-year-old NHS pediatric nurse, at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, last weekend. Senior members of the Royal Family attended, including the Prince and Princess of Wales. However, the Sussexes were not invited, as Prince Harry and Peter Phillips have reportedly grown apart in recent years.
According to the International Business Times, Catherine has grown close to Harriet, viewing her as a calm and grounded presence amid high family tensions. A royal source explained: "Kate's delighted to have Harriet in the family; they click naturally. There's no awkwardness; they genuinely enjoy each other's company. Kate and Harriet have found each other at exactly the right time, and everyone around them can see how valuable that relationship could become."
The source added: "Kate has never really had a female ally inside the family who shares her outlook on life. Harriet changes that. They have that same understated quality. Neither feels the need to dominate a room. Kate sees somebody who has worked hard, faced challenges and remained incredibly grounded."
Background of the Rift
The poor relationship between Prince William and Princess Catherine, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, began early in the latter's relationship. William expressed concerns about the relationship moving too quickly, and Harry took his advice to ensure Meghan was ready for royal life due to a lack of personal support. The Netflix series Harry & Meghan recalls the couples' first meeting, where Meghan was reportedly barefoot and wearing ripped jeans, clashing with royal formality.
Catherine and Meghan were involved in a dispute over Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress before the Sussexes' 2018 wedding, leaving both women deeply upset. Harry and Meghan stepped back from active royal duties in 2020. In his memoir Spare, Harry alleged physical altercations between the brothers, which William saw as a breach of family trust.
The princes reportedly last spoke at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022. Some royal commentators suggest that Peter Phillips' loyalty to William may have influenced his decision to exclude Harry and Meghan from his wedding, as he did not want friction between the brothers to impact the day.
