MEGHAN Markle and Kate Middleton “struggled to move past distant politeness”, according to an explosive new royal biography.
The authors of Finding Freedom say the pair had a “cordial but distant rapport” throughout Meghan‘s two years as a senior royal.
Appearing in a Times serialisation, the extract explains: “The two duchesses’ relationship had struggled to move past the distant politeness of when they first met.
“Their cordial but distant rapport was apparent when the pair appeared alongside each other at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day the previous summer.
“While the doting mothers were photographed next to each other with their children, the two appeared to barely exchange a word.”
According to the biographers, the tension between Kate and Meghan was really an offshoot of the conflict between Harry and the institution.
And things came to a head during one of the Sussexes’ final engagements, a Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey, which the book claims confirmed the decision to step down as senior royals was the right one.
Of the service, the writers said: “Although Meghan tried to make eye contact with Kate, the duchess barely acknowledged her.”
Body language expert Judi James previously told Fabulous things had turned “awkward” between the sisters-in-law.
Writing in 2018, she revealed cracks first started to show on the Trooping the Colour balcony in June, when Meghan touched her hair, “signalling awkwardness”.
Just a month later, the pair exhibited a “veneer of friendliness” when they went to Wimbledon together.
Sensational claims made in Finding Freedom include:
- Meghan and Harry felt “cut adrift” and were frustrated at Prince William and Kate Middleton getting the ‘plum’ jobs
- The former actress moaned she had given up her life for the Royal Family
- Prince Harry compared fronting up to the royal institution to being in front of a firing squad
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were frustrated the Queen would not meet them earlier to discuss their demands
Judi said: “Although there were clearly several displays of what seemed to be moments of genuine closeness and growing friendship at Wimbledon, with the head closeness, giggling together and signals of confiding, much of that evaporates when they stand to applaud.
“A spatial distance suggests rather different approaches and personalities.”
By October, Judi felt Meghan looked “colder” and “rigid” at public family events, showing she felt uncomfortable.
