Kate Middleton No Longer Believed She Could Trust Harry and Meghan, Royal Author Claims
The fracture within the Royal Family appears deeper than ever as new disclosures emerge regarding Princess Kate’s stance on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Penned by royal editor Russell Myers, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story suggests that the Princess of Wales formed a firm conclusion early on that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex simply couldn’t be trusted. As per Myers, Kate adopted a stance of 'the utmost of caution' when dealing with Harry and Markle following a series of high-profile betrayals.
The fallout hit full force following the Sussexes' famous interview with Oprah Winfrey. The royal editor suggests that the accusations didn’t just cause a PR headache for the monarchy but also created a fundamental shift in how the Prince and Princess of Wales saw their own family. “In the aftermath of Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview, the Sussexes’ version of how the family and the institution had conspired against them, had created a siege mentality in the palace,” Myers observed, also noting that the Duke’s presence at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022 only ensured these emotions stayed fresh in everyone’s mind.
While the public focused on the broader allegations, the ‘wounds’ were deeply personal for the future King and Queen. Prince William, Myers argued, was allegedly ‘aggrieved’ by Harry’s claim that his brother was ‘trapped’ in the royal system, while Kate felt a profound sense of betrayal over the airing of private grievances. A central pillar of the distrust stems from the now-infamous ‘flower girl dress’ incident. During the Oprah interview, the Duchess of Sussex claimed that Kate had made her cry over the fitting of Princess Charlotte’s dress. While earlier reports suggested that the Princess of Wales was the one who cried, Markle told Winfrey the opposite, claiming it was actually the other way around.
Despite the media frenzy, the Duchess suggested there was no bad blood between the two as Kate eventually owned up and apologized by bringing her flowers and a note. However, for the Princess of Wales, Myers noted, the issue wasn’t just about who cried, but was about the breach of confidence. “It compounded, in Catherine’s mind, a key difference between her and Meghan, who she no longer believed she could trust,” Myers penned. The forthcoming book also suggests that this wasn’t just a temporary spat. Instead, it brought a permanent recalibration of the relationship.
Myers quoted a source in his book who suggested that Kate became the architect of a new, guarded approach toward the California-based couple. “She (Catherine) was very clear that any engagement with Harry or Meghan should be with the utmost of caution because it was obvious that they weren’t to be trusted,” the royal editor wrote.
As the Royal Family continues to navigate this public divide, it seems Princess Kate’s skepticism has become the new normal for the Wales household. With the book set for release on February 26, the revelations suggest that while the Sussexes spoke their truth, Kate was busy deciding exactly where she stood.