Kate Middleton's Ex-Assistant 'Unfollows' Meghan — Reignites Feud Rumors Between Sister-In-Laws
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle weren't particularly close behind closed doors, despite their best efforts to appear united at public events. The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex had multiple misunderstandings and arguments, as revealed in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare. While their relationship has reportedly remained strained since Markle’s royal exit in 2020, Middleton’s former personal assistant, Natasha Archer, is said to have recently unfollowed the Duchess on Instagram. Her public social media snub has reignited long-standing rumors of a rift between the two royal ladies.
Archer’s public snub came just days after it was announced that she would be stepping down from her role at Kensington Palace to launch a private luxury consultancy. As reported by People magazine, Archer, who recently made her Instagram account public, also unfollowed Markle’s lifestyle brand, As Ever. The royal staffer, who had previously followed Markle’s longtime friends Daniel Martin, Delfina Blaquier, and Heather Dorak, appeared to have unfollowed them as of July 17. However, she continues to follow Prince William, her former boss, Middleton, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.
Eagle-eyed royal fans quickly picked up on the reported changes in Archer's social media, fueling old rumors about a rift between Middleton and her sister-in-law. On X, a netizen commented, "Makes sense. If Natasha’s loyalty was to Kate, it makes sense that Natasha wouldn’t become too pally with Meghan. Meghan needed to find her own allies. Echoing the sentiment, another penned, "Well, she worked for the couple for 15 years. Did she really expect anything more after following orders/participating in and witnessing the campaign to destroy her boss's brother & sister-in-law? I mean, what is happening now was not at all surprising, but expected!" Chiming in, another opined, "It speaks volumes that she helped represent Kate and had so few followers to begin with. Wow."
News of Archer unfollowing Markle and her friends reasserts the long-standing rumors of a feud between the Princess and the Duchess. Through her swipe, Archer seems to allegedly showcase whose side she's on as the sister-in-laws continue to give each other the silent treatment. During her royal service of more than a decade, the stylist played a key role in transforming Middleton's public style from girl-next-door charm to a regal look befitting a future queen. She curated the Princess’s wardrobe for major international tours, numerous royal engagements, and iconic moments such as the hospital photo call after the birth of Prince George.
As for Middleton and Markle’s feud, Harry detailed several arguments between the two in Spare, particularly during Markle’s early days within the royal fold. As per Harper’s Bazaar, in one excerpt, the Duke recounted an incident where Markle suggested that Middleton had 'baby brain' after the Princess of Wales forgot something minor. He wrote that Middleton demanded an apology, allegedly saying, "You talked about my hormones. We are not close enough for you to talk about my hormones!" Another clash involved an argument over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress fitting, during which Middleton allegedly made Markle cry over the improper measurements of her daughter’s dress before her 2018 wedding to Harry.
The Duke of Sussex also alleged in his memoir that Middleton felt 'on edge' around Markle. He referenced their joint appearance at the Royal Foundation Forum in 2018, where he claimed the press had 'sensed' something was off and suggested it was 'something bigger.' According to the Royal Insider, Harry speculated that Middleton was uneasy at the time, adding that she was "going to be compared to, and forced to compete with, Meg." Despite public displays of unity following the Sussexes’ royal exit, such as their joint walkabout after Queen Elizabeth’s passing, Middleton and Markle have largely led separate lives and have reportedly continued to give each other the cold shoulder.