Royal Rift: A New Book Claims Kate Middleton Foresaw Meghan Markle’s Departure
A new book is shedding light on the complex and, at times, strained relationship between Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. According to author Russell Myers, writing in his recently released book, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, the Princess of Wales reportedly foresaw that Meghan would eventually step back from royal life.
Myers suggests that Catherine, often seen as a calming influence, found herself playing the role of mediator between her husband, Prince William, and his brother, Prince Harry, during their earlier disagreements. “Catherine, who had so long been a voice of reason in the brothers’ previous squabbles, decided she could do no more to bring them together,” the author claims. This dynamic reportedly became increasingly challenging as the years went on.
The departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from their roles as senior royals in 2020, often referred to as “leaving The Firm,” marked a significant shift in the royal landscape. This move, which saw the couple relocate to Montecito, California, appears to have been anticipated, at least in part, by the Princess of Wales.
Post-Wedding Tensions: The “Fab Four” Era Fades
Initially, Catherine reportedly viewed the tensions between William and Harry as stemming from immaturity or stubbornness on both sides. However, a shift in perspective occurred following Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding. Myers posits that the “attitude towards palace staff” exhibited by the Sussexes set the two couples on “entirely different courses.”
“Following Harry and Meghan’s wedding, things were undeniably different. William and Catherine felt the Sussexes had an agenda,” the book asserts. This perception, according to Myers, suggested that the future King and Queen believed the couple’s actions went beyond mere difficult behaviour.
The initial period following the Sussexes’ marriage, where the four royals were dubbed the “Fab Four,” aiming to represent a new, modern face of the monarchy, began to unravel. The dream of a united front promoting the monarchy into a new era started to fray.
A Toxic Dynamic and a Predicted Parting
The relationship between Catherine and Meghan is described as having become “toxic.” The book alleges that Meghan was “being bullish, and Kate found her abrasive.” This assessment, from the Princess of Wales’s perspective, led her to a significant conclusion.
According to Myers, the Princess of Wales “saw the inevitability of the parting of ways, although perhaps not to the extent of what eventually happened.” This suggests that while Catherine may have foreseen a divergence, the scale of Meghan and Harry’s ultimate departure was perhaps beyond her initial expectations.
The Flower Girl Fiasco: A Glimpse into Early Friction
Further details from Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, are also brought into focus, highlighting an early point of contention. The book recounts an alleged incident during the wedding preparations for Harry and Meghan’s nuptials, where Kate reportedly made Meghan cry. The disagreement centred on Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress.
Harry’s memoir details how Kate texted Meghan about a “problem” with the dress. While Meghan suggested bringing the dress to a tailor for adjustments, Kate was reportedly unhappy with this solution, which ultimately “hurt Meghan’s feelings.” This incident, though seemingly minor, is presented as an early indicator of the underlying friction between the two women.
The period of the “Fab Four” represented a hopeful vision for the future of the Royal Family, a united front of the younger generation. However, as Myers’s book suggests, underlying tensions and differing approaches to royal duties and staff interactions ultimately contributed to the breakdown of this perceived unity, culminating in the Sussexes’ decision to forge their own path away from the core of The Firm. The narrative presented in William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story offers a compelling, albeit perhaps contentious, look at the dynamics that shaped these significant royal departures.
