Appearances can be deceptive. Even when they seem clear to the world. In recent years, the relationships between Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have become fraught. It seemed a marked difference to the way in which they had seemed previously, through their work as the so-called Fab Four. It also seems sad, considering the moments where it felt like Meghan and Kate had become close, like the day they spent together at Wimbledon in 2019. Now, however, it's clear that this laughter and fun was not indicative of a blossoming friendship at all.
Overnight, Meghan's sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in the US ahead of the UK broadcast. There were many, many revelations - some of them can be exploredhere - but one thing that was discussed in-depth was her relationship with her sister-in-law.
Oprah asked Meghan if she felt 'welcomed by everyone' when she joined the family. 'Did you feel welcomed by everyone?', she began. 'It seemed like you and Kate at the Wimbledon game where you were going to watch a friend play tennis — was it what it looked like? You are two sisters-in-law out there in the world, getting to know each other. Was she helping you, embracing you into the family, helping you adjust?’
'I think everyone welcomed me,' Meghan answered affirmatively. 'And yeah I know you say "was it what it looked like?" my understanding and my experience for the past four years is that it’s nothing like what it looks like. It’s nothing like what it looks like.'
The implication is clear: Meghan's relationship with Kate was not all smiles. She does, however, concede that Kate is 'a good person.'
The whole suggestion of a feud seems to centre around a moment in 2018 which, reports say, saw Meghan make Kate cry. 'The reverse happened,' Meghan said. 'A few days before the wedding, she was upset about something - yes, the issue was correct, about the flower girl dresses - and it made me cry and it really hurt my feelings.
The issue, Meghan seems to confirm, concerned whether or not Princess Charlotte would wear tights. There was also talk that the length of the dress was in question. That said, Meghan and Kate soon considered this to be resolved. 'She apologised,' Meghan revealed. 'And she brought me flowers and a note apologising, which is what I would do if I knew that I hurt someone... to just take accountability for it."
Nevertheless, talk of a rift continued. 'Everyone in the institution knew it wasn't true,' Meghan despaired.
'So why didn't somebody just say that?' Oprah asked.
'That's a good question', Meghan answers. 'They really seem to want a narrative of a hero and a villain. She's a good person. So much of what I have seen play out is this idea of polarity where if you love me, you don't have to hate her. And if you love her, you don't need to hate me.'
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