When Harry and Meghan decided to step away from their roles in the royal family, it was anticipated to bring an end to the media frenzy surrounding them.
However, the aftermath proved to be quite the opposite, with their actions continuing to dominate headlines and causing ripples within the royal family dynamics.
Prince William, Kate Middleton, King Charles, and Queen Camilla’s relationship with the Sussexes has long been down the drain, and in many cases, making amends seems impossible. But even though this might have had a very negative impact on their relation with Harry and Meghan, a royal expert claims it could have had a very positive effect on the family members who remained on duty.
In February 2021, Harry and Meghan convened with TV host Oprah in the serene garden of her residence in Montecito, California. In this intimate setting, they candidly shared their perspective on their Royal Family experiences, profoundly altering the course of events.
Harry & Meghan – attacks on royal family
Following their revealing interview, Harry and Meghan found themselves effectively ostracized from the Royal Family, with the royals distancing themselves from the couple.
During the interview, Meghan openly disclosed that then-Prince Charles had declined to respond to Harry’s attempts to reach out to him.
The most startling revelation came when Meghan disclosed discussions within the palace regarding concerns about Archie’s potential skin tone.
Oprah inquired, “They were concerned that if he were too brown, that that would be a problem?”
To which Meghan responded, “I wasn’t able to follow up with why. But that—if that’s the assumption you’re making, I think that feels like a pretty safe one.”
Declining to name the individual involved, she added, “I think that would be very damaging to them.”
Subsequently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embarked on various ventures, including a Netflix series that touched on aspects of royal life.
On the show, Meghan Markle recalled her first meeting with Kate Middleton — and it wasn’t the most successful.
“When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans, and I was barefoot,” Meghan recalled.
“I was a hugger. I’ve always been a hugger, I didn’t realize that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.”
She continued, “I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go ‘You can relax now’, but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me.”
However, it was Harry’s book, “Spare,” that garnered significant attention.
In the book, Prince Harry revealed details about the strained relationship between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. Their interactions seemed far from amicable, with the two never developing a friendship.
Recalling their initial meeting, Meghan described it as awkward, noting the cultural differences in social norms between herself and the royals.
Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, known for their close ties to Harry and Meghan, suggested in their book “Finding Freedom” that Kate and Meghan’s relationship didn’t progress beyond the surface, attributing it to a lack of familiarity rather than outright hostility.
Furthermore, the authors asserted that Kate didn’t extend the expected level of warmth and guidance to Meghan, leaving her to navigate her new role within the royal family largely on her own.
Despite hoping for a closer bond with Kate, Meghan ultimately resigned herself to the situation, desiring more support during challenging times with the media rather than seeking a friendship that never fully materialized.
Then, things only worsened during the build-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
“It really hurt my feelings”
During her interview with Oprah alongside Harry, Meghan asserted that Kate Middleton had caused her to shed tears over the flower girl dresses on her wedding day, directly challenging earlier narratives portrayed in British tabloids.
“It really hurt my feelings. It was a really hard week of the wedding. And she was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologized. And she brought me flowers and a note, apologizing,” Meghan expressed.
“I think so much of what I have seen play out [in the media] 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,” she added, addressing the complexities of public perception.
In his book, “Spare,” Harry delved into further details about the incident between Kate and Meghan in 2018, unveiling a series of private texts exchanged in the days leading up to their wedding.
The exchanges revolved around Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, who was designated to wear a specific gown as a flower girl at the wedding held at St George’s Chapel on the Windsor grounds.
According to Harry, all the flower girls’ gowns were crafted as “French couture,” but none had been fitted beforehand, necessitating adjustments.
In his account, Harry described finding Meghan “sobbing on the floor” following a text conversation with Kate. He alleged that Kate had messaged Meghan, expressing dissatisfaction with Charlotte’s dress, citing it as “too big, too long, too baggy,” which had caused Charlotte to cry during a fitting at home.
Initially, Harry claimed that Kate was reluctant to meet Meghan’s tailor at Kensington Palace to rectify the issue. Ultimately, all the bridesmaids’ gowns had to undergo remaking to ensure a proper fit.
Prince William “has no intention” of apologizing to Harry
In Harry’s book, Kate Middleton wasn’t the sole target of criticism. In a passage, the Duke likened her behavior towards him to that of “wicked stepmothers in storybooks.” Additionally, he condemned his father, King Charles, for failing to offer him even a hug following the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Numerous anecdotes emerged, with the royals remaining silent on the matter. Prince William also faced his fair share of reproach from his brother, resulting in a complete cessation of communication between them. Reports even suggested that William preferred to avoid being in the same vicinity as his brother altogether.
Following the release of “Spare,” tensions escalated to a “toxic stalemate,” as described by a source to the Daily Mail. The source emphasized William’s adamant refusal to apologize, expressing his fury over the treatment of his wife, the Princess of Wales. The relationship had deteriorated to such an extent that the prospect of reconciliation seemed improbable, with doubts lingering over William’s ability to even face his brother at significant events like the coronation.
The shocking revelation of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis in January left the world reeling. Concurrently, Kate Middleton underwent planned abdominal surgery, only to disclose her own battle with cancer on March 22.
Upon learning of his father’s illness, Harry promptly flew to the UK to spend time with him. Although the visit was swift, it wasn’t devoid of controversy.
Reports suggested that Prince Harry was open to a temporary return to the royal fold to support his ailing father. Their encounter during Harry’s visit reportedly included several “warm exchanges,” lasting approximately 30 minutes. However, the notion of Harry rejoining royal life was met with staunch opposition from William.
“William would not allow Harry to return”
In mid-February, Prince William and King Charles reportedly convened for several private meetings at Sandringham in Norfolk. According to a source cited by the Mirror, there was emphatically “no chance” that the future king would entertain the idea of Harry returning to royal life.
“Whatever discussions took place between William and the King remain private, but it’s abundantly clear that he [William] is resolute in his stance against Harry’s return. He believed it was ill-advised initially, and his convictions have only strengthened since,” the source asserted.
As Prince Harry briefly visited his father in the UK, a royal expert suggested that William had grown accustomed to what he perceived as Harry’s disrespectful behavior towards himself and his wife.
But how did Harry’s meeting with Charles unfold? According to a source quoted by the National Enquirer, Harry’s demeanor left Camilla “outraged,” prompting her to request his departure.
“Her Majesty was reportedly livid that Harry had flown in from his lavish California residence without obtaining palace approval – and his attitude didn’t help matters. I understand Camilla was deeply offended. She’s borne the brunt of Harry’s criticism for years and was eager to express her frustrations,” the source disclosed.
Continuing, the source stated, “Camilla has endured much, but using his father’s illness as a ‘loving son’ public relations stunt was the final straw. Following the father-son reunion, I’m told she admonished Harry, branding him a disgrace to his father, the family, and the monarchy – leaving no doubt he isn’t welcome back!”
Despite Harry and Meghan interpreting Kate Middleton and King Charles’ cancer diagnoses as a chance to mend fences with the royal institution, it appears reconciliation is not on the immediate horizon.
Royal commentator Lady C (Lady Colin Campbell) suggested that the rift between Harry and Meghan might have inadvertently drawn King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton closer together.
According to her, the four senior royals have become “almost a unit,” working in each other’s best interests as well as that of the monarchy.
“Given their decent, family-oriented nature, they strive for harmony amidst adversity, not only concerning health issues but also challenges with Harry and Meghan,” Lady C remarked.
She further asserted that King Charles is unlikely to entertain the idea of offering Harry or Meghan official roles within the royal fold, deeming it an unwise move.
Furthermore, Lady C implied that Meghan lacks the capacity for regret, contrasting her with Kate Middleton.
“Meghan isn’t predisposed to remorse, unlike Kate. Her approach is to deflect blame onto others for her missteps,” Lady C remarked on GB News.
Concluding, she suggested, “For Meghan, it wasn’t just about the position; it was about financial gain. She anticipated luxuriating in royal privileges, but reality fell short of her expectations.”
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