Sabtu, 01 Agustus 2020

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle: A timeline of their relationship - 9Honey

The relationship between the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex is once again making headlines, thanks to a soon-to-be-released royal biography.

Claims of tension and personal run-ins have plagued Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle for at least two years, though the palace has rarely addressed the claims.

Finding Freedom, a biography exploring Prince Harry and Meghan's relationship, suggests the sisters-in-law were never "at war" but merely had nothing in common and "struggled to move past distant politeness".

Kate Middleton Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle Duchess of Sussex Sandringham 2018
The relationship between Kate and Meghan is once again making headlines. (Getty)

It also claims Meghan had hoped Prince William's wife would show her "the lie of the land" as she prepared for royal life, but that "didn't happen".

Here, 9Honey looks back on Kate and Meghan's relationship and the moments (some confirmed, many merely rumoured) that have raised eyebrows along the way.

Early 2017: First meeting

Harry and Meghan began dating in mid-2016, having been set up on a blind date in London.

According to The Sun, the prince introduced his new girlfriend to Kate in January 2017, two months after Meghan met Prince William for the first time.

RELATED: 'Spellbound' and 'destined': Behind the Sussexes' whirlwind romance

Meghan pictured in 2016, just months before she met Prince Harry. (Getty)

Harry and Meghan dropped in to the Cambridges' Kensington Palace apartment, with the American actress reportedly bringing a 'dream diary' as a birthday gift for Kate.

"It went really well and Meghan was very excited about meeting her," a source said.

2017: An 'awkward' moment and words of caution

Finding Freedom says Meghan and Kate had an "awkward moment" in early 2017 when they crossed paths at Kensington Palace.

"Although both were heading out to go shopping — in the same street — Kate went in her own Range Rover," the book claims.

LISTEN: 9Honey's podcast The Windsors looks at Meghan's early days in the royal family. (Post continues.)

Another biography, Royals at War, claims Kate pulled Harry to one side not long after she met Meghan, cautioning him about the speed at which their relationship was developing.

"She gently reminded him that he was dating someone with a completely different life, past, and career and it would take time, care and attention for them to integrate," authors Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett write.

Kate's own entry to the royal family had been significantly slower; she and Prince William dated for seven years (with a three-month break) before getting engaged in 2010.

Kate Middleton and Prince Harry in 2017
Kate is said to have cautioned Harry against "rushing" into marriage in 2017. (Getty)

Finding Freedom claims it was William's 'warning' to his brother about "getting to know this girl" that triggered a breakdown in relations between the two couples.

"Though it was not necessarily her responsibility, Kate did little to bridge the divide. She was fiercely loyal to her husband and his family," authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand write.

Late 2017: The engagement

In their joint interview with the BBC after their engagement was announced, Harry and Meghan spoke glowingly of how the royals, including Kate, had welcomed Meghan.

"Catherine's been absolutely amazing, as has William as well, fantastic support," Harry said, to which Meghan added: "She's been wonderful."

Prince Harry Meghan Markle engagement interview
Meghan recalled Kate's "wonderful" support during her engagement interview. (BBC)

According to Finding Freedom, however, Meghan had hoped her future sister-in-law would fill her in on "everything an outsider to the Firm needed to know" when she started dating Harry, but "that was not how things turned out."

"Meghan was disappointed that she and Kate hadn't bonded over the position they shared, but she wasn't losing sleep over it," the book claims.

RELATED: Meghan received same 'training' Kate did to help navigate royal life, expert says

According to one source, Kate felt they didn't have much in common "other than the fact that they lived at Kensington Palace".

That said, a source told ET Kate had made an effort to "help Meghan adjust to life behind Palace walls", including guiding her on royal protocol. A source added: "Meghan often pops around to visit with Kate and the kids."

Prince Harry Meghan Markle baby Archie first Christmas with the Queen at Sandringham
Meghan joined Kate and the other royals for Christmas 2017. (Getty)

In December 2017 Meghan celebrated her first Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham; she and Harry stayed with William and Kate at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.

Early 2018: The 'fab four' and wedding build-up

February 2018 saw the Cambridges and the Sussexes join forces for their first joint royal engagement, taking part in a Royal Foundation forum. The public, loving the show of solidarity, hailed them the 'Fab Four'.

Appearances aside, various reports of tension between Kate and Meghan that surfaced in late 2018 pointed to two 'incidents' in the leadup to the Royal Wedding in May.

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton
The 'Fab Four' attended a mental health conference in London in early 2018. (Getty)

The Sun reported Meghan "spoke rudely" to a member of Kate's staff at Kensington Palace, prompting Kate to tell her it was "unacceptable" behaviour. The palace denied the claim, saying, "This never happened".

The Telegraph reported Kate was 'left in tears' following a bridesmaid dress fitting for Princess Charlotte — "feeling quite emotional" at the time as she had only recently welcomed her third child, Prince Louis.

However, Finding Freedom contests the claim, sources saying that while the children were uncooperative during the fitting, there were no tears: "Kate and Meghan were both a little stressed but professionals in the room, and there were other people there."

Mid-2018: Post-wedding

In July 2018, Kate and Meghan attended Wimbledon together, their first public appearance together without their husbands.

The two duchesses pictured at Wimbledon in 2018. (Getty)

Photos showed the sisters-in-law chatting and laughing in the Royal Box. Author Tom Quinn has claimed the pair were making jokes about being "really careful" to smile constantly "or the press will think we've fallen out".

However, it's been claimed their relationship "hadn't progressed much" since Meghan began dating Harry.

"Meghan would agree with the assessment that the duchesses were not the best of friends ... [they] just didn't know each other that well," Scobie and Durand write in Finding Freedom.

LISTEN: 9Honey's royal podcast The Windsors revisits Kate's entry into the British monarchy. (Post continues.)

The book also claims Kate sent Meghan flowers for her birthday (the year is not specified), but the Duchess of Sussex "would far rather have had Kate check in on her during the most difficult times with the press."

Sources close to the Cambridges have since contested suggestions the couple didn't make an effort with Meghan, telling the Daily Mail they "couldn't have been more welcoming".

"How can you say they weren't warm or welcoming when they hosted Meghan for Christmas, invited her into their totally private inner sanctum at Anmer Hall and did everything they could to make her feel at home? They personally cooked her favourite vegan food."

Kate Middleton social media
Friends of the Cambridges say they "couldn't have been more welcoming" to Meghan. (Getty)

Late 2018: Windsor move announced

In November 2018, Harry and Meghan — who were expecting their first child — announced they would be moving from Kensington Palace, where they lived near William and Kate, to Windsor.

The news came as reports of 'rows' between the two couples began circulating in the UK press.

RELATED: 'Royal reality check: Kate and Meghan don't have to be best friends'

Harry and Meghan spent Christmas 2018 with the royal family once again, staying this time at Sandringham.

The Cambridges and the Sussexes pictured on Christmas Day 2018. (Associated Press)

There was some social media speculation of 'tension' visible between the two couples in footage from Christmas Day.

Early 2019: 'Fab Four' part ways

In March 2019, the Sussexes and Cambridges attended the Commonwealth Day service, where Kate and Meghan greeted one another with a hug and were seen chatting ahead of the ceremony.

A source told Elle the pair had bonded during Meghan's pregnancy, claiming: "Catherine and Meghan enjoy seeing each other, and motherhood has definitely brought them closer together."

Meghan and Kate greeted one another with a hug at the Commonwealth Day service in 2019. (Getty)

However, many interpreted Harry and Meghan's decision to part ways with the Kensington Palace office and staff they shared with William and Kate in April as evidence of a "feud".

That same month, the couple also relocated to Frogmore Cottage, Windsor as they prepared to welcome their first child.

People reported the distance created by the move relieved the public pressure on the two duchesses to become "best friends".

Mid-2019: Sister-in-law summer outings

In June 2019, the Sussexes stepped away from the Royal Foundation, the charitable arm William and Harry set up together, in order to create their own foundation.

The two duchesses pictured at the polo in summer 2019. (Getty)

In July, Kate and Meghan attended the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day, cheering on their husbands from the sidelines with their children.

Naturally, royal watchers pored over the photos, reading into the royal mums' body language and expressions. Finding Freedom claims the photos illustrated their "cordial but distant rapport", observing: "The two appeared to barely exchange a word."

Royal commentator Katie Nicholl told ET the images were "quite deliberately intended to snuff out" feud rumours.

Days later, Meghan and Kate attended Wimbledon together, along with Kate's sister Pippa Middleton. The trio appeared in good spirits, and the appearance was interpreted in the press as a sign the rumoured "rift" was over.

Kate and Meghan attended Wimbledon together again in 2019. (Getty)

Late 2019: Turning point

In October, Meghan voiced her anguish about her treatment in the press in an ITV documentary. "Not many people have asked if I'm OK," she told Tom Bradby, a comment widely interpreted as a reference to the royal family.

After it aired, royal author Phil Dampier told The Express Kate was "doing her best to being everyone together and help Meghan" behind the scenes.

"I'm told she has reached out to Meghan and spoken to her on the phone. Kate feels sorry for her and knows that Meghan is struggling," he added.

Harry and Meghan's documentary reporter: 'They're being driven out'
"Not many people have asked if I'm OK," Meghan said in an ITV documentary. (ITV)

In November, Harry and Meghan announced they would be taking six weeks off from royal duties. This saw them fly to Canada, where they spent the Christmas and New Year period — away from the royals.

Early 2020: The royal exit

Harry and Meghan's bombshell announcement of their plan to step down as senior working royals came in early January.

It just so happened to come on the eve of Kate's birthday — a move that reportedly didn't go down well with Prince William. At this point, the two duchesses "couldn't [have been] further apart", a source told Us Weekly.

RELATED: Kate has lost the one royal who knows what she's going through

They wouldn't be seen in public together until Meghan and Harry flew back to the UK from Canada for their 'farewell tour' of final royal engagements, the last of which was the Commonwealth Day ceremony.

Infographic: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal split
Infographic: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal split (9Honey/Supplied)

Much was made of the duchesses' "frosty" interaction; per Finding Freedom: "Although Meghan tried to make eye contact with Kate, the duchess barely acknowledged her."

A source told Katie Nicholl: "To be honest, I think Kate has taken it all badly. She, Harry, and William were once such a happy trio. She thinks what has happened is all very sad."

Mid-2020: Across the pond

Meghan and Harry are currently living in Los Angeles with Archie, while Kate and William have been isolating at their country home, Anmer Hall, with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. It's not known if the duchesses have been in contact throughout the pandemic.

Finding Freedom has thrust their relationship back into the spotlight, though the book suggests a "rift" was never quite the truth of the situation.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 9, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Harris - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The 2020 Commonwealth Day ceremony was the last time we saw Kate and Meghan in public together. (Getty)

Katie Nicholl echoes this, telling ET there was never a "catfight" between the two duchesses, despite what some reports suggested.

"I was told there hadn't been a fallout over anything specific. I was told that they simply didn't click, that they didn't have a huge amount in common," she added.

See? Royals really are "just like us" — in that being related by marriage, or simply both being of the same gender, isn't a guarantee of a close relationship. As 9Honey's royal commentator Victoria Arbiter puts it:

"Kate and Meghan are very different women from very different backgrounds, and as such it's daft to assume that just because their husbands are brothers they have to be immediate besties."

What our sneak peeks inside the royals' homes during lockdown have revealed

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMieGh0dHBzOi8vaG9uZXkubmluZS5jb20uYXUvcm95YWxzL2thdGUtbWlkZGxldG9uLW1lZ2hhbi1tYXJrbGUtdGltZWxpbmUtcmVsYXRpb25zaGlwL2Y2MmZhMzk0LTIyMjEtNGU3Zi1hZDQ1LTYwYTJiNTI3ZTgxOdIBRGh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLm5pbmUuY29tLmF1L2FydGljbGUvZjYyZmEzOTQtMjIyMS00ZTdmLWFkNDUtNjBhMmI1MjdlODE5?oc=5

2020-08-01 21:48:00Z
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