While Palace officials continue to deny there's a growing rift between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, behind the scenes everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Princess Charlotte (who was reportedly attending a fitting for her bridesmaid dress for Meghan's wedding when words were exchanged between her mother and her now aunt) has been drawn into the drama.
Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton have been radio silent as this PR nightmare plays out, but that's not because they don't have an opinion about what's going on. According to my source, who has known the family for many years, the Middletons are none too pleased about having their daughter dragged into the stories about the growing tension unfolding behind Palace walls.
"They have always maintained a very low profile and have been quite careful about anything to do with the Royal family," said the insider. "They are distressed by the notion perpetuated by the media that Catherine is engaged in some sort of feud with the Duchess of Sussex."
The Middleton family friend continued: "Catherine is a very private, dignified person. She's not put a foot wrong since marrying Prince William. She has worked hard and knows what is expected of her within the family. When Prince Harry introduced Meghan to her, she was very welcoming. Harry and Catherine have always been very close. All of this attention has put a bit of a strain on her."
Since Kate married Prince William in 2011, her parents have remained largely out of the media spotlight. The couple, who run their own multi-million dollar internet business, Party Pieces, are close to their daughter and son-in-law and have been doting grandparents to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. They have been welcomed by the Queen at Balmoral and are always on the guest list for royal weddings and, of course, have been front and center the christenings of their grandchildren.
It seems unimaginable now, but at the time of William and Kate's engagement, there were reports in the British press that the Middletons, who first met when both were working for British Airways, were "too common" to join the royal family. "Given what's going on with Meghan's family now that seems even more ridiculous," said my source."They have always conducted themselves with the utmost dignity and discretion."
According to my reporting there may not be an actual "feud" between Kate and Meghan, but that's not to say there's a great friendship there, either. The truth is Kate and Meghan are very different people and emerging as very different royal wives. Kate is actively training to become queen consort. She never imagined a life in the public eye, but now will one day be Queen. Over time, she has grown more confident in her role. Meghan has actively sought the limelight her entire life and now finds herself with the biggest platform in the world as part of the royal family. She is having some difficulty adjusting to life as a royal and has earned the nickname "Hurricane Meghan" for her reportedly take-charge style with Palace staffers.
"The Middletons are quite cautious of Meghan," said my source. "At first they were happy to see that Harry was finally going to be settling down, but now that his wife has drawn their daughter into the biggest drama in the Palace since the days of Princess Diana, they're not happy about that at all." And for more news from deep inside "The Firm," read up on Why Meghan's Mother Isn't Spending Christmas with the Royals.
Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and author of Imagining Diana and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.
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