Inside Kate And The Queen's Secret Plan To Control Meghan Markle
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It's tough to discern what's fact and what's fiction in the ongoing saga of Kate Middleton versus Meghan Markle. Ever since Meghan married Prince Harry in May 2018, there have been countless headlines suggesting the two are at odds and locked in a battle of wills, although an exact reason for this supposed feud is murky. Did Meghan drive Kate to tears before her wedding, as The Sun reported in November 2018? Or is Kate jealous that the Queen supposedly favors the Suits alum? Then there's the gossip about Kate and Prince William feeling bitter toward Meghan for allegedly breaking up their trio with Prince Harry. Yep, the drama is a lot.
But just when you thought the rumors had boiled over, investigative journalists Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett shared new anecdotes about the supposed feud in their June 2020 book, Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split with the House of Windsor. Not only do Howard and Tillett suggest Kate and Meghan did clash, but they also allege Queen Elizabeth and Kate conspired to rein in Meghan's independent streak.
Curious to learn more? Here's everything we know about Kate and the Queen's supposed plan.
Did the Queen and Kate Middleton team up against Meghan Markle?
Just because Meghan Markle and Prince Harry live in Los Angeles as of March 2020, it doesn't mean they've escaped from the drama in the United Kingdom. That's because there are still rumblings about what went down between Meghan and Kate Middleton, which supposedly occurred at a dress rehearsal for the royal wedding. "In a moment of tension, the issue of their children's titles had come up, and it allegedly unleashed a torrent of pent-up emotions," Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett reported in an exclusive excerpt from Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split with the House of Windsor, obtained by Nicki Swift. Apparently, Meghan was upset that her children with Harry would only ever receive a "Lordship" title.
As Howard and Tillett reported for the book, the bad feelings intensified when Kate supposedly didn't invite Meghan or Prince Harry to her 37th birthday party in January 2019. The duo was allegedly outraged by the snub, as Tillett and Howard described in Royals at War. Prince William tried to smooth over the tension in a call to Harry, allegedly warning him that Meghan was breaking up the family.
Just a month before the birthday drama, The Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth allegedly held a secret meeting to discuss Meghan's behavior, insiders told Tillett and Howard. Kate supposedly was the one who suggested the private conference.
So what happened in this so-called meeting?
The Queen offered to take Meghan Markle under her wing
As shared exclusively with Nicki Swift, Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split, claims that Queen Elizabeth shared Kate Middleton's concerns about Meghan Markle and took it upon herself to help the actor navigate royal life. The Queen didn't want to repeat the mistakes she made with Princess Diana, insiders alleged.
It's not clear how exactly the Queen mentored Meghan, or if her efforts were well-received. Interestingly enough, Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett reported in Royals at War that the Duchess of Sussex was intent on marching to the beat of her own drummer regardless of what anyone else said. Meghan's strong will was apparent when she delayed the first photo-op with baby Archie, who was born in May 2019. She also didn't pose for a photo outside of the hospital, as Kate did for her three children.
Once it became clear Meghan was intent on doing her own thing, the tension with Kate intensified, Howard and Tillett's book alleges.
Kate Middleton won't say sorry to Meghan Markle
Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett reported in Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split that Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle reached a standstill in their supposed battle when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to LA. However, this doesn't mean the two are besties now.
"Kate made visible attempts to get along with Harry and Meghan in the past year but now things have changed," Howard wrote in an exclusive excerpt from Royals at War, obtained by Nicki Swift. "Insiders told me that Kate's standing in the palace has never been so high, so she feels no obligation to make nice with them. She will not be apologizing or attempting to mend fences until they reciprocate the effort she and William have been making with them."
Of course, Meghan and Kate might be doing just fine. Only time will tell how this all plays out.
Howard and Tillett's book is set for a June 30, 2020 release.