Relationships between the Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍es and the Waleses have been strained over recent years, and it’s been claimed that Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle aren’t the best of friends. A royal expert has now shed light on the pair’s frosty friendship, saying Kate “tried to get along” with her sister-in-law but had seen “warning signs” in Meghan’s behaviour.

Meghan, 42, married Prince Harry, 39, in 2018, but it was in the lead up to their big day that Kate, 42, and Meghan’s alleged rift began. The Princess of Wales longed for her brother-in-law to “be happy” and “tried” to get along with Meghan, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward has claimed.

Kate Middleton with sister-in-law Meghan Markle 

Speaking to Fabulous, Ingrid claimed: “Kate tried to get along with Meghan. Harry had been part of their little Kensington Palace family and Kate knew he wanted to be married. She also longed for him to be happy. But Kate saw the warning signs in Meghan’s behaviour especially around the time of the wedding.”

The royal expert went on to claim that “signs of a rift” between Kate and Meghan “were not necessarily obvious” at the time. Ingrid went on to allege that Meghan “hated being considered second best” to Kate, and was “insecure” about her “own status”.

Ingrid said: “Kate had bagged the number one man whereas Meghan only had the ‘spare’ son in Prince Harry. Most women wouldn’t even think about that. But Meghan was so insecure and anxious about her own status she took everything as a slight.”

Kate and Meghan were pictured together on a handful of occasions after Meghan was welcomed into the Royal Family. The duo attended Wimbledon together in 2019 as a show of unity, and appeared to have a good time.

Kate and Meghan attended Wimbledon together in 2018

In 2021, Meghan and husband Harry took part in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, with Meghan opening up about the trip to Wimbledon with her sister-in-law.

Oprah asked Meghan: “Did you feel welcomed by everyone? 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?”

Meghan answered: “I think everyone welcomed me. When you say, ‘Was it what it looked like?’, my understanding and my experience of the past four years is, it’s nothing like what it looks like. It’s nothing like what it looks like.”