Meghan Markle has gained a lot of attention because of her marriage to Prince Harry. The couple, who wed in May 2018, created controversy with their 2020 exit from The Royal Family. A rift with Prince William and Kate Middleton along with the British media’s harassment led to the couple’s departure. This is a far cry from how things were when the Suits actress first joined the family.
In the past six years, Meghan has become public enemy number one in the British media. But as royal author Robert Jobson told Daily Mail, that wasn’t always the case. In his new book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, Jobson claims Meghan was a media darling following her and Harry’s engagement in 2017. However, as her popularity grew, it ignited jealousy from William and Kate.
At first, public reaction to Meghan was overwhelmingly positive, with ‘the new kids on the block’ hogging most of the headlines – to the point that William and Catherine may have unconsciously raised their game. There were whispers of pettiness, even jealousy.
One instance of William’s jealousy occurred in January 2018 when Meghan and Harry were on a royal engagement in Cardiff. The Prince of Wales had an engagement that afternoon in London and arrived sporting a new haircut.
Of the incident, Jobson wrote:
Competitive by nature, even when it comes to media coverage, he chose that same afternoon to debut a new and dramatic buzz-cut during a visit to a London hospital.
Meghan Markle Shocked by Prince William and Kate Middleton Lavish Lifestyle
Tensions between the two couples continued to mount, and there were hints of jealousy on both sides. With William the heir to the throne, he receives preferential treatment over his brother. It became more evident when Meghan Markle entered the picture.
Meghan had moved into cosy Nottingham Cottage on the Kensington Palace estate with Harry. When they went to have drinks at William and Catherine’s palatial apartment, she was apparently ‘taken aback’ at the disparity between the brothers.
With Harry and Meghan about to wed, the prince asked his father Prince Charles for more money. However, Charles told his son, “there was not enough money to go around for Meghan.”
This upset Harry, who felt “that he and Meghan were entitled to lavish handouts from ‘Pa’ in return for agreeing to serve the crown.” Charles eventually relented and gave his son “a substantial sum.”
Jobson believes the different lifestyles played a role in the foursome’s rift:
I am not saying Meghan was jealous, but she was surprised how lavishly Harry’s brother was living compared to where they were living. It was perhaps the beginning of all the tensions between the couples.
The feud between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle versus Prince William and Kate Middleton has dominated headlines. No matter who is at fault, it’s a upsetting situation for the family.
