In his bestselling memoir "Spare," Prince Harry has revealed an awkward moment between his wife, Meghan Markle, and his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, during Meghan's first appearance at Trooping the Colour in 2018. According to Harry, Meghan's attempt at a lighthearted joke was met with a "yawning silence," highlighting the tension in the relationship between the two royal women.
The incident occurred shortly after Harry and Meghan's star-studded Windsor wedding, when the royal family gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast. When Kate asked Meghan what she thought of her debut Trooping the Colour event, Meghan reportedly responded with a brief comment, saying, "Colourful." However, her remark was not well-received, with Harry writing, "A yawning silence threatened to swallow us all whole."
This revelation sheds light on the strained relationship between Meghan and Kate, which has been the subject of much speculation and media attention. In his book, Harry accuses Kate and his brother, Prince William, of "stereotyping" Meghan and erecting unnecessary barriers, with William allegedly labeling her as being "difficult."
The Prince also recounts a disagreement between Kate and Meghan over bridesmaid dresses leading up to the wedding and an incident where Kate winced when Meghan asked to borrow lip gloss at an event. These anecdotes paint a picture of a tense and uneasy atmosphere between the two royal couples.
The ongoing rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family has been further highlighted by Harry and Meghan's absence from this year's Trooping the Colour, also known as the King's Birthday Parade. Despite being regular attendees before their move to America, the couple, now non-working royals, will not be partaking in the day's ceremonial pomp and pageantry.
During the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Harry and Meghan did make an appearance, but they were not invited to join the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast and wave to the crowds below. This symbolic exclusion was seen as a snub to the Sussexes, who had quit the monarchy for a new life in the US.
The tension between the two couples has not gone unnoticed, with William and Kate not seeing Harry during his recent visit to the UK to commemorate 10 years of the Invictus Games. However, following the revelation of Kate's health issues, as she battles cancer alongside King Charles, it was reported that Harry and Meghan had privately "reached out" to William and Kate, extending their support with a public statement.
"We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace," the couple's statement read, echoing Kate's request for privacy as she undergoes cancer treatment.
