Meghan Markle is once again facing criticism from a former friend, who claims the Duchess of Sussex is unable to come to terms with Kate Middleton's enduring popularity among the British public.
Lizzie Cundy, a former British model and television presenter who befriended Meghan in 2013, told the Daily Mail that Markle has grown "bitter" over her sister-in-law's standing. "She's fuming how the public love Kate," Cundy said. "She needs to stop being bitter, stop being angry and stop being 'poor me'."
Cundy, 57, said she met Meghan at a charity event in London before her relationship with Prince Harry, when the then-actress expressed interest in meeting English men. While the pair initially got along, Cundy said Meghan distanced herself once she became romantically involved with Harry. "It doesn't matter how many pots of jam she makes, she has to stop pretending. She's not Martha Stewart," Cundy added.
The former friend suggested that Meghan's new ventures, including her Netflix series "With Love, Meghan" and her lifestyle rebrand, are attempts to compete with Kate. Cundy argued that Markle should focus on authenticity rather than rivalry, saying she needs to "be who she is."
In her Netflix show, the 44-year-old Duchess reflected on her experience within the royal family, describing the requirement to wear nude pantyhose as making her feel "inauthentic." She told viewers: "It was different several years ago where I couldn't be as vocal and I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time. It is an example of when you're able to dress the way you want to dress, and you're able to say the things that are true, and you're able to show up in a space really organically and authentically, that's being comfortable in your own skin."
The series also included lighter moments, such as a segment in which Meghan revealed that Harry "does not like lobster," prompting guest chef José Andrés to quip: "No way. And you married him?" Harry appeared sparingly in the program, only in a pair of photos including one from their 2018 wedding.
Cundy has previously criticized Markle, claiming earlier this year that she was "desperate to be liked" and "wanted to trump the royals with anything she does." Following the launch of Meghan's As Ever brand and the first season of her Netflix series, Cundy told MailOnline: "Sadly for her, you can't buy likeability and she's lacking in that by the bucket-load."
