The media prides itself on pitting Princess Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s public against each other in a game of class, style and integrity. Since Prince Harry and Meghan’s engagement in 2017, there’s no doubt that the two duchesses weren’t the closest, however, it brings forward the question, what has caused this tension between the two. Is the media amplifying this narrative?

Omid Scobie’s book, Endgame, sheds light on a perceived “cold” dynamic between Meghan and Kate from the beginning. Scobie writes, “For Meghan who found much of her time as a working royal a lonely and isolated experience, there was a hope that Kate would be someone she could at least turn to for an encouraging word during her lowest points”. It is alleged that this is where the problems between the two began, with Kate reportedly being “uninterested” in forming a bond with Meghan. The rift allegedly widened following Meghan and Harry’s departure from royal duties and their subsequent public interviews, which reportedly further strained Kate’s trust towards the couple. In Prince Harry’s memoir, ‘Spare’, he acknowledges that there was a real difference in personality between Kate and Meghan, writing that “It left a little mark. And then the press sensed something was up and tried to turn it into something bigger.”

Royal biographer Andrew Morton has pointed out a predictable media pattern of comparing royal sisters-in-law, seen before with Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson; setting them up for scrutiny. The media frequently compared Diana and Sarah, which fuelled rumours of rivalry and put a heavy strain on their relationship. A similar narrative regarding Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle has been taking over headlines since Meghan and Harry’s engagement, with the media portraying them as contrasting figures embodying different aspects of royal life.

While there is undoubtedly some genuine tension between Meghan and Kate, it’s crucial to recognise the media’s role in amplifying and perpetuating this narrative. The strain in Prince Harry’s relationship with his brother and Kate; coupled with the perception that Meghan influenced his departure from the family. Whilst differences in background and personality are natural. One questions the fixation around the relationship between both women; why does it matter so much if these two women aren't friends.