Meghan MarkleandKate Middletonshare royal status, but they were at dramatically different places in their lives when they first met.
While the women are now bonding over motherhood — Kate has three young children withPrince William, while Meghan and Prince Harry welcomed son Archie on May 6 — it wasn’t long ago that the sisters-in-law were figuring out their own distinct roles. Just one year ago, the Duchess of Sussex, 37, was navigating life as a new member of the royal family and a newlywed. Meanwhile Kate, also 37, was balancing being a mother to an infant and two children under 5 along with her royal duties as a future queen.
“There was undue pressure where the whole world wanted them to be best friends,” an insider tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story.
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.Press Association via AP Images
Chris Jackson/Getty
When the sisters-in-law didn’t appear to be tight companions to the outside world — both ran with their own circles of friends, and their first joint outing without their husbands didn’t come untillast year’s Wimbledon appearance— they were pitted against each other.
Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Archie.Samir Hussein/WireImage
However, those within the royals’ circle say the distance between the two couples helped them reconnect. The separation is “allowing them more time to be like family” rather than colleagues, notes a royal source. “There is a sense of [Meghan and Kate’s] relationship strengthening.”
Simon Perry
source: people.com
