Prince Harry might be hoping his family’s planned July trip to Britain helps heal old wounds, but a new report claims Meghan Markle‘s presence could instead reopen them. According to an insider who spoke to Heat, sister-in-law Kate Middleton remains “an incredibly forgiving person,” but “there has been so much hurt stirred up over the years by Meghan, it’s impossible for her to simply forget everything and move on overnight.”
Meghan Markle’s presence changes everything
According to the insider, Kate supports efforts to repair the fractured relationship between Harry and his father, King Charles III. Though Kate’s husband, Prince William, has reportedly taken a firm stance against reconciling with his brother following years of estrangement, according to Heat‘s source, “Kate does want to see Harry, and she wants to do whatever she can to help the king.” However, the insider added, “There’s no denying that having Meghan there makes things worlds more complicated for her.”
The source said Kate has “always had a soft spot” for Harry, suggesting things might be different if he were traveling alone. “If Harry was coming on his own it would be a very different story,” the insider acknowledged. “It’s Meghan’s involvement that changes the dynamic completely. As much as Kate wants this peace, it’s impossible not to worry about what chaos Meghan will bring.”
Years of hurt
The tension between Kate and Meghan dates back years — even before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties and moved to California in 2020. During Harry and Meghan’s 2021 CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple pushed back on a report that claimed Meghan had made Kate cry before the Sussexes’ 2018 royal wedding, with Meghan insisting the opposite had happened. “[Kate] owned it, and she apologized and she brought me flowers and a note apologizing, and she did what I would do if I knew that I hurt someone,” Meghan said, confirming the issue involved the fit of Princess Charlotte‘s bridesmaid dress. She refused to get into specifics, explaining that would be unfair to Kate “because she apologized and I’ve forgiven her,” Meghan said, making it clear her issue was with how the palace had refused to deny the initial false report. “What was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didn’t do but that happened to me,” Meghan said.
Harry later revisited the disagreement in his bestselling 2023 memoir, Spare, writing that he found Meghan “on the floor” in tears after the dispute. Harry described another disagreement in Spare, writing that Meghan told Kate she must have “baby brain” because of her hormones after Prince Louis‘ birth — a remark Harry said Kate found offensive. Harry also recounted an awkward moment in Spare when Meghan asked to borrow Kate’s lip gloss before a joint appearance in 2018. “Kate, taken aback, went into her handbag and reluctantly pulled out a small tube,” Harry wrote. “Meg squeezed some onto her finger and applied it to her lips. Kate grimaced.” Additionally, some Kensington Palace staffers accused Meghan of bullying employees while the Sussexes and Waleses shared a royal household. Meghan has consistently denied the allegations.
According to Heat‘s insider, those episodes — along with Harry and Meghan’s repeated public criticisms of the royal family, including allegations that palace aides planted negative stories about the Sussexes to protect other senior royals — have left emotional wounds Kate has struggled to move beyond.
The Sussexes’ U.K. visit is no longer certain
But whether Kate will even have to face Meghan in the coming weeks is now unclear. In recent days, reports have suggested the Sussexes’ family trip to Britain with their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, has been thrown into doubt after Harry’s request for police protection when his family is outside of royal residences was denied. According to The Guardian, a source close to Harry said the duke is “distraught” after the family’s plans were effectively “pulled out from under their feet at the 11th hour.” The source added that Harry is “looking at every option to try and get the family here safely and keep them safe when they’re on the ground. If he can find a way to do that he will.” Harry is still expected to travel to Britain for engagements connected to the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games as well as visits with charities including WellChild and Scotty’s Little Soldiers. According to The Telegraph, one option now being considered involves flying the Sussexes into Britain from mainland Europe, where they’re reportedly vacationing, for just a single day instead of the five-day visit originally planned.
Kate Middleton’s balancing act
Despite the reported anxiety surrounding Meghan’s possible return, Heat‘s insider insisted Kate has no interest in escalating family tensions and remains focused on what she believes is best for the monarchy. “Kate’s not bad-mouthing Meghan, but everyone in her inner circle knows what a difficult spot this has put her in,” the insider claimed. “It’s no secret there was a lot of friction between her and Meghan, and that hasn’t nearly been forgotten.” According to the insider, Kate supports Charles’ reported desire to reconnect with Harry and spend time with Archie and Lili if the visit can still be arranged. “Kate wants peace; she wants Charles to have this opportunity with Harry and the children, but this is causing her no end of anxiety,” the insider said. “Kate has always risen above the drama, but just because she’s stayed quiet doesn’t mean she hasn’t been affected by everything that’s happened,” the source continued. “There’s been so much hurt for her personally, not to mention Kate’s had a front-row seat to the impact it’s had on William and is still having to this day.”
As the royal family navigates this delicate moment, the outcome of Harry’s security appeal and the potential scheduling of a short visit could either mend fences or deepen divides. For now, Kate remains caught between her loyalty to the monarchy, her own emotional scars, and her desire to support the king’s hopes for reconciliation. Whether Meghan’s presence will ultimately be a bridge or a barrier remains to be seen, but the Princess of Wales is bracing for whatever comes next.
Source:AOL.com News