Meghan Markle displayed signs of discomfort and perceived the royal pecking order as 'puzzling' during her first joint public appearance with Catherine, the Princess of Wales, at Wimbledon in July 2018, according to body language expert Judi James. The analysis, shared with the Daily Mail, suggests Meghan may have been taken aback by the attention focused on Catherine.
Less than two months after her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan accompanied Catherine to the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles Final. The engagement marked their first royal outing together without their husbands. While photos from the event showed the two women smiling and interacting, James suggests a video clip reveals subtle tensions and Meghan's reaction to Catherine being the primary focus.
"There are hints from Meghan's body language that suggest she expected this to be more of a friendship and double act appearance from start to finish," James told the Daily Mail. According to the expert, Meghan appeared to 'break rank' as they were greeted, noting that "all eyes and smiles seemed to be aimed at Catherine."
Footage appeared to show Catherine, then in her role as royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, walking ahead and engaging with hosts, while Meghan was observed waiting. James described Meghan's attempt to offer a "friendship smile" as "awkward," contrasting it with Catherine's "regal mode" and professional demeanor. This dynamic, James suggested, might have been puzzling for Meghan, whose public interactions with Prince Harry since leaving the Royal Family have often seen her taking a more leading role.
Further analysis indicated Meghan's discomfort when being introduced to ball boys and girls, with Catherine again appearing to lead the introductions. James highlighted Meghan's gestures, such as touching her hair and placing a hand near her throat, as indicators of vulnerability or indecision. It was only after they were seated in the royal box that opportunities for more relaxed, seemingly equal-status interactions arose, according to James.
The report also touched upon earlier instances that have fueled speculation about the relationship between the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales. In their Netflix series, Meghan recalled an initial meeting with Kate in 2017 where she wore ripped jeans and was barefoot, a style she described as a "hugger" that she later realized might be jarring for some British sensibilities. She noted a surprising formality that extended even behind closed doors.
Royal biographer Tina Brown, in her book 'Palace Papers,' described Kate as having a temperament that is "cool," contrasting with Meghan's more effusive style. Brown suggested that at the time of their early meetings, Kate, preoccupied with her young children and public duties, did not perceive Meghan as a threat.
However, public attention was also drawn to reports of a disagreement over bridesmaid dresses before the 2018 royal wedding. While some accounts suggested Meghan had made Kate cry during a dispute over outfits, with claims that Meghan favored her daughter over Princess Charlotte, Meghan disputed this in her interview with Oprah Winfrey, stating that Kate was upset about something, owned it, apologized, and brought her flowers.
Prince Harry's memoir, 'Spare,' released in 2023, also detailed an interaction where Meghan asked to borrow lip gloss from Kate before a joint appearance in February 2018. Harry described Kate's reaction as one of surprise, followed by a "disgusted" face after Meghan applied the gloss with her finger. This event occurred around the time of the 'Fab Four's' first official appearance as patrons of the Royal Foundation, where Harry acknowledged that "working as family does have its challenges."