Although relations between the two women are now widely described as strained, Princess Catherine initially had a positive impression of Meghan Markle. Royal author Russell Myers claims that when the pair met in early 2017 — several months into Meghan’s relationship with Prince Harry, 41 — Catherine viewed her warmly.

In an extract from Myers’ book, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Catherine is said to have described Meghan as “friendly,” albeit perhaps slightly too friendly, observing that there was a “touch of California” about her.

At the time, Meghan reportedly also “managed to charm” other senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince William and the late Queen Elizabeth II. She was even said to have performed a “perfect curtsy” when meeting the monarch.

Early Signs of Strain

However, tensions began to emerge soon after Harry and Meghan’s romance became public knowledge, as intense media focus on Meghan’s background dominated headlines.

The “onslaught of media coverage” is said to have deeply upset Harry, prompting him to direct the Kensington Palace communications team to “respond at once – highlighting a wave of abuse and harassment” and referencing what were described as “racial undertones of comment pieces.”

According to Myers, this decision was taken without consulting either William or King Charles III, who was then Prince Charles. The move reportedly went against established royal protocol, leading William and Charles to “admonish” Harry for what were characterised as his “rash actions.”

Around the same time, William, now 43, is said to have privately voiced concerns about how quickly the relationship was progressing.

“It’s easy to forget now, given everything that has gone on, but William did find Meghan quite refreshing at first. He was genuinely happy for Harry and only wanted the best for him,” a palace source told Myers.

Yet the same source suggested there was “one thing” that troubled William — the possibility of a “clash of styles.”

“He (William) definitely saw it as a potential problem on the horizon,” the source added.

Attempts to Welcome Meghan

Despite sharing some of her husband’s reservations, Catherine reportedly made efforts to support Meghan as she adjusted to royal life.

“She (Catherine) adored Harry and had urged William to maintain his relationship with his brother despite their growing differences,” Myers wrote.

He also claimed that Catherine and Sophie — then the Countess of Wessex and now the Duchess of Edinburgh — had “attempted to assist Meghan as she assimilated into royal life,” though their “repeated attempts” were said to have gone unanswered.

Relations deteriorated further as Meghan became a frequent target on social media “owing to her biracial heritage.” According to Myers, Harry subsequently “demanded” that steps be taken to secure taxpayer-funded security for her.

When he was informed that such protection would only be granted upon marriage, Harry was reportedly incensed and sought support from both William and Charles.

Myers writes that Harry believed the situation to be unfair, pointing out that Catherine had “not only received unofficial guidance from the palace when she was his brother’s girlfriend, but that she had also qualified for round-the-clock protection” once she became engaged to William.

When additional security was not approved — with Charles declining to intervene and William offering no backing — the rift between the brothers began to deepen.

Catherine, long regarded as a calming influence in earlier disagreements, is said to have eventually concluded that there was little more she could do.

“At first she had thought William and Harry’s squabbles were rooted in immaturity or stubbornness, on both sides, but Harry and Meghan’s attitude towards palace staff, who she and William cared about, set the couples on an entirely different course,” Myers said.

The Fallout

While the Royal Family has never publicly detailed the breakdown that ultimately led the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step back from royal duties and move to California in 2020, Harry and Meghan have spoken openly about their grievances.

In their 2021 interview with Oprah, the Sussexes alleged racism within the Royal Family. Harry later wrote in his 2023 memoir, Spare, that he and William had a physical altercation after his brother described Meghan as “rude,” “difficult” and “abrasive.”

Last year, Harry — who continues to campaign for his family to receive taxpayer-funded security in the UK — told the BBC that there have been “so many disagreements” within the family.

However, he maintained that the “only thing that’s left” is the dispute over security, describing it as having “always been the sticking point.”