Photo shows Kate Middleton’s ‘strained’ Meghan Markle relationship as she ‘puts up shield’

The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex appeared together in the Royal Box at Wimbledon in 2019 – but an expert says it showed signs their relationship was “strained”

An expert says a photo from Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s Wimbledon appearance together showed the signs of their “strained” relationship.

The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex appeared together in the Royal Box at the major tennis tournament in July 2019. The pair are both said to be fans of the game, with Kate a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Meghan had even been known to visit the tournament before her time as a royal, flying in to support friend Serena Williams. But according to Daily Mail Diary Editor Richard Eden, an image of the two from the tournament five years ago paints a damning picture of their relationship.
It came just a year after reports of an argument between the two first emerged. In his memoir Spare, Harry claims Meghan was “left on the floor sobbing” after a row with her sister-in-law over Princess Charlotte’s dress in the lead up to their wedding.
Eden now says a picture of Meghan and Kate shows the Princess of Wales “putting up a shield” with her handbag. He says the afternoon appeared far from the relaxing occasion it would seem to be.
Speaking on Reading the Royals, Eden said: “In July 2019 Catherine very magnanimously extended the invitation again to Meghan to join her at the tennis, but this year she brought her sister Pippa along, perhaps as a buffer. This is Catherine’s favourite event of the year but once again her body language suggests it’s anything but.

“She’s stiff and uncomfortable as she arrives as though this is purely duty, not pleasure, and you can only wonder if that is the prospect of spending the day with someone who makes her feel uncomfortable. Look at the expression on Catherine’s face, you know she looks very strained and she’s really gripping her handbag as if it’s some sort of shield to protect her.”
Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in January 2020, just months after the Wimbledon snaps were taken. In her 2021 interview with Meghan, US interviewer Oprah Winfrey questioned whether the scene at Wimbledon was “what it looked like,” reports the Express.