Despite living more than 6,000 kilometers apart, the simmering rivalry between Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, has never truly faded. According to royal insiders, what began quietly behind palace walls years ago has evolved into one of the most persistent and polarizing tensions in the modern monarchy.
A Competition Born Behind Palace Doors
Royal editor Jack Royston of Newsweek said the roots of the rift trace back to a time when the two couples — the Waleses and the Sussexes — shared not only duties but a single working office at Kensington Palace.
Speaking on The Sun’s “Royal Exclusive,” Royston explained:
“There was, without question, a significant level of competition between the households — 100 percent. You could see it developing even in the earliest days of their shared office.”
This rivalry resurfaced publicly when both women highlighted artwork created by their children on social media within the same week — a coincidence that sparked immediate comparisons.
Princess Kate posted a charming set of illustrations created with her three children, calling it “a joyful afternoon together.” Days later, Meghan shared an image of a “vision board” featuring a green star labeled with Archie’s name.
Fans quickly accused Meghan of attempting to overshadow Catherine, with one comment reading:
“Let’s not pretend — she posted that to show off Archie’s ‘art’ right after Catherine shared her children’s drawings. Predictable as always… a copycat.”
“An Instinct to Outshine the Other”
Royston added that while the competition was subtle, it was unmistakable:
“Both couples wanted to shine — that’s natural. But there was a clear instinct to outperform the other, whether consciously or not.”
Princess Kate is said to have embraced a more compassionate outlook following her cancer diagnosis, “recognizing life is too short for bitter feuds.” But insiders insist Prince William has not forgotten the damage.
The Fall of the ‘Fab Four’
William and Harry founded The Royal Foundation in 2009. Kate joined in 2011 and Meghan in 2018 — a moment many hoped would solidify a powerful, modern royal team.
Instead, by 2019, the so-called “Fab Four” had fractured.
The Sussexes’ move from Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage and the escalating rumors of tension only deepened the divide. One palace insider said Meghan struggled with the hierarchical nature of royal life:
“Meghan never seemed comfortable playing a supporting role to William and Kate. She wanted influence, direction, and a clear voice — but the system didn’t work that way.”
The insider added that Meghan may have found it difficult to join a foundation that was already “a well-oiled machine” long before her arrival.
Clashing Public Narratives
The rivalry spilled further into public view when Meghan and Harry released their controversial documentary on ITV in 2019 — just as William and Kate were concluding a successful royal tour of Pakistan.
Sources told the Evening Standard the poorly timed broadcast left palace aides “stunned and angered.”
And then came the bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview.
Meghan alleged that Kate made her cry in the days before the royal wedding — a direct contradiction of earlier media reports suggesting Meghan had upset Kate during a fitting for Princess Charlotte’s dress.
Meghan insisted: “It was something that happened to me, not something I did.”
Though she said Kate apologized, the emotional fallout marked what Meghan described as a turning point in their relationship.
A Rivalry Sustained Across Continents
Since their departure in 2020, the Sussexes’ life in California — combined with high-profile deals with Netflix and Spotify — has intensified public comparisons between the two households. Social media posts from both camps frequently invite scrutiny, with commentators calling it an unofficial “Instagram war.”
Meghan has not returned to the UK since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022, and communication between the couples is believed to be minimal. Yet, royal observers argue the rivalry persists not because of physical proximity, but because both women represent competing visions of the modern monarchy.
An Unfinished Story
While Princess Kate maintains a carefully cultivated image of dignity, duty, and restraint, Meghan continues to advocate for independence, influence, and global branding — two paths that seem destined to collide in the public eye.
And as one senior royal aide told The Sun:
“You don’t need to live in the same palace — or even the same country — for rivalry to continue. This one has roots too deep, and a spotlight too bright, to ever fully disappear.”
