When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they would be stepping back from the royal family, it was a decision that had widespread implications. It put increased pressure on Prince William and Kate Middleton to perform more official duties, and it also put strain on some relationships that were already less than perfect.
One relationship that’s gotten less focus in recent weeks is the one between Kate Middleton and Prince Harry. The two used to be quite close, but that’s no longer the case.
In the aftermath of “Megxit,” though, Kate’s been under a great deal of pressure. Apparently, she was caught by surprise when Harry and Meghan made the announcement.
“Kate’s in a panic and has been having bouts of anxiety,” one source told Us Weekly. “She barely has time to rest, and when she does try to sleep, her mind is constantly racing.”
Reportedly, this is in part because of a hectic schedule that sometimes involves incredibly long days filled with official duties.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first made their engagement public, there were many royal watchers who hoped that Harry and Meghan would join Kate and William and create a lasting foursome. The idea was dubbed “The Fab Four,” but it never totally came to close.
The relationship between William and Harry has been strained for quite some time, and Kate and Meghan were never as close as some fans wanted them to be. That’s in part because of the differences in how Kate and Meghan were treated in the press.
Never forget that Prince Harry has publicly defended Kate numerous times when she first started being royal.
Prince William has never ONCE given Meghan the same courtesy. pic.twitter.com/jg148QcZ4m
— The Battinson (@BattinsonBatman) January 9, 2020
Now that Harry and Meghan have stepped back, it also strained Middleton’s once close relationship with Prince Harry. Because William and Kate dated for a decade before they got married, Kate and Harry grew quite close. Now, though, the two are in contact with one another far less frequently.
“She wishes she could speak to Harry,” a source told Us Weekly. “She misses him and fears she’ll never be close to him again.” Unfortunately, Kate’s fears may be close to reality.
As for Kate’s relationship with Meghan, that was always a non-starter according to the source. “They couldn’t be further apart,” the insider said.
As Harry and Meghan begin to establish themselves outside the royal family, it’s likely that they’ll have much less contact with Kate and the rest of the family than they used to. They’re still family, but they won’t spend all their time together. It’s a major sea change, and it’s unlike almost any shakeup we’ve seen from the royals.