Royal Family Communications Revealed: Prince Harry’s Memoir Exposes Private Correspondence Between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry’s candid memoir “Spare” has provided unprecedented insight into the private communications and tensions within the British Royal Family, particularly regarding a significant disagreement between Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during the lead-up to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s 2018 wedding ceremony.
The Flower Girl Dress Controversy
The dispute, which has been subject to extensive media speculation and conflicting reports, centered around the fitting of flower girl dresses for the royal wedding. According to Prince Harry’s detailed account, the disagreement arose just days before the highly anticipated ceremony when concerns were raised about the fit of Princess Charlotte’s dress.
The correspondence began when Catherine, Princess of Wales, contacted Meghan Markle via text message to express concerns about her daughter’s attire. The Princess of Wales reportedly wrote: “Charlotte’s dress is too big, too long, too baggy.” This initial message was followed by additional context explaining the emotional impact on the young princess: “She cried when she tried it on at home.”
Prince Harry’s memoir explains that the dresses had been constructed using measurements taken previously, which created the sizing discrepancies that became apparent during the final fittings. The timing of this discovery, occurring so close to the wedding date, added significant pressure to an already stressful situation.
Attempted Resolution and Escalation
In response to the concerns raised by the Princess of Wales, Meghan Markle attempted to provide a practical solution to address the fitting issues. The Duchess of Sussex reminded her sister-in-law that professional tailoring services were readily available at Kensington Palace, writing: “Right, and I told you the tailor has been standing by since 8 a.m. Here. At KP. Can you take Charlotte to have it altered, as the other mums are doing?”
This response highlighted that alterations were part of the standard process for the wedding party and that other mothers were utilizing the same services to ensure proper fitting for their children’s attire. However, despite the availability of immediate tailoring solutions, Catherine, Princess of Wales, reportedly insisted on a more comprehensive approach to resolving the issue.
According to Prince Harry’s account, the Princess of Wales advocated for having all the flower girl dresses completely remade rather than simply altered. This position was reportedly supported by her wedding dress designer, Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, who allegedly concurred with the assessment that the dresses required significant modifications.
Personal Stress and Context
The memoir reveals that the dress controversy occurred during a particularly challenging period for Meghan Markle, who was dealing with intense media scrutiny surrounding her father, Thomas Markle, and his involvement in the upcoming wedding. Prince Harry’s account indicates that the Duchess of Sussex attempted to provide context for her emotional state during the disagreement.
The Duke of Sussex wrote that Meghan questioned whether Catherine was aware of the additional pressures she was facing: “Meg asked if Kate was aware of what was going on right now. With her father.” This reference to the ongoing family drama surrounding Thomas Markle’s participation in the wedding ceremony adds important context to the heightened emotions during the dress dispute.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, acknowledged the difficult circumstances but maintained her position regarding the urgency of the dress situation, responding: “And the wedding is in four days!” This exchange illustrates the competing priorities and time pressures that both women were experiencing in the final days before the ceremony.
Resolution and Emotional Impact
The text message exchange concluded with Meghan Markle’s attempt to find a practical resolution to the immediate issue. The Duchess of Sussex wrote: “I’m not sure what else to say. If the dress doesn’t fit then please take Charlotte to see Ajay. He’s been waiting all day.” This message referenced the tailor who had been standing by to make necessary alterations.
Ultimately, Catherine, Princess of Wales, agreed to the proposed solution with a brief response: “Fine.” However, according to Prince Harry’s memoir, this resolution came at a significant emotional cost to his wife. The Duke of Sussex recounted returning home to find Meghan Markle in considerable distress, describing her as “sobbing” on the floor due to the accumulated stress from the disagreement and other wedding-related pressures.
Media Misrepresentation and Later Clarification
The memoir reveals that months after the actual incident, a significantly different version of events was published by tabloid publications. These reports claimed that Meghan Markle had been responsible for making Catherine, Princess of Wales, cry during the disagreement—a narrative that contradicted the account provided by Prince Harry.
To address these inaccuracies, a private meeting was arranged between the two couples at Nottingham Cottage in December 2018. During this discussion, Prince Harry reports that Catherine, Princess of Wales, acknowledged the misrepresentation in the media coverage, allegedly stating: “I know, Meghan, that I was the one who made you cry.”
Despite this private acknowledgment of the true circumstances, Prince Harry notes that little was done to correct the public narrative that had been established by the tabloid reports. The Duke of Sussex described the Princess of Wales as becoming “flustered” during the conversation, while Prince William offered what he characterized as “supportive-sounding evasions.”
Investigation into Information Leaks
The persistence of the inaccurate media narrative led the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to question the source of the leaked information. According to Prince Harry’s account, during their December 2018 meeting, Prince William eventually admitted that he “might’ve” mentioned the conflict during a dinner conversation with King Charles III and Queen Camilla while Harry and Meghan were conducting their Australian tour.
This revelation reportedly stunned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had not anticipated that private family matters would be discussed in such contexts. Prince Harry recalled his reaction to this admission: “I put my hand over my face. Meg froze. A heavy silence fell. So now we knew.”
The Duke of Sussex confronted his brother about this disclosure, telling him: “You of all people should’ve known.” Prince William allegedly acknowledged this criticism with a nod, and the meeting concluded in silence, indicating the significant impact of this revelation on family relationships.
Public Statements and Ongoing Impact
The dispute gained additional public attention when Meghan Markle addressed the situation during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. In this televised conversation, the Duchess of Sussex refuted the tabloid narrative while maintaining respect for Catherine, Princess of Wales.
“I don’t think it’s fair to her to get into the details of [the fight], because she apologized. And I’ve forgiven her,” Markle stated during the interview. However, she expressed frustration at being falsely blamed for the incident, explaining: “What was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didn’t do, but that happened to me.”
The Duchess of Sussex also revealed that individuals present at the wedding had informed the Sussexes’ communications team that the tabloid story was factually incorrect, yet the false narrative continued to circulate in media coverage.
Broader Implications for Royal Family Relations
This detailed account from Prince Harry’s memoir illustrates the complex dynamics within the Royal Family and the challenges of managing private family matters under intense public scrutiny. The incident demonstrates how personal disagreements can become amplified and distorted when they occur within the context of high-profile public events.
The revelation of private text messages and subsequent family meetings provides insight into the communication patterns and conflict resolution approaches within the Royal Family. It also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by family members in controlling public narratives when dealing with persistent media attention and speculation.
The Duke of Sussex’s decision to include these private communications in his memoir represents a significant departure from traditional royal discretion regarding family matters, reflecting the broader tensions that ultimately led to his and Meghan’s decision to step back from active royal duties and relocate to North America.
This account serves as a case study in how private family disagreements can become public controversies, the role of media in shaping narratives, and the lasting impact of misrepresentation on personal relationships within high-profile families.
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