Kate and William 'upped their game' around Meghan, royal book claims

2022-09-25

The Prince and Princess of Wales had to ‘up their game’ when Meghan Markle arrived on the scene as she charmed the public with her wit and confidence, royal book claims

Meghan Markle was impressive in first public engagements as Harry’s fiancée
Royal author Katie Nicholl wrote she charmed the public with her confidence
After first royal appearances, Kate and William had a ‘wake up’, Nicholl claims

Kate Middleton and Prince William felt they had to ‘up their game’ when Meghan Markle became engaged to Prince Harry and charmed members of the public, a new book has claimed.

In The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown by Katie Nicholl, the author writes about the Duchess of Sussex’s first public engagements after she and Prince Harry went public with their relationship.

After joining the Royal Family, Meghan was invited to join the Royal Foundation alongside her fiancé Prince Harry and the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Pictured L-R: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, Prince William speaking at a forum for the Royal Foundation in 2018

The ‘Fab Four’ were reunited in their grief two days after the Queen passed away as they appeared outside Windsor Castle, dressed all in black, to thank members of the public for their well-wishes and tributes to the late monarch

But in her new book, Nicholl claims Meghan’s first public appearance as a board member of the Foundation was a ‘wake-up call’ for Kate and William, The Mirror reports.

In February 2018, the ‘Fab Four’ took part in a forum for the Royal Foundation, during which they talked about their charitable projects.

However, Nicholl wrote in her book that Meghan was the ‘breakout star’ of the foursome, showcasing her wit and charm as she spoke on the panel and answered questions.

She quoted a source who said: ‘That was a wake-up moment for William and Kate when they realised that Meghan was very impressive, very confident and very capable.’

Other claims made in Nicholl’s book include that the Queen was left ‘hurt and exhausted’ by Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave The Firm and move to the US.

King Charles permitted Prince Harry (pictured), who served in Afghanistan, to wear his military uniform as he took part in a vigil on Saturday night in which he guarded the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall

A source close to the Queen has claimed the couple’s decision left Her late Majesty ‘very hurt’ and unable to think about the situation. Pictured: Her Majesty stood next to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2018

An extract of the book, which was published in Vanity Fair, revealed the Queen was also disappointed when Harry and Meghan didn’t return to the UK in August with Archie and Lilibet, where she was hosting an annual ‘sleepover’ in Sandringham with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The source added it was of more regret to Her late Majesty that the Sussexes’ move meant she did not have the opportunity to see as much of Archie and Lilibet as she’d have liked.

Her late Majesty passed away at Balmoral Castle on 8 September at the age of 96, at which point her eldest son Charles automatically became King.

As the monarch, the book claims Charles is keen to heal the rift between the family and his youngest son Harry, 38.

In his first televised address to the nation on 9 September, King Charles said: ‘I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.’

Some royal fans have claimed the mention of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was an ‘olive branch’ towards the couple, who happened to be visiting Europe when the Queen passed away.

Harry and Meghan, who now live in a $14million mansion in Santa Barbara, California, extended their trip and remained in Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate during the period of mourning following the Queen’s death and before her state funeral, committal service and private burial on Monday.

Despite the rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, there have been glimpses of a potential reconciliation following the Queen’s death.

On the Saturday after the monarch passed away, the Prince and Princess of Wales made their first public appearance outside the Windsor Estate to read tributes that had been left to Her late Majesty and greet mourners.

In an unexpected appearance, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the couple as the ‘Fab Four’ were reunited in their grief.

King Charles also allowed Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, to wear his military uniform during a vigil last Saturday night along with the Queen’s other grandchildren, in which they guarded her coffin as it lay in state in Westminster Hall.

Despite the fact he is no longer a working royal, King Charles granted his youngest son permission to don the military uniform so he could pay his respects to his grandmother.

After Harry and Meghan left The Firm in February 2020, relations became strained between the Duke of Sussex and his father and brother.

The rift in the family deepened a year later when the Sussexes took part in an explosive interview with US presenter and journalist Oprah Winfrey, in which they made controversial claims about the Royal Family.

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