Fresh claims about the long-running tension between Meghan Markle and Princess Kate have resurfaced as Prince Harry and Meghan settle back into life in the UK.
The renewed speculation comes after King Charles III formally clarified that the Sussexes remain private citizens and non-working members of the Royal Family, despite their return to Britain with their children. Reuters reported that Harry and Meghan were surprised by the timing of the King’s letter, which reiterated that their charitable activities are undertaken in a private capacity.
Against that backdrop, reports have once again focused on the relationship between Meghan and Kate, with some royal sources and commentators portraying the two women as remaining deeply divided.
However, claims that Kate is deliberately trying to “outdo” Meghan remain allegations rather than established fact.
Claims of resentment emerge as Sussexes return
According to reports attributed to Closer magazine, Meghan is said to believe that Kate played a role in the palace’s approach to Harry and Meghan following their return to Britain.
The reports suggest the Sussexes were disappointed by the decision to publicly emphasize their status as private citizens rather than working royals.
The palace’s position itself is documented: Harry and Meghan stepped back from official royal duties in 2020, and the recent communication was intended to make clear that their return to the UK did not change that arrangement.
There have also been reports that Prince William is maintaining distance from his brother. Vanity Fair, for example, reported in August that sources described William and Kate as concerned about Harry and Meghan’s return and the possibility of renewed tensions around the Royal Family. Those claims were attributed to royal insiders rather than confirmed statements from William or Kate.
Kate’s increased public appearances draw attention
The renewed focus on Meghan and Kate has also coincided with a highly visible period for the Princess of Wales.
Kate has appeared at a series of public engagements with Prince William, including the September 22 premiere of Tom Cruise’s Digger in London.
The couple attended the event at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, where they met Cruise, director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and members of the cast. The premiere also served as the 73rd Royal Film Performance and raised funds for the Film and TV Charity.
Kate attracted considerable attention in a floor-length purple Jenny Packham gown, paired with jewelry associated with the Royal Family. She wore earrings that belonged to the late Princess Diana, while also wearing the Queen Mother’s amethyst sautoir necklace.
Tom Cruise later described William and Kate as “amazing” and “charismatic” after spending time with them at the premiere.
Some commentary has interpreted Kate’s increasingly prominent appearances as part of a broader contrast between the Waleses and the Sussexes. But there is no confirmed evidence that Kate’s public schedule was designed specifically to compete with Meghan.
A relationship that has faced scrutiny for years
The speculation surrounding Meghan and Kate is not new.
Their relationship came under intense public scrutiny around Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding, particularly following reports about disagreements involving bridesmaid dresses.
Meghan later discussed aspects of her relationship with Kate during her and Harry’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Her account of an incident involving flower-girl dresses differed from earlier media reports, keeping attention on the relationship between the two women.
Over the years, royal commentators and biographers have offered different explanations for why Meghan and Kate appeared to struggle to develop a close relationship. Those interpretations vary, and neither woman has publicly confirmed many of the more detailed claims made by anonymous sources.
Harry and Meghan are back in Britain—but not as working royals
Harry and Meghan returned to Britain with their children in August 2026 after years living in the United States.
Their move marked a significant change in their family circumstances, but it did not restore their former official roles.
King Charles’ September communication explicitly stated that the couple remained private citizens and that their charitable work was undertaken in a personal capacity. They also cannot use the styles His and Her Royal Highness.
Meghan has largely maintained a lower public profile since the family’s return. People reported that she did not accompany Harry to the WellChild Awards on September 21, with the Duchess instead focusing on family matters and her other activities.
Harry, meanwhile, has continued appearing at charitable events, including the WellChild Awards.
The “Fab Four” remain a thing of the past
When Harry and Meghan married, the two couples were frequently portrayed as the Royal Family’s “Fab Four” alongside William and Kate.
That image changed dramatically after Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States.
Their return to Britain has now brought the family back into the same geographical orbit, but the formal structure of their roles remains unchanged.
Claims that Meghan and Kate are engaged in a renewed personal rivalry continue to circulate through royal commentary and unnamed-source reports. What is publicly established is that Harry and Meghan remain private, non-working members of the Royal Family, while William and Kate continue to carry out official duties as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
For now, much of the alleged friction between the two women remains based on accounts from royal insiders and commentators rather than direct statements from Meghan or Kate themselves.