As Princess Catherine recovers from cancer treatment, many royal fans will be curious whether she will attend Wimbledon this year.
The Princess of Wales usually visits the tennis tournament, but her visit with Meghan Markle in 2019 sticks out as particularly remarkable.
The outing was intended to highlight Princess Catherine and the Duchess of Sussex’s public unity.
However, behind the scenes, things may not have been as tranquil.
At the time, there were rumors of animosity between the Sussexes and Prince William and Catherine.
In Spare, Prince Harry discussed how Catherine allegedly made Meghan cry over the bridesmaid dresses during the wedding.
Despite the grins, anxiety was palpable during the visit, a year after their initial appearance in 2018.
“For their ‘denial’ appearance in 2019, Meghan was placed in a Middleton “sandwich”, sitting between Catherine and her sister Pippa,” body language expert Judi James told Fabulous.
It looked that Meghan had broken loose from the sister group in order to be depicted as the third sister, and so an integral component of the family, in a public proclamation of intent.
It also meant that Pippa and Catherine would be seen swaying to focus on Meghan, who would be seated in the middle and look to be the honored sister-in-law that both of them were hosting.
Meghan was regularly photographed with her eyes locked forward.
“Pippa appeared to be able to put more ‘carefree’ effort into her interactions with Meghan, but even during those exchanges, Meghan was spotted making an embarrassing gesture by wrapping one arm around her own chest or caressing her neck.
Catherine, on the other hand, seems to have adopted the ultra-polite, non-tactile posture of standing with her hands clasped behind her back when speaking with Meghan at one point.
THE PALACE DIVISION
The chief editor of Majesty Magazine said that Meghan would “never allow any member of the public to see any visible signs of a rift between her and Catherine” in her role as an actor.
The signals of a schism between the two well-known royals were not always obvious, she added.
However, it is now known that Meghan despised being regarded as the then-Duchess of Cambridge’s subordinate.
“Catherine had found the one and only man, Prince William, while Meghan had the “spare” son.”
“Catherine tried to get along with Meghan,” Ingrid went on.
Harry was a member of the small Kensington Palace family, and Catherine was aware of his wish to marry.
She wished for him to feel satisfied as well.
Catherine recognized warning signals in Meghan’s behavior, especially in the lead up to the wedding.
“She had heard tales among the staff about Meghan’s impoliteness when she felt someone was worthless or useless.
Catherine would never have been unkind to Meghan, even if she did not enjoy these characteristics.
MEGHAN’S CONFESSION
Meghan even mentioned the day of Wimbledon in her surprise Oprah Winfrey interview.
Oprah asked Meghan in the 2021 discussion, “Did you feel welcomed by everyone?” It seems like you and Catherine planned to watch a friend play tennis at Wimbledon.
Was it what it seemed to be? You are two sisters-in-law who are discovering each other in the real world.
“Did she assist you in adjusting, accepting you into the family, or both?”
Meghan responded, “I believe I was welcomed by everyone.”
“My understanding and experience over the past four years indicate that it’s nothing like what it looks like when you ask, ‘Was it what it looked like?’”
“It is not at all what it appears to be.”
She went on to explain that throughout her stay with the royal family, she “couldn’t have been lonelier.”
Meghan and Catherine were seen at a charity polo tournament a few days after their trip to Wimbledon.
According to Finding Freedom, a royal biography, the two had a “cordial but distant rapport.”
According to the author, “the two appeared to barely exchange a word, even though the doting mothers were photographed next to each other with their children.”
In January 2020, less than a year later, Meghan and Harry announced their retirement as senior working royals.
They currently live in Santa Barbara with their two children, Princess Lilibet (three years old) and Prince Archie (five).
CATHERINE’S RECOVERY
Catherine’s decision to withdraw from public life while receiving cancer treatment is understandable.
Debbie Jevans, chair of the AELTC, had stated that they are “staying flexible” on who will present this year’s Wimbledon champions with trophies.
Catherine, the group’s patron, has traditionally done the honor.
Debbie told Telegraph Sport: “The Princess of Wales is the Club’s patron, so we hope she can deliver the trophies, but right now her health and recovery come first.
“We are unaware of our ignorance. We’ve only promised to work with her and offer her the greatest amount of flexibility.”