Inside the 'Meghan Markle paradox' - Giving up her 'values' to 'curtsy to Kate'
The tense deadlock over whether Meghan Markle would ever curtsy to Kate Middleton has actually been discussed for many years. A royal author claimed in his biography of the Duchess that it was a fear for activists before she even married the Duke.
Last month, royal author Andrew Morton, who penned the famous biography Diana: Her True Story also wrote one for the 42-year-old. Titled Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, he dived into the life of the new royal joining the firm from over the Atlantic. But he believes Meghan Markle won’t return to the UK permanently over the idea she’ll have to curtsy to Kate Middleton when William ascends to the throne. Prince William is next in line, followed by his son George. When that happens in the future, Kate Middleton will become Queen Consort, like Camilla’s title now. This has been raised as a major flag for the Sussexes.
Meghan ‘compromised her values for Her Royal Highness’
In his book, Andrew Morton said, before Meghan and Prince Harry uttered ‘I do’, there were fears over the cost of joining the palace.
He argues feminists saw Meghan “being swallowed” by The Firm, “seriously compromising her agenda as an equal rights activist”. He writes the new royal was “about to swap her values and principles for the appellation ‘Her Royal Highness’ – and the chance to curtsy to the Duchess of Cambridge for the rest of her life”.
But there was another side.
Morton continues: “On the other hand, traditionalists feared that she was a well-groomed stalking horse, her values and lifestyle inimical to a thousand-year-old institution that is seriously hierarchical, and which encourages deference and acceptance for the existing order”
He described Meghan as very “different from other royal brides”, which may be linked to another expert claiming she was no blushing bride over King Charles’ wedding gesture.
Morton poses whether her beliefs paired up with the institution, which was about “rank, place and hierarchy”.
Meghan Markle and the Kate Middleton curtsy debate
Andrew Morton believes Harry and Meghan have their own path now. When asked if they’d return to Britain, he told Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “What, and have Meghan Markle curtsying to Kate Middleton?
“I don’t think so. I don’t see that as a runner. They’ve got their own lives in California.”
Royals bow and curtsy to majesties, so the Duchess would only need to do it when William becomes king.
There’s been long-standing reports over Meghan and Kate’s reported feud. It hit headlines around the Sussexes’ wedding where it was claimed Meg brought the Princess to tears over bridesmaid dresses. But in their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said she was the one who cried over the row.
In his book Spare, Harry dived into the drama and released the alleged text messages between them.
“Charlotte’s dress is too big, too long, too baggy,” the Princess of Wales’ text supposedly said.
Harry said she further sent: “She cried when she tried it on at home.”
The 39-year-olf then claimed Meghan responded with: “Right, and I told you the tailor has been standing by since eight am. Here. At KP. Can you take Charlotte to have it altered, as the other moms are doing?”
In her reply, Kate allegedly said that “all of the dresses need to be remade”. Harry went on to claim Kate discussed it with her own wedding dress designer Sarah Burton, who apparently agreed with her.
Duchess ‘didn’t stay the course’
The author penned the question on who would come out on top? Would it be “Meghan or the Monarchy? Or to put it another way, who would blink first?”
As many commentators have compared the mom-of-two with Princess Diana, Harry’s late mother, there are similarities. She is camera-ready, from her time on hit TV show Suits and countless press tours. Meghan isn’t shy in interviews and knows how to handle herself. This was something Diana had to learn from years of attention. She was introverted and private before marrying the now King Charles.
Morton’s book, which released in 2019, focused on the early days of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It zoned in on their dating history as well as a year into being newlyweds. He wondered if “this ambitious, intelligent, modern and successful woman would stay the course”. We now know, the answer was unfortunately no.
Harry and Meghan moved to Canada for a brief time in 2020 after announcing they were stepping down as senior royals. They then set up shop in a Montecito mansion in LA where they’ve made a home of their own.
The couple welcomed little Archie before they made the big step. Then they gave birth to Lilibet a year after leaving the UK.
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