Kate Middleton: Harry And Meghan's Wedding Guest

Kate Middleton's outfit at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding has been the subject of much discussion. Middleton wore a cream-coloured Alexander McQueen coat to the 2018 royal wedding, which she had previously worn to Princess Charlotte's christening in 2015 and the Trooping the Colour celebration in 2016. While some saw Middleton's decision to rewear an outfit as a thoughtful choice to avoid upstaging the bride, others interpreted it as a snub. There was also debate over the colour of the coat, with some claiming it appeared white in photos, which would be a breach of wedding guest etiquette. However, Buckingham Palace clarified that the coat was primrose yellow, with the bright sunlight causing it to photograph ambiguously.

Kate Middleton's outfit choice

The Duchess of Cambridge's choice to rewear an outfit was not a sign of disrespect but a thoughtful choice. She knew that wearing a new outfit would increase the attention on her and didn't want to pull focus from Meghan, the bride. This was a strategy that worked, as one source noted that Kate was the "perfect balance of elegance and sophistication in the monochromatic look."

The choice to rewear the Alexander McQueen coat was also a practical one, as Kate had given birth to her third child, Prince Louis, less than a month before the wedding.

While the coat appeared white in some photographs, this was due to the bright sunlight reflecting off the pale yellow fabric. The coat was, in fact, yellow, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace in a press release on the day of the wedding.

Meghan Markle's dress

Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The Duchess of Sussex's fashion choices are often scrutinised and her wedding dress was no exception.

For her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, Markle wore a simple, elegant, pure white gown with a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The dress had a slim-fit shape with a nipped-in waist and fell into a gentle fold at the front of the skirt. The veil was long and delicate, with a trim that included flora from all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, as well as two of the bride's favourite flowers. The design process took 3,900 hours and each flower on the veil was individually embroidered.

Markle's wedding dress was complemented by a pair of simple, sweeping diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet. Her hair was styled into a sleek updo, with her makeup kept natural and minimal.

The dress was well-received by the public and fashion critics alike, with many praising the elegant simplicity of the design.

Kate and Meghan's relationship

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's relationship has been the subject of much media speculation since Meghan and Prince Harry's engagement was announced in 2017. The two women were once dubbed the "fab four" by the British media, but their relationship has reportedly had more lows than highs.

In the early days of Meghan and Harry's relationship, Kate was reportedly a fan of Suits, the TV show in which Meghan played Rachel Zane. Harry's book, Spare, revealed that when he first told William he was dating Meghan, William responded: "F* off!".

Kate and Meghan's first meeting was reportedly slightly awkward. In Spare, Harry wrote that Meghan hugged William, which "completely freaked him out" and that she gave him homeopathic remedies for a cold, which "charmed" him but was described as "unconventional" by Kate.

In the lead-up to Meghan and Harry's wedding in May 2018, there were reportedly tensions between Meghan and Kate over Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress. According to Spare, Kate said the dress was "too big, too long, too baggy" and insisted it needed to be remade, while Meghan wanted Kate to take Charlotte to the tailor for alterations. The exchange reportedly reduced Meghan to tears, but the next day, Kate brought her flowers and a card to apologise.

In November 2018, British tabloids reported that Meghan had made Kate cry during the argument over the bridesmaid's dress fitting. Meghan denied this in her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying that "the reverse happened" and that Kate had owned up to making her cry and apologised.

In the Oprah interview, Meghan also denied that she and Kate had ever been close, saying: "I've really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a stiff upper lip... I think what was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didn't do but that happened to me... It was a really hard week of the wedding, and she was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologised."

Meghan also addressed the negative attention she faced from the media and compared it to Kate's, noting that while Kate was called "Waity Katie" by the press, the rudeness she faced was not the same as the racism she experienced.

In recent years, Meghan and Kate have not been seen together publicly, and their relationship has been described as "tense".

The bridesmaid dress incident

The incident was first reported in the press in 2019, with tabloids claiming that Meghan had made Kate cry over the dress to be worn by Princess Charlotte. However, in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan refuted these claims, revealing that it was Kate who made her cry. Meghan explained that Kate was upset about something related to the flower girl dresses, which made Meghan cry. She added that Kate owned her mistake, apologised, and brought her flowers.

In 2023, Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare", shed further light on the incident. Harry shared text messages between Meghan and Kate, where Kate expressed concerns about Princess Charlotte's dress being too big, long, and baggy. Meghan suggested that Kate take Charlotte to the tailor, who was on standby. However, Kate responded that all the dresses needed to be remade. Ajay Mirpuri, the tailor who fixed the dresses, confirmed the incident and sympathised with the stress of wedding preparations.

Kate and Harry's relationship

Kate Middleton and Prince Harry have had a dynamic relationship over the years, with the Duchess of Cambridge acting as a peacemaker between her husband, Prince William, and his brother.

Harry and Kate's bond was strong in the early days, with Harry saying some kind words about his sister-in-law after William and Kate's engagement in 2010: "I've known Kate for years, and it's fantastic that she is becoming part of the family." Harry was also William's best man at the wedding, famously telling his brother that Kate looked "beautiful" as she walked up the aisle.

The two were often seen laughing together at various royal engagements, including the Olympics, a Thanksgiving service, and Trooping the Colour. They also launched the Heads Together charity together with William.

However, things took a turn for the worse following Harry and Meghan's royal exit. Harry and Meghan's tell-all interview on CBS in March 2021 and their subsequent Netflix show caused a strain in their relationship with the Cambridges, with sources saying that William and Kate "weren't thrilled" with the public airing of dirty laundry.

There were also reports of disagreements between Kate and Meghan over Princess Charlotte's dress for Harry and Meghan's wedding, and whether Kate wore white to the wedding, which is considered a faux pas as it could upstage the bride. While Kate's dress was officially listed as primrose yellow, some photos made it appear white.

Harry and Kate's relationship seemed to improve after the death of Prince Philip, as they were seen talking after the funeral service. They were also seen together with their spouses at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020, which was the Sussexes' last official royal engagement.

However, Harry's memoir, "Spare," caused further tension, with Kate feeling "hurt and betrayed" by his revelations. Harry also published private texts between Kate and Meghan in the book, leading Kate to feel that he was "dragging her name through the dirt."

Despite the ups and downs, Harry has expressed his love for his sister-in-law, writing in "Spare" that he felt Kate was "more sister than in-law" and that she made his brother "visibly happy."

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