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Princess Kate and Prince William, 2022 | Duchess Meghan and Queen Elizabeth II, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Princess Kate and Prince William, 2022 | Duchess Meghan and Queen Elizabeth II, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

Kate Was Emotional at Queen's Procession Though Late Monarch Reportedly Bonded Faster with Meghan

Junie Sihlangu
Sep 16, 2022
05:00 P.M.
  • Princess Kate and Duchess Meghan were present at the late Queen's funeral procession, with the two royals acting differently.

  • Meghan and Kate had relationships with the late monarch, but they were different, with the former bonding faster with the Queen despite the latter joining the Royal Family first.

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On September 14, 2022, the Royal Family gathered together for a service where the late Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was brought to Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace. Her coffin would lie in state until her funeral on September 19, 2022.

Those gathered heard a blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Some royals who attended the event were Princess Kate and her husband, Prince William, and Duchess Meghan and her spouse, Prince Harry.

Princess Kate and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, watching Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arriving at Westminster Hall on September 14, 2022, in London, United Kingdom | Source: Getty Images

Princess Kate and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, watching Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arriving at Westminster Hall on September 14, 2022, in London, United Kingdom | Source: Getty Images

As they stood alongside their husbands, Kate and Meghan were visibly emotional during the service. According to People magazine, the Princess and the Duchess appeared to fight back the tears as they viewed the late Queen's coffin.

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After the 20-minute service, Harry held his wife's hand during the exit procession. At the service, Kate and Meghan paid tribute to their late grandmother-in-law by wearing pearls she'd gifted them.

Duchess Meghan pays her respects as Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is brought into Westminster Hall on September 14, 2022, in London, the United Kingdom, on September 8, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

Duchess Meghan pays her respects as Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is brought into Westminster Hall on September 14, 2022, in London, the United Kingdom, on September 8, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

The Duchess of Sussex had diamond and pearl drop earrings that the Queen had given her years before. Despite the Princess and the Duchess being related to the late monarch through marriage to her grandsons, there were different degrees of closeness between them and the Queen.

The Ups and Downs of the Relationship Meghan Had with the Queen

The Queen allegedly met Meghan for the first time in January 2017, when Harry came to introduce her. In November 2017, the former actress was engaged to the late monarch's grandson, and the whole Royal Family celebrated the occasion.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games on September 25, 2017, in Toronto, Canada | Source: Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games on September 25, 2017, in Toronto, Canada | Source: Getty Images

During an interview where the couple confirmed their engagement, Meghan revealed that she'd met Her Majesty and claimed they clicked. Harry's then-fiancée noted how "incredible" it was meeting the Queen through her fiancé's "lens."

She was in awe of how he respected and honored the Queen as the monarch and loved her as his grandmother. Meghan said she had a "deep understanding" and respect for the opportunity to spend time with the "incredible woman."

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In December of that same year, she became the first fiancée to be invited to a Royal Family Christmas celebration. Even though she wasn't married yet to Harry, in February the following year, she and her fiancé got to join William and Kate at London's Royal Foundation.

In May 2018, the couple married and became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Queen allegedly disapproved of the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara Meghan chose to wear for her special day, but the "Finding Freedom" authors claimed the Queen's official dressmaker, Angela Kelly, was the one with an issue.

Meghan Markle at the altar at St George's Chapel on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England | Source: Getty Images

Meghan Markle at the altar at St George's Chapel on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England | Source: Getty Images

Without wasting time, the following month, Her Majesty took Meghan for her first royal engagement alongside her. An Us Weekly source alleged that the Queen loved the enthusiasm the Duchess had to live a life of service, adding:

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"It's just the type of vim and vigor she likes to see in someone."

Queen Elizabeth II is greeted with Duchess Meghan as they arrive by Royal Train at Runcorn Station to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018, in Runcorn, Cheshire, England | Source: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II is greeted with Duchess Meghan as they arrive by Royal Train at Runcorn Station to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018, in Runcorn, Cheshire, England | Source: Getty Images

By October 2018, the Sussexes were pregnant with their first child. The following month, Harry and his wife moved to Windsor's Frogmore Cottage, a home gifted to them by the late monarch.

The following January, rumors went around claiming Kate and Meghan were clashing; another Us Weekly insider said the Queen influenced them to let their issues go over the holidays. While five months pregnant, the Duchess attended an official event at the Royal Albert Hall.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan at the Cirque du Soleil premiere of "TOTEM" at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019, in London, England | Source: Getty Images

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan at the Cirque du Soleil premiere of "TOTEM" at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019, in London, England | Source: Getty Images

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In March 2021, she told CBS that she was experiencing mental health issues at that point, and when she asked for help, her request was refused. Harry and Meghan welcomed their son, Archie, in May 2019, but alleged they were asked to pose for the traditional photo taken at the Lindo Wing at London's St. Mary's Hospital.

In November 2019, the Sussexes chose not to celebrate Christmas that year with the Royal Family. Buckingham Palace said the Queen supported the couple, but an Us Weekly insider claimed the royal was "disappointed."

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The following year, the couple announced they wished to step back from their senior royal roles and seek independence. Reports alleged that Her Majesty was displeased that they'd gone public quickly with the news.

In February 2021, while living in the United States, where the couple had relocated the previous year, Harry and his wife used FaceTime to communicate with the Queen and other family members.

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That same month, they revealed they were expecting a second child. According to Us Weekly, they officially announced their permanent exit, and the Royal Family responded by taking away their honorary military appointments and royal patronages.

During the CBS tell-all interview, Meghan revealed how someone on their United Kingdom (UK) team informed them of Prince Philip's admission to the hospital. She reacted by calling the Queen to check in, noting:

”So, there's the family, and then there's the people that are running the institution. Those are two separate things."

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Meghan clarified how Her Majesty had always been "wonderful" to her. In June, the couple welcomed their daughter, and after consulting with the Queen, they honored her by giving the child the name Lilibet, which was the nickname the late monarch used.

In April 2022, the Duchess returned to the UK for the first time in two years and visited the Queen while on the way with Harry to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games. For June's Platinum Jubilee, the Sussexes returned to the UK with their two children, allowing the Queen to meet her namesake physically for the first time.

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After Her Majesty passed, Meghan paid tribute to the late monarch on her and her husband's Archewell website. The relationship Kate had with the late Queen was also endearing but had its differences from Meghan's.

Kate's Bond with the Late Queen

William proposed to Kate in Kenya, Africa, in October 2010 and tied the knot the following year in April. Their first child, Prince George, was born in July 2013, and by May 2015, their second child, Princess Charlotte, was welcomed.

Catherine Middleton and Prince William pose for photographs in the State Apartments of St James Palace after announcing their engagement on November 16, 2010, in London, England | Source: Getty Images

Catherine Middleton and Prince William pose for photographs in the State Apartments of St James Palace after announcing their engagement on November 16, 2010, in London, England | Source: Getty Images

In both cases, the Prince and Princess showed off their babies outside St. Mary's Hospital, and the couple's last child, Prince Louis, was born in April 2018. According to The Telegraph, Kate said she met the Queen at William's cousin's wedding in 2008.

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The Princess allegedly said Her Majesty had been "very friendly." William shared how his grandmother wanted to meet Kate for a while, and their little chat had gone well, and the pair seemed to get along.

Kate Middleton at Prince William's graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell on April 11, 2008, in Sleaford, England | Source: Getty Images

Kate Middleton at Prince William's graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell on April 11, 2008, in Sleaford, England | Source: Getty Images

The first time Kate got to join the Queen for a royal engagement was the opening of an exhibition in Buckingham Palace in July 2011. The duo seemed comfortable as they discussed the Alexander McQueen wedding gown the Princess had worn for her special day.

The following year they attended several events together, but at times they were accompanied by other people. In 2016, during the ITV documentary celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday, Kate shared how she'd gifted the late monarch homemade chutney for Christmas.

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Duchess Kate and Queen Elizabeth II at "The Patron's Lunch" celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday on June 12, 2016, in London, England | Source: Getty Images

Duchess Kate and Queen Elizabeth II at "The Patron's Lunch" celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday on June 12, 2016, in London, England | Source: Getty Images

The Princess described the Queen as thoughtful and caring while looking after everyone else. Her Majesty also had a close bond with the Wales children and was "thrilled" when she learned about Charlotte's conception.

[Ingrid] Seward said the pair loved dogs, and the Duchess [Meghan] knew how to "make her [the Queen] laugh."

In March 2019, Kate had an adorable moment with her husband's grandmother when they were seen sharing a blanket during an event at King's College. Sources claimed the pair became even closer when the Princess moved from Anmer Hall, Norfolk, to Kensington Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II and Duchess Kate visit Kings College to open Bush House in central London on March 19, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Duchess Kate visit Kings College to open Bush House in central London on March 19, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

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An Us Weekly source alleged that Her Majesty had taken Kate "under her wing" as she was prepared for her role as the future Queen Consort. In June 2022, The Sun revealed that the Wales had moved closer to the Queen by staying at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, claimed the late monarch had been "thrilled" that her grandson, his wife, and children were nearby. Just after Meghan married Harry, Closer Weekly noticed how her relationship with the Queen progressed quicker than the one Her Majesty had with Kate.

Duchess Meghan and Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018, in Widnes, England | Source: Getty Images

Duchess Meghan and Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018, in Widnes, England | Source: Getty Images

According to Seward, the late monarch "admired" Kate but didn't have an "intimate relationship" with her because they didn't have much in common. The editor-in-chief believed the Queen carefully treaded Meghan and did her best to make her feel welcome.

Seward said the pair loved dogs, and the Duchess knew how to "make her laugh." Her Majesty's relationship with William's wife was described as more formal despite knowing each other longer than Meghan knew the Queen.

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