Meghan and Kate were not duelling duchesses, book claims

There was no feud between the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex – the two women just had nothing in common, according to a new book.

The authors of Finding Freedom, serialised by The Times and The Sunday Times, claim Meghan had hoped Kate would reach out to her, but “didn’t lose sleep” over it when she did not.

As well as a number of salacious revelations about the Sussexes’ growing bitterness towards the royal family and the machinery of the monarchy, the book also tries to debunk a few myths.

According to the co-authors, Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, the alleged rift between the two couples stemmed from a growing coolness between Harry and William – and not Meghan and Kate.

The press were apparently too quick to blame the Sussexes’ decision to move to Windsor on the “duelling duchesses”, the authors say, when it was Harry who felt suffocated by his brother.

• The Sussexes and the Royal Family: a relationship that was never going to work

The authors wrote: “The truth was that Meghan and Kate just didn’t know each other that well.”

They claim the duchesses’ relationship had not really progressed from when they had first met, and that Meghan was disappointed by Kate’s lack of support during her roughest times with the press.

But rumours that Meghan made Kate cry during a bridesmaid’s dress fitting for Princess Charlotte are false, the book insists.

Reports that Meghan’s “strict demands” had left Kate in tears “puzzled” those who were present.

A source who was there said: “Some of the children weren’t co-operating, and there was a lot going on.

“Everyone tried to help where they could, but it’s never easy with kids at fittings. There were no tears from anyone.

“And in the end, the fitting was fine. Kate and Meghan were both a little stressed but professional in the room, and there were other people there.”

Allegations that Meghan angered Kate when she supposedly shouted at a member of her team are also untrue, the authors state.

The story allegedly related to Kensington Palace deputy communications secretary Katrina McKeever, who left her post with the royals in September 2018.

The authors wrote: “Even Kensington Palace didn’t understand the bizarre story.

“McKeever left on a good note with the Sussexes, who sent her a handwritten letter and huge floral arrangement when she left.”