Meghan Markle fought hard to make amends with Kate Middleton — in the headlines.
A new book claims that the former actress, 41, “became obsessed” with the media’s portrayal of her alleged feud with the now-Princess of Wales, 40 — imploring Buckingham Palace to make a statement in order to clear the air.
In 2018, Middleton was seen crying during a bridesmaids’ dress fitting for Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry.
However, in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired last March, Markle claimed the image portrayed quite the opposite of the truth — that it was the then-Duchess of Cambridge who made her bawl.
Valentine Low’s new book, “Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown,” out Thursday, says that Markle was adamant on the truth coming out about that incident.
The Duchess of Sussex was seemingly frantic for the palace to “put something out” that denied the rift between the sisters-in-law.
“The truth is that, after the dress fitting, Meghan had become obsessed with trying to persuade the palace press office to put something out denying the story,” Low writes, according to excerpts of the book.
Middleton and Markle allegedly had a crying match in 2018 before Markle’s wedding that May. ShutterstockIn the Winfrey interview, “Meghan went further than denying the Kate-in-tears story, however. Instead, she said, the reverse had happened. However, [the palace] were equally adamant that it would be a serious mistake to start briefing about personal stories relating to differences between members of the Royal Family,” Low writes.
The palace, the book continues, did not want to set a “precedent” for “commenting on personal tittle-tattle” — adamant that they not “fan the flames of the story.”
“This became a major point of contention between Meghan and her media advisers,” the excerpt reveals.
The Fab Four attending Trooping the Colour in June 2018.ShutterstockRumors of bad blood between the Fab Four — Markle, Middleton and their respective husbands, Harry, 38, and Prince William, 40 — have swirled for years, further ignited by the Sussexes’ decision to step back from their royal duties and their subsequent move to California in 2020.
The royal siblings reunited recently after Queen Elizabeth’s death on Sept. 8, sitting near each other during the funeral on Sept. 19.
Following Harry and Markle’s interview last year, Middleton was reportedly “mortified’’ over the reveal that she made Markle cry before her wedding. Royals insider Katie Nicholl told OK! magazine at the time that “Kate is so discreet and respects her personal life.”
“You never hear about [Middleton] falling out with anyone because she is very careful with how she treats others,” Nicholl said. “Kate felt [the incident] was all sorted, so to have it brought up again was mortifying.’’
She continued, “From what I hear, there are different versions of the bridesmaid story, not just the one Meghan discussed.”
Nicholl, too, has a new book, “The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown,” out Tuesday, which promises a behind-the-scenes look at the royal family’s dynamic, including the late Queen’s take on Harry’s decision to quit the royal family.
