Will Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Ever Become Friends?

Inside the Royal Women Worlds

When Queen Elizabeth's body was brought into Westminster Hall on Wednesday to lie in state, the four spouses of Windsor stood side by side.

The coffin was gently placed atop the raised catafalque by eight young Grenadier guards, who had the responsibility of conveying the monarch's remains into the Palace of Westminster.

Adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the coffin was covered in the Royal Standard flag, symbolizing the Sovereign in the UK.

Following her husband's coronation as King Charles III, Camilla, the new Queen consort, stood next to Kate, the new Princess of Wales.

Acting as a mediator between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, whose relationship has been tense, was Sophie Wessex, the Queen's favorite and Prince Edward's wife.

The sisters-in-law hadn't spoken to each other in over two years, even during the Sussex family's visit to the UK in June to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

This strained relationship was a result of the fallout from Megxit, when Meghan and Prince Harry left the royal family.

On Saturday, the two women exchanged barely a glance as they welcomed mourners in front of Windsor Castle.

According to a reliable royal source, there are several obstacles to overcome before Meghan and Kate can become friends.

It is easier to build a friendship when one is feeling positive and on the winning side.

So, it is understandable that nerves and anguish were present as Meghan and Kate stood side by side on Wednesday, quietly waiting for their husbands to arrive after escorting the Queen on her final journey from Buckingham Palace.

During those brief intervals, we caught a fascinating glimpse of all four royal women.

Kate, 40, appeared distraught, while Camilla, wearing a black hat with a wide brim, looked straight ahead.

Body language expert Judy James noted that Meghan, a former actress, had a pitch-perfect look, while Sophie, 57, seemed to be fighting back tears.

Since the Queen's passing a week ago, all the dynamics of the royal family, often referred to as the Firm, have shifted.

Camilla, now the Queen consort at 75, requires the others to bow before her.

Meghan, 40, is expected to curtsy to Kate, although royal observers doubt it will actually happen.

Hugo Vickers, a royal biographer, stated that while technically Meghan should curtsy to Catherine because she is no longer in HRH, the Queen always made it clear that she did not expect it.

The Queen didn't care if others didn't curtsy when they saw her, although individuals in the official system, such as ambassadors, were expected to behave properly.

This change in authority has not been experienced by the strong-willed women of the royal family for a very long time.

Christopher Warwick, a royal biographer, revealed that the Queen Mother was displeased with being sidelined after her husband King George's passing in 1952.

Once her daughter Elizabeth was crowned Queen, she became jealous of her daughter's position of authority over her.

In the 2020 documentary “The Private Lives of the Windsors,” Warwick mentioned that the Queen Mother enjoyed being Queen, and suddenly, she lost all that.

Her role as the Queen Mother caused her great discomfort, and she envied her daughter's success as Queen.

In the current situation, there are new challenges that everyone must navigate.

The decision for Sophie to drive Meghan to Westminster Hall for Wednesday's moving lying-in state service was significant.

The two women will also travel together to Monday's funeral service at Westminster Abbey, with their husbands following the late Queen's coffin on foot.

In the past, Meghan would have been expected to accompany her sister-in-law Kate to such a state event.

Despite once being referred to as the Fab Four, and sharing a charitable organization that supported causes like mental health, the women did not appear as close as pictures may have suggested.

According to royal reporters Armid Scobie and Carolyn Durand in their 2020 Sussex biography “Finding Freedom,” Meghan would agree that the Duchesses were not the best of friends.

Their relationship had not developed beyond being Harry's girlfriend.

In conclusion, the possibility of Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton becoming friends remains uncertain.

The tension between them has persisted for years, and while there may be opportunities for reconciliation, there are significant obstacles to overcome.