Years after the incident first made headlines, one particular moment continues to resurface whenever discussions turn to royal favouritism and the Sussexes’ grievances: the day the Palace publicly defended Catherine, Princess of Wales — and Meghan Markle reportedly reacted with fury.
At the time, it was described as a breaking point. Today, it is increasingly viewed as an early glimpse into how deeply divided the family had already become.
In June 2020, Kensington Palace moved quickly to issue a rare public rebuttal after Tatler magazine published an article portraying Kate as overwhelmed and resentful of her royal workload following Harry and Meghan’s departure.
The Palace dismissed the claims outright, calling them inaccurate and misleading.
For Meghan, according to friends quoted by Daily Mail, that swift intervention reopened old wounds.
A source close to the Duchess said Meghan was deeply upset, arguing that the Palace had never acted with the same urgency when she herself was subjected to months of negative and, at times, hostile press coverage
“Meghan said Kensington Palace never once stepped in to protect her when the media was tearing her apart,” the friend claimed.
“But when Kate faced one negative article, the Palace responded in less than 24 hours.”
“A slap in the face”
According to the same source, Meghan described the Palace’s response as “a slap in the face” — not only to herself, but to Prince Harry as well.
The Sussexes, the source said, had repeatedly hoped for institutional support during their time as working royals, only to feel ignored.
Yet when Kate was criticised, protection appeared immediate and decisive.
To Meghan, the contrast was impossible to ignore.
Feeling like the outsider
Those close to the Duchess claim this incident reinforced a belief she had long held: that she was never truly embraced by the Royal Family.
Meghan reportedly told friends that instead of receiving understanding, she was made to feel as though she was “asking too much” — when, in her view, she was simply seeking the same backing afforded to others.
That perceived imbalance, sources say, played a significant role in the Sussexes’ decision to step away from royal life altogether.