Meghan Markle believed she had “more of a right to speak” about philanthropy than Kate Middleton when she joined the royal family, according to a royal insider.
The former actress came to the alleged conclusion because her sister-in-law “married into the family as an unknown, whereas Meghan regarded herself as a philanthropist who could teach the royals a thing or two about charity,” the source claimed to the Telegraph Sunday.
However, Markle, 42, apparently struggled when she realized that the royal family already had their philanthropic endeavors established.
“I think she found it difficult that the Royal Foundation was already a well-oiled machine by the time she got there,” the source added over the weekend.
The insider also claimed that Markle was uncomfortable playing “second fiddle” to Middleton and Prince William, both 41, who are first in line to become King and Queen of England.
“I think there was always a sense that Meghan felt she was a self-made woman whereas Kate hadn’t really had her own career,” the source claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex’s and Middleton have had an ongoing rift, with rumors swirling since the early days of Markle and Prince Harry’s relationship that the two women were feuding.
Reports famously claimed that Markle made Middleton cry during a flower-girl dress fitting ahead of the royal couple’s wedding.
However, the “Suits” alum later told Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that it was actually “the reverse” and it was Middleton who allegedly made her cry.
“Everyone in the institution knew it wasn’t true,” Markle claimed without going into detail over the disagreement.
“There wasn’t a confrontation,” she noted at the time. “She apologized, and I’ve forgiven her.”
A royal expert subsequently alleged that Middleton was “mortified” when Markle told her side of the story.
Elsewhere in the interview with Winfrey, Markle claimed that certain members of the royal family made racist comments before her now 4-year-old son Archie’s birth, expressing “concerns” about his skin color.
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She and Harry refused to reveal the identities of the culprits, with the duke telling Winfrey: “That conversation I am never going to share, but at the time, it was awkward. I was a bit shocked.”
Harry later backtracked a bit, clarifying that his family had shown “unconscious bias” but not racism.
The controversy came back into the spotlight this month when a new biography allegedly named Middleton and Charles as the royals who made the controversial comments.
The identity of the two royals was accidentally revealed in Dutch copies of royal reporter Omid Scobie’s “Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival.”
While the media initially redacted the names, Piers Morgan shared the monikers with the public, noting that he does not believe the princess and the monarch, 75, made the racist comments.
“Frankly, if Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can pick it up and see these names, then you — the British people here, who actually pay for the British royal family — you’re entitled to know, too,” he said on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” last week.
Middleton and William have remained tight-lipped about the scandal and are conducting business as usual, though William and Charles are reportedly preparing a game plan over the crisis.