The Real Reason Kate Wasn't A Bridesmaid In Meghan's Wedding

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have reportedly been at odds ever since the Suits alum began dating Prince Harry, with this supposed feud heating up in the months leading up to their May 2018 wedding. Palace sources claimed the Duchess of Sussex's bridezilla demands caused Middleton to cry during a dress fitting for Princess Charlotte, as an insider relayed to The Daily Telegraph (via the Daily Express), "Kate had only just given birth to her third child, Prince Louis, and was feeling quite ­emotional." 

The flip side to this rumor? Insiders argued Markle didn't feel comfortable around the royal family and was determined to leave her life in England behind once she realized it wasn't "working," per The Times of London. This would explain why Prince Harry and Markle seemingly rushed Megxit, although there were other good reasons for their haste. 

So is it possible the ladies' clashing personalities were to blame for Markle not choosing the Duchess of Cambridge as a bridesmaid in her wedding? The real answer might surprise some fans.

There's a lot of gossip surrounding Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton's relationship, so it's fair some people saw red flags when the Duchess of Cambridge wasn't a bridesmaid for her sister-in-law's May 2018 nuptials. But as much as a rivalry would make for good entertainment, we can't ignore the fact that the truth probably has to do with royal protocol. As royalty expert, Marlene Koenig explained to Town & Country, "Most royal brides do not have adult bridesmaids... It would be unusual for a royal bride to have a woman in her late 30s as a maid or matron of honor. The Duchess of Cambridge having her sister, Pippa, was unusual."

Not to mention, if the women were feuding, why would Markle have Princess Charlotte and Prince George in her wedding party? Charlotte was a bridesmaid, while Prince George was a page boy. 

Bottom line? It seems like this move was decided by tradition rather than spite.

In case you already didn't get the memo, Kate Middleton will be the queen of England one day. This future title obviously carries a lot of weight and prestige, a sentiment that's not lost on Prince William's wife. In fact, this is reportedly why the Duchess of Cambridge stepped aside as Pippa Middleton's maid-of-honor in 2017. "It's a tricky situation for Pippa," veteran royals author Judy Wade told People before the wedding. "She would want her sister by her side, as who else would she trust to make things go well? But if your sister is a future Queen, she is going to upstage the bride and draw attention. Kate would want to be in the background as much as possible." It's possible Middleton gave Meghan Markle this same courtesy, but who really knows.

Speaking of Middleton's prestigious future, it supposedly prevents her from doing the work of commoners. "She is the future queen consort when William becomes king after his father, and would unlikely be an attending person to another royal bride," royals expert Marlene Koenig told Cosmopolitan. 

Translation: It's unlikely you'll spot the Duchess of Cambridge throwing a bachelorette party or steaming a veil anytime soon.

Although it's true women are superheroes, everyone has limits, including Kate Middleton. So it wasn't very fair for people to assume the Duchess of Cambridge would appear in Meghan Markle's wedding considering she gave birth to her third child, Prince Louis, just one month before. "Kate was never going to be a bridesmaid – she hasn't known Meghan for very long and will have just given birth when the wedding takes place," royal expert Emily Nash explained to Hello! magazine in December 2017. "Just like at Pippa's wedding, I'd expect her to have her hands full managing Princess Charlotte and Prince George, who are far more likely to play the roles of flower girl and page boy at the nuptials, as well as her newborn son or daughter."

We don't know about you guys, but it sounds like there are plenty of reasonable explanations for bridesmaid-gate. However, it's interesting to note that things seem frosty between the pair post-wedding. Just one example? When Middleton and Markle reunited in March 2020 for the Commonwealth Day service with their husbands, they barely exchanged hellos. Talk about an awkward moment. 

Of course, there may be no bad blood between the two, and perhaps they're planning a playdate with their kids after the coronavirus outbreak. Stay tuned.