Meghan Markle Called This 'A Turning Point' In Her Relationship With The Royal Family

One year after announcing their decision to step down as working members of the royal family, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are sitting down with Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview. The lead-up to the highly anticipated segment promised that "no subject would be off limits," and this proved true as Oprah cut straight to the chase by asking the question on everyone's mind: Did Meghan really make Kate Middleton cry ahead of her wedding?

Kate and Meghan's relationship has been the subject of media scrutiny ever since her entrance into the royal family, in part because the two duchesses' differing personalities don't mesh well. In late 2018, British tabloids reported rumors of a royal rift between the pair, claiming that Kate had left a bridesmaid-dress fitting in tears. But when Oprah asked about this specific moment, Meghan was quick to clarify that "the reverse happened," adding, "I don't say that to be disparaging to anyone because it was a really hard week of the wedding and she [Kate] was upset about something" (per Cosmopolitan).

As Meghan tells it, Kate later "owned it and apologized," even bringing Meghan flowers. Based on this, you might think the two were able to patch things up and move forward. Why, then, did Meghan refer to the incident as "a turning point" in her relationship with the royal family?

Speaking to Oprah in a bombshell interview on March 7, 2021, Meghan Markle confirmed reports of an issue with the bridesmaid dresses during her 2018 wedding. "It made me cry. It really hurt my feelings," the Duchess of Sussex explained of her spat with Kate Middleton (via Cosmopolitan). However, the real turning point in her relationship with the royals was not because of this simple disagreement, but because they chose not to defend her in the press, despite knowing the truth of what went on behind closed doors. 

"Everyone in the institution knew it wasn't true," Meghan told Oprah, expressing her hurt that no one in the Palace stuck up for her. Even in the face of this perceived injustice, Meghan kept quiet to protect her sister-in-law. "I would have never wanted that [the story] to come out about her [Kate] even though it happened," Meghan explained (according to Today). "I protected that forever being out in the world."

This incident also opened Meghan's eyes to the way in which the media pitted the two women against one another. "I don't know why there's a different standard," she said, per Today. "They seem to want a narrative of a hero and a villain." Now that her days as a working royal are behind her, at least Meghan is finally allowed to speak out and share her side of things.