Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Kate and William saw Harry and Meghan as a real threat to their image?

491 replies

BluntPinkNewt · 09/08/2025 11:32

From the moment Harry and Meghan got together, the media attention was huge. Meghan was glamorous, charismatic, and had a strong public presence - something the royal family hadn’t seen before from an outsider. For a while, it felt like they were the most exciting and modern part of the monarchy.

Kate and William have always been the “stable” and “traditional” royals but suddenly, Harry and Meghan were drawing attention in a way that might have made them seem more relatable and interesting in comparison. The shift in public perception (and maybe even palace dynamics) must have been unsettling.

Obviously things have played out the way they have but AIBU to think that, at least at the time, William and Kate felt genuinely threatened by how much attention and influence Harry and Meghan were gaining?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
BluntPinkNewt · 09/08/2025 11:44

PollyBell · 09/08/2025 11:38

Charismatic and glamorous? Since when?

From her first public appearances - Invictus Games, the engagement interview, and her early royal engagements, she brought a different energy and style that got a lot of media attention. Whether people liked her or not, she clearly made an impact.

OP posts:
JMSA · 09/08/2025 11:43

No, because I don’t ever remember it being positive attention.

SisterTeatime · 09/08/2025 11:43

Meghan has all the charisma of a potato. As for the Royal Family not having seen charisma and glamour before from an outsider before, have you ever heard of Lady Diana Spencer? Anthony Armstrong-Jones?

myrtleWilson · 09/08/2025 11:43

Surely the evidence suggests it was M&H who were competitive - remember when W&K dropped out of the procession for the Commonwealth service because H&M had thrown their toys out the pram

KimberleyClark · 09/08/2025 11:42

Why on earth should they give a toss. They are the ones who will become King and Queen.

BlueandWhitePorcelain · 09/08/2025 11:42

I would have thought they were grateful, someone else was attracting the attention away from them for a while? It can’t be pleasant living in a fish bowl of the world’s press?

As a pp has said, W and K always knew, where they were in the pecking order and financial resources in the RF, once William took over the Duchy of Cornwall, never mind if he becomes King!

BluntPinkNewt · 09/08/2025 11:40

TheRealGoose · 09/08/2025 11:34

Lol, seriously? 😂 Kate and William are future king snd queen, I doubt they care about popularity contests . Funny though.

Being future king and queen doesn’t mean they’re immune to human feelings like competitiveness or image management, especially when the press plays favourites. The Firm has always cared about public perception.

OP posts:
Martymcfly24 · 09/08/2025 11:39

Id say the opposite, they would have loved to share the load with another couple and leave them concentrate on their kids.

Saltandpepperlife · 09/08/2025 11:38

I highly doubt the future King and Queen feel threatened by the wannabes.

PollyBell · 09/08/2025 11:38

Charismatic and glamorous? Since when?

Drivingthevengabus · 09/08/2025 11:38

YABU not to post this stuff on the Royal Family board.

DeLaRuiz · 09/08/2025 11:37

Much lolz. No contest, Kate and William win all day, everyday.

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/08/2025 11:36

Who cares.

Fitzcarraldo353 · 09/08/2025 11:35

Doubt they gave a shit to be honest.

Zonder · 09/08/2025 11:35

I doubt it. After reading a thread on here I just went and checked out Meghan's as ever stuff. It all looks like a poorly done PR campaign. I don't think W and K have anything to worry about.

TheRealGoose · 09/08/2025 11:34

Lol, seriously? 😂 Kate and William are future king snd queen, I doubt they care about popularity contests . Funny though.