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

[BluntPinkNewt]

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?

Lots of emotional damage in aristo families, I agree. Catherine isn't an aristo though so middle class habits probably prevail at least some of the time in their home life.

Surely the press weren't suggesting that C 'upped her fashion game' after the arrival of Meghan because she thought M looked more glamorous! They have to be joking - I cannot think of one outfit worn by M in which she looks really elegant and glamorous. The clothes never seem to fit properly to start with - I still snort with laughter every single time I see a photo of her in that awful green goblin ensemble!!

There are aristo connections on Catherine's father's side.

True, but she wasn't brought up as an aristo.

I just find it bizarre that William doesn't take on more, given his father's age and diagnosis of ongoing cancer treatment.
Why doesn't he?
Why leave the investitures to his 75yo Aunt when he lives round the corner and she lives 100 miles away
I just don't get it.

It is also possible Charles and Anne don't want to be edged out by William or anyone else, that they want to keep going as long as they can and they want to continue taking on duties.

My father in law was one of those, he kept doing into his 80's what he was doing when he was 50, despite being very comfortable financially and not needing to work, everyone was telling him he needed to slow down, stop driving etc, a bad injury finally forced him to accept he couldn't continue at his previous pace, but he still took on jobs which kept him occupied and busy and feeling fulfilled..

This one, @PistachioTiramisu ? Meghan Markle avoided a bold 'look at me' outfit to the Jubilee for key reason | Express.co.uk

As though MM could help herself without even subtly subverting the sensibilities
of the RF.
Her coat is a direct copy of one worn by the DoW in fact it could well be the same one.
Her hat was completely the wrong weight, style, fabric, £7.99 from Bon Marche.
Yes that look she was displaying, the bold ‘look at me’ look.

It is also possible Charles and Anne don't want to be edged out by William or anyone else, that they want to keep going as long as they can and they want to continue taking on duties

I've sometimes wondered about this myself, @Outig

Unless there's something really major, in a toss up for coverage between C&C or W&K the media will usually go for the latter, and as a man capable of considerable resentment (as with the admittedly excessive attention paid to Diana) it wouldn't surprise me to learn that doesn't suit

Add on the time he had to wait for his turn and the likelihood it may be short, and it could easily breed an attitude of "Hey, what about ME??"

I don't think Anne would have commented that she would prefer if William did more of the investitures local to him, if she hadn't meant it. Why would she say that...

No one would think any of the less of her given she's done the lions share for decades and knowing what I know about Gatcombe, something tells me she would relish more time at home. Her children live there, her grandchildren, and it's a working farm.
Just a personal opinion.

Wasn’t Kate pregnant when Harry and Meghan got engaged? She had given birth to Louis shortly before they married. I lived in a tracksuit for most of my pregnancies.

So....the Royal chef story is complete nonsense then. He stopped working for the royals more than 10 years before W&C were even married! 😂

The wedding was 26 days after she gave birth to Louis.

I can't imagine trying to stuff myself into that lemon dress and heels to sit through a long wedding while still bleeding and leaking milk etc

Darren McGrady, the chef being quoted, has lived in Texas since 1998!

Also, it’s not like we haven’t seen the Wales family being papped all eating together.

Thanks, @Serenster ! I have to laugh at how desperate some people are to believe utter nonsense! 😂

Being glamorous isn’t connected with how nice or not you are.

Indeed. It is ridiculous to claim that trend-setter, fashion icon and globally covered Margaret wasn’t glamorous. From ingenue to stylish adult woman, she definitely had it. I haven’t even attached the photo of her wearing a tiara in the bath…

Margaret's 21st birthday portrait in her Dior gown (top right), is just stunning. So glamorous!

Glamour is something you can’t always put your finger on but you know when someone has it. To my mind neither Meghan or Kate has it, Princess Margaret absolutely had it.

I agree. Diana had it too. QEII didn't.

Yes, I agree. A certain something.

I read this and thought I would keep a look out to see if it's true. Hey presto someone called ProudLemonDreamer has started a thread in AIBU about how obvious it is that H&M are on love! Ok so dreamer isn't an animal but it's close enough.

Well spotted, I will be looking out for more now.

Interesting! Jeff - looks like you were right!

And the irony is that Harry has never actually been the spare - 2nd in line - as he's never been higher than 3rd in the LoS

@Lunde , it's 'heir and spare'. He was always the spare.

Yeah I definitely agree with this. I find H&M much more relatable and likeable. Megan is also very beautiful naturally and was already very successful in her own right.

Harry was obviously in love with her, she didn’t have to wait around for him to propose so their relationship is more romantic. I think this was probably felt quite threatening to W&K.