Before stepping into royal life, Meghan Markle made no secret of her feelings about the “pomp and circumstance” surrounding the monarchy.
The Duchess of Sussex, known for her candid opinions, once reflected on the media spectacle surrounding Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding.
In a resurfaced entry from her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, Markle openly criticized the grandeur of the Waleses’ nuptials and the fascination with Kate. Ironically, seven years later, she would have her own highly publicized royal wedding to Prince Harry.
“I Was All About She-Ra, Princess of Power”
According to The Express, Markle wrote on her blog: “Little girls dream of being princesses… I, for one, was all about She-Ra, Princess of Power. For those of you unfamiliar with the ’80s cartoon reference, She-Ra is the twin sister of He-Man and a sword-wielding royal rebel known for her strength.”
She went on to say, “Grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy. Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the royal wedding and endless conversation about Princess Kate.”
Her words suggested she admired women who challenged norms, rather than those who embodied the traditional princess image.
A Blog With a Rebel Spirit
The piece appeared as part of a profile on Princess Alia Al Senussi, a descendant of Libyan royalty. Markle emphasized that she aligned more with being a “royal rebel” than a “Cinderella.”
Years later, in the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, the Duchess recalled the early days of her blog. “I’ve never really been the type of person to do only one thing. I guess that’s how my website was born. There was fashion. There was tons of food and travel… And The Tig wasn’t just a hobby. It became a really successful business.”
It was fitting, then, that after stepping back as senior royals in 2020, Meghan and Harry were dubbed “royal rebels” by the press.
William and Kate’s Support Despite Differences
While Markle may not have been impressed by William and Kate’s wedding, the couple warmly supported her ahead of her own. Just a month before Meghan and Harry’s 2018 ceremony, Kate told reporters: “It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together. William and I are absolutely thrilled… it’s a really happy time for any couple, and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.”
Even after the Sussexes left royal life and relocated to California, Kate congratulated Meghan on the birth of her daughter, Princess Lilibet.
Tensions Behind Palace Walls
Still, harmony between the two women was often strained. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry recounted several difficult moments between Meghan and Kate, including an incident in which Kate allegedly made Meghan cry over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress in the days leading up to the wedding. He also revealed that tensions with William and Kate began even before his marriage to Meghan.