Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle once deliberately avoided each other at a polo match in 2019, a body language expert claimed.
Speculation about tension between Kate and Meghan has persisted for some years.
During the family-friendly polo match held in July of 2019, Kate, 43, and Meghan, 44, were seen keeping their distance from one another.
Body language expert Judi James described the moment as a “deliberate” avoidance. This may have likely been driven by Meghan’s desire to protect her young son, Archie.
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle ‘deliberately avoided’ each other at polo match
Speaking to Fabulous Digital at the time, Judi noted the clear lack of interaction between the two royal women.
“What we’re looking at appears to be two mothers wrapped up and lost in their own worlds,” she said, as reported by The Sun. “This could be a deliberate effort to avoid one another.”
Meghan stood away from the group with baby Archie cradled in her arms. Meanwhile, Kate was occupied wrangling her three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis.
This could be a deliberate effort to avoid one another.
Although the two women were only feet apart, Judi noted that there was no visible attempt to connect.
“Kate stays down, Meghan stays up, and neither seems willing to meet in the middle,” she observed. She pointed out that there were no images of Kate walking over to see the baby or Meghan stepping closer to engage.
Judi also noted that Meghan’s body language throughout the day, standing alone and holding Archie tightly, gave the impression of someone “wary” and “protective”.
The moment came amid reports of growing tension between the Sussexes and the Waleses. At the time, many outlets speculated that a rift was forming between the two royal households following Prince Harry and Meghan’s move to Frogmore Cottage.
The palace also announced around this time that Meghan and Harry would no longer share an office with William and Kate.
Of course we now know that months later, in early 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from their senior royal roles.
Prince Archie ‘steals the limelight’
During the polo match, the focus was meant to be on Prince Harry and Prince William as they took part. However, it was the youngest members of the royal family who ended up commanding the most attention.
Judi noted that Archie, then only two months old, became the highlight of the day.
“Little Archie steals the limelight. Harry couldn’t look more delighted and besotted,” she said. “They look so much like a contained unit of three here.”
The apparent distance between Kate and Meghan that day painted a stark contrast to earlier images of the so-called “Fab Four”. This was the nickname once given to William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan during the early days of their joint royal engagements.
In hindsight, the polo match may have marked one of the first signs of growing separation between the two couples. This separation ultimately culminated in Harry and Meghan stepping down from royal duties just months later.
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