William and Kate held July 2018 talks
Prince William and Princess Catherine reportedly invited Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to their home for a private meeting in July 2018, in what was described as an attempt to clear the air just two months after the Sussexes’ wedding. The account, contained in a forthcoming biography, suggests the discussion exposed deep tensions within the Royal Household at a pivotal point in the couples’ relationship.
Hello Magazine reported that author Mr Russell Myers writes the Prince and Princess of Wales hosted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for “clear-the-air talks” by July 2018, adding that the “resulting exchange did not bode well for the future”.
In the book, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Mr Myers says the Sussexes were “unwilling to concede” they were responsible for the departure of two of Meghan’s personal assistants or for what he describes as a stressful atmosphere among staff. He also recounts a claim that Prince William accused Meghan of being “difficult and rude” and, according to Prince Harry’s account as relayed in the book, pointed directly at his wife.
The episode is presented as part of a wider deterioration in relations that would later be reflected in reported distance between the brothers, including claims that Prince William reportedly distanced himself from Prince Harry as disagreements and distrust grew behind the scenes.
Mr Myers also writes that less than a year after the July 2018 meeting, Buckingham Palace announced plans for a new household for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, before the couple ultimately stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The biography’s claims are likely to reignite debate about the pressures on royal staff and the difficult balancing act of family unity and institutional roles.
