As Kate makes her triumphant return to overseas duties following her cancer recovery, insiders claim Meghan believes the timing is no coincidence — and tensions between the two women are once again running high
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Kate’s overseas appearance has been widely welcomed by royal fans, but the insider claims Meghan is not impressed by the timing, given how close it is to her and Harry’s trip Down Under
The Princess of Wales travelled to Northern Italy this week for her first solo overseas engagement since recovering from cancer — a return to international duties that has sparked renewed speculation about tensions within the royal family.
An insider claims that the Duchess of Sussex thinks the timing of the trip, so soon after her and Harry’s trip to Australia, is no coincidence.
“From Meghan’s perspective, the timing couldn’t be more obvious,” a source told Closer. “She and Harry have just come back from this great overseas trip [to Australia] and they’re finally getting some positive press, and suddenly Kate’s everywhere again.
“She doesn’t believe for one second it’s a coincidence that right after she and Harry have a successful trip overseas Kate is taking one of her own.”
The source claims that Meghan believes the ‘royal machine’ is out to bulldoze her, especially at a time when her success threatens the popularity of the family’s golden girl, Kate, who the insider says Meghan is adamant has been ‘competitive’ with her from the start.
“Meghan says this whole rollout of appearances and projects by Kate is a calculated move to shift the focus back onto her and the monarchy,” the source explained. “Meghan has always said that Kate was unnecessarily competitive with her from the first time they met, and as far as she’s concerned this is more of the same.
‘It’s clear she’s trying to re-establish her territory and Meghan is convinced it’s because Kate is feeling threatened. Meghan says every time she and Harry start building momentum, the royal machine suddenly swings into action and steals the spotlight away from them again and she’s sick and tired of it.’”
The Duke of Sussex is expected to return to the UK in July to attend a one-year countdown event for the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 and the WellChild Awards.
Rumours are rife about whether Harry will bring Meghan and his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with him. The Sussexes have not visited the UK as a family since 2022, when they returned for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The insider claims he is trying to calm the situation down.
“He’s the first to accuse the Palace of unfair treatment but in this case, he’s not convinced it’s as cut and dried as Meghan’s assuming,” the source says.
Adding that Harry has pointed out the Italy visit was likely arranged well in advance, noting that royal overseas tours are typically planned months ahead.
And that Meghan felt encouraged by the reception she and Harry received during their Australia visit, making the renewed focus on Kate particularly frustrating.
“The Australia trip was one of the rare moments where Meghan finally felt like the positive reaction outweighed the negativity,” the source said. “So watching attention immediately shift back onto Kate has been hugely deflating for her emotionally.”
Despite the reported frustration, the insider says Meghan now feels more motivated to expand future public initiatives alongside Harry.
“She’s told friends that this has only made her more determined to arrange more royal-style tours to prove that she and Harry can have just as much impact, if not more, as Kate and William.”
