Meghan reportedly showed signs of awkwardness and discomfort during her first appearance at Wimbledon with Kate in 2018, realizing that all public attention was focused on her sister-in-law.
According to body language expert Judi James, images and videos of Meghan and Kate’s first joint appearance at the Wimbledon women’s singles final in 2018 reveal more signs of tension than the public perceived.
At that time, less than two months after her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan and her sister-in-law attended the match between their close friend Serena Williams and tennis player Angelique Kerber.
Although the two smiled, chatted, and sat next to each other in the stands, Judi James believes Meghan appeared uncomfortable noticing that all the attention and greetings from the organizers were directed at Kate.
According to the expert, when she got out of the car, Meghan seemed to expect this to be an intimate appearance between the two sisters-in-law. However, Kate maintained the demeanor of a senior member of the royal family as the patron of the All England Tennis Club.
Judi James noted that Meghan repeatedly tried to catch up with Kate or walk alongside her sister-in-law instead of following the proper protocol. At times, she offered a friendly smile, but Kate continued with the welcoming ceremonies as befits her role.
The expert also pointed out that Meghan constantly touched her hair, put her hand to her neck, and displayed gestures that showed a lack of confidence when waiting or being held back during the welcoming procession.
According to Judi James, after leaving the royal family, Meghan often took the initiative in public activities with Harry, even initiating conversations with the press or the public on several occasions. Therefore, having to stand behind Kate according to royal protocol may have been difficult for her to adapt to.
The relationship between Meghan and Kate is believed to have become increasingly strained as a result. In 2019, when they appeared together at Wimbledon for the second time, rumors of discord between them surfaced.
In the following years, more details about the relationship between the two sisters-in-law continued to emerge, from the controversy surrounding the bridesmaid dresses before Harry and Meghan’s wedding, to their interviews with Oprah Winfrey, and revelations in the documentary Harry & Meghan and the memoir Spare.
In the documentary released in 2022, Meghan recounted her surprise at the formality of the royal family members even in their private lives, and admitted that she was used to expressing affection through hugs, something she felt not everyone in her husband’s family felt comfortable with.
