Princess Beatrice of York is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is currently 11th in line to the British throne. Meghan Markle, now known as the Duchess of Sussex after marrying Prince Harry in 2018, has become a controversial figure in the British royal family since joining. As cousins through marriage, Beatrice and Meghan’s relationship has come under scrutiny. This article will examine what is known about whether Princess Beatrice gets along with Meghan Markle.
Beatrice and Meghan’s backgrounds
Princess Beatrice was born in 1988 to Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. As a princess, she has grown up among the privileges and traditions of the royal family. She is known to be close with her younger sister Princess Eugenie and her parents, even though her parents divorced when she was young. Beatrice has carved out a career working in business and finance. She married property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020.
Meghan Markle, born in 1981, had a very different upbringing. She grew up in California and pursued acting, starring on the TV show Suits before retiring from acting upon her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017. As a biracial American divorcée, she was considered an unconventional choice of wife for a British royal. Meghan became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Harry in 2018, but the couple stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and now reside in California.
History of Beatrice and Meghan’s relationship
How they met
Princess Beatrice and Meghan Markle first met sometime around 2016 when Meghan was dating Prince Harry, but before their engagement. Beatrice attended a lunch meeting with Harry and Meghan, though details are scarce about this first introduction. By many accounts, Beatrice made a good first impression on her future cousin-in-law and the relationship started off positively.
Bonding at royal events
Once Harry and Meghan were engaged in late 2017, Beatrice and Meghan had more opportunities to interact at royal events. They were photographed chatting at occasions like the annual Trooping the Colour parade in June 2018. Beatrice and her sister Eugenie also made an appearance at Meghan’s wedding reception at Frogmore House after her wedding to Harry in May 2018. Early signs indicated the cousins were on friendly terms as Meghan joined the royal family.
After Meghan’s wedding
Rumors of tensions between the York sisters and the new Duchess of Sussex began to emerge not long after the spectacular royal wedding. By late 2018 and into 2019, unnamed sources claimed that Beatrice and Eugenie had grown distant from Meghan and felt excluded from the royal circle. Some reports alleged a specific dispute over Eugenie’s wedding plans being disrupted by Meghan’s pregnancy announcement.
Facts and opinions on whether there is a rift
Evidence of conflict
Most of the narrative suggesting Beatrice dislikes or feels competitive with Meghan comes from speculation and unnamed sources, making it difficult to verify. But there are a few pieces of evidence indicating some truth to the rumors of a conflict.
- Beatrice and Eugenie have not been seen interacting with Meghan and Harry together since around early 2019.
- Meghan did not attend Beatrice’s more low-key wedding in 2020 amid the pandemic.
- There are reports Beatrice made a comment about Meghan’s “fat arse” at Eugenie’s wedding in 2018, though this remark has not been confirmed.
So while there is no smoking gun or public blow up indicating a feud, the lack of contact between the sisters and Meghan in recent years implies some distancing in their relationship.
Signs of a decent relationship
On the other hand, there are also signs that Beatrice and Meghan continue to get along well as family:
- Beatrice attended Meghan’s royal wedding and appeared to enjoy herself, chatting animatedly with Harry.
- Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi has praised Meghan and Harry, saying they are “very easy to get along with.”
- Beatrice did not attend Eugenie’s anti-trafficking event amid reports it was snubbing Meghan, as she had a prior engagement.
- Sarah Ferguson has described Meghan as “modern and fabulous.” It is unlikely she would do this if Beatrice disliked her.
Based on these positive indications, it seems plausible the relationship is amicable overall behind closed doors, even if they keep a public distance.
Lack of direct evidence of animosity
Perhaps the most compelling argument that Beatrice and Meghan get along reasonably well is the lack of direct evidence showing animosity or distaste for each other. There are no published reports of heated arguments, overt shunning or insults exchanged. For two high-profile public figures, evidence of an intense feud would likely have surfaced through credible sources by now.
The media speculation seems driven more by vague rumors than concrete examples of the women clashing. Their relationship may not be especially warm or close, but there are also no verified accounts of open hostility between Beatrice and Meghan either.
Causes of rumored rift
Jealousy and competitiveness
If Beatrice does harbor ill feelings toward Meghan, jealousy could be a factor. As an unmarried royal when Meghan came onto the scene, some suggest Beatrice felt overshadowed by the glamorous actress marrying her younger cousin in a lavish spectacle. Meghan captivated global media attention in a way Beatrice never quite managed as a lower-profile royal. Some believe Meghan’s quick rise sparked competitiveness from Beatrice.
Lifestyle differences causing division
Meghan’s dramatically different background and approach to royal life may also have contributed to tensions with the more traditional Beatrice. Meghan was vocal about modernizing the monarchy and willing to break conventions, whereas Beatrice was raised strictly within palace traditions. This culture clash of styles could breed misunderstandings or annoyances on both sides.
Shift of attention to Harry and Meghan
Another plausible grievance is Beatrice feeling Harry and Meghan monopolized the Queen’s focus at the expense of other royals. After their wedding, the Queen invested a great deal of time into welcoming Meghan and giving the couple prominent roles and perks. As cousins accustomed to more attention themselves, Beatrice and Eugenie may have felt sidelined as the Meghan frenzy took over. Resentment over this changing dynamic could drive a wedge.
How Meghan’s royal exit impacted relations
Less family contact
Meghan and Harry’s decision to step back as senior working royals and move overseas greatly reduced chances for ongoing contact with Beatrice. Not seeing each other regularly at events and gatherings means there are fewer opportunities to connect in person and bond as extended family. Physical distance across continents can naturally cause relationships to drift apart.
Less rivalry
On the other hand, Meghan physically distancing herself from the royal scene also alleviates potential rivalry or jealousy issues with Beatrice. The Sussexes forging their independent career and life path apart from strict royal duties removes a major source of competition. No longer vying for prominence within the royal institution could ease tensions for Beatrice and Meghan.
Sympathy about media treatment
Experiencing similarly intense UK media scrutiny may help Beatrice relate to Meghan’s struggles with press criticism. As targets of frequent tabloid gossip themselves, Beatrice and Eugenie potentially empathize with Harry and Meghan over privacy invasions and negative coverage. This shared pain over media hounding could bring them closer.
What the future holds for the relationship
Reconciliation possible
If any ill feelings have developed between Beatrice and Meghan, it is not necessarily permanent. Relatives and in-laws often overcome conflicts given time and space. Reconciliation could occur, especially for the sake of keeping the peace in the royal family. Now removed from the same royal roles and politics, Beatrice and Meghan may let bygones be bygones.
Will Beatrice visit California?
Geographic distance makes it uncertain whether Beatrice will travel to California to visit Meghan, Harry and their children. Flying overseas with young children requires significant effort and expense. But invites will likely be extended should Beatrice wish to reconnect with her American cousins, potentially warming their relationship.
Could Beatrice mend the divide?
As the elder cousin, Beatrice may shoulder responsibility to heal any wounds within the family unit. Extending olive branches to Meghan and Harry as they adjust to post-royal life could show maturity and leadership. Whether Beatrice takes this initiative remains to be seen, but it would certainly strengthen bonds going forward.
Conclusion
Overall, the limited public evidence makes assessing Beatrice and Meghan’s true dynamic impossible from the outside. Unverified rumors of simmering tensions contrast with the pleasant interactions captured between them at royal events. Beatrice and Meghan appear to treat each other courteously at least when under the spotlight. Any strains are thus far confined to hearsay rather than observable proof. Their relationship status seems murky but not openly hostile. Should one cousin take the first step to reconcile, Beatrice reaching out to Meghan across the Atlantic, it could go far to foster goodwill. With or without a royal title, family is still family.
| Year | Key Moments in Beatrice and Meghan’s Relationship |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Beatrice and Meghan meet for the first time when Meghan starts dating Prince Harry |
| 2017 | Meghan attends more royal functions accompanying Harry as their engagement nears |
| 2018 | Beatrice attends Meghan’s wedding; Rumors emerge later in the year of growing tension between them |
| 2019 | No public interactions between Beatrice and Meghan; Speculation of feud continues |
| 2020 | Meghan and Harry step back as senior royals and relocate to California |
