In the summer of 2019, the sight of the Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan Markle attending Wimbledon together was seen by many as a sign of a blossoming sisterly bond.
After all, the prestigious tennis tournament, steeped in royal tradition, seemed like the perfect place for the two women to enjoy a day of tennis and camaraderie.
Both shared a deep love for the sport—Kate had been a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club since 2016, while Meghan frequently supported her close friend Serena Williams at events.
With the royal box as their backdrop and their smiles shining bright, it appeared as though their relationship was flourishing.
Cracks Beneath the Smiles
However, while the public image was one of unity, behind the scenes, the relationship between the two women was beginning to show signs of strain.
Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, revealed that tensions had already been brewing before the Wimbledon outing, with arguments over seemingly trivial matters such as borrowing lip gloss and disagreements over bridesmaid dresses at Meghan’s wedding.
During Meghan’s infamous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she reflected on the Wimbledon trip, noting that it was “nothing like what it looks like.”
This raised questions about the true nature of their relationship, with experts later suggesting that their body language during the event revealed underlying tensions.
A Royal Outing with Subtle Signals
Typically, Meghan and Kate would be seen together only at official royal engagements, such as Trooping the Colour.
Therefore, their decision to attend Wimbledon together in 2019 was unexpected.
Meghan, who had her own connection to the tournament—where she met the woman who introduced her to Prince Harry—had a personal tie to the event.
Still, their time in the royal box seemed picture-perfect, with Meghan dressed in a chic white Givenchy shirt and patterned Hugo Boss skirt, while Kate wore a stunning custom-made green dress by Dolce & Gabbana.
They were there to watch the Ladies’ Singles Final between Serena Williams and Simona Halep, but unfortunately for Meghan, her friend Serena lost in straight sets to Halep.
Despite the outward show of unity, body language experts noted some subtle signs that indicated discomfort.
Meghan, seated between Kate and Pippa Middleton, was often seen looking straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with her in-laws.
Her body language was telling—at times, she touched her neck or crossed her arms, suggesting a sense of awkwardness. Kate, known for her poise, often stood with her hands clasped behind her back, maintaining a polite distance.
The Contrast with 2018: No Signs of Progress
Just a year earlier, at Wimbledon 2018, the atmosphere had been quite different.
The two women had been seen laughing together and exchanging animated conversation, suggesting that their relationship was in its early, positive stages.
However, by 2019, body language experts noticed a lack of the closeness they had once shared.
There were no exchanged glances or mirroring of movements—signals that typically indicate rapport and familiarity.
Instead, the interaction felt more distant, with subtle signs of tension emerging, particularly from Kate, who appeared to have adopted a more formal and adult stance toward Meghan.
Meghan’s Reflections on the Day
In the aftermath of the Wimbledon trip, Meghan reflected on her experience during her interview with Oprah.
When asked about how she felt during the event, Meghan described her experience as being far from what the public perceived.
She shared that the Royal Family had given her constant advice on how she should behave in the public eye, contributing to feelings of isolation.
“I could not feel lonelier,” she admitted, explaining that, despite being in the spotlight, she often felt invisible.
Further Strain: Charity Polo and Beyond
Just days after Wimbledon, the two women attended a charity polo match where their interactions remained distant.
Authors of the biography Finding Freedom noted that, although the women were photographed together, there was an obvious lack of connection.
Meghan, holding her newborn son, was seen standing apart from Kate, who was focused on keeping her children entertained during the match.
The apparent lack of communication between the two women only added to the growing narrative of their strained relationship.
The Inevitable Split
Months later, in January 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they were stepping away from royal duties, and their relationship with the rest of the family seemed irreparably damaged.
The final straw came when Harry and Meghan walked alongside William and Kate at Windsor Castle after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
It was an awkward moment, and Kate later admitted that it was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do.
Since then, there have been no public appearances or joint engagements between Kate and Meghan, further reinforcing the divide between them.
While the two women once shared a bond through their marriages to Prince William and Prince Harry, it seems that they now exist in completely separate worlds, with little hope of reconciliation.
The Last Chance at Friendship
Looking back, it’s clear that their time at Wimbledon in 2019 could have been the last opportunity for Kate and Meghan to salvage their relationship.
Despite the hope that the shared experience could bring them closer, the subtle tensions and unspoken differences became undeniable.
What seemed like a public show of unity was, in reality, a reflection of a bond that was already on the decline.