Reports suggest that the long-rumored differences between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton first surfaced during their debut as the so-called “Fab Four” in 2018. The joint appearance with Prince Harry and Prince William highlighted contrasting styles and approaches that royal watchers say foreshadowed later tensions.
At the time, Meghan was preparing to marry Prince Harry and had just begun her transition into royal life. Her first appearance alongside Kate, William, and Harry was widely viewed as the start of a new chapter for the monarchy, with the four expected to form a dynamic team for charitable work.
“There was a soft-focus filter over this ‘Fab Four’ meeting of minds at the time, as Harry rather coldly and incorrectly put it, ‘We’re together for life,’” body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail.
She noted that many hoped Meghan and Kate would forge a close bond, similar to the friendship between Sarah Ferguson and Princess Diana during the 1980s. “The expectation was that we had a new friend and ‘sister’ for Kate in much the same way that Fergie and Diana paired off, plus a very glamorous royal quartet to team up for their campaigns and charities,” James explained.
However, James pointed out that the body language and energy displayed during that first event suggested a divide in priorities and personalities. “There was a powerful difference between the more cautious, careful, and rather slow-hand-on-the-tiller campaign approach of William and Kate and the warp-speed urgency, drive, passion, and energy of Meghan,” she added.
Observers at the time described Kate as measured, reserved, and deliberate in her manner, reflecting her steady public image as the future Queen. Meghan, by contrast, was seen as energetic, outspoken, and eager to push initiatives at a faster pace. The contrast, according to analysts, may have created an early clash in style that shaped their relationship.
The “Fab Four” project, once expected to redefine the modern royal family, eventually dissolved as Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The initial optimism surrounding the group was replaced by reports of personal and professional disagreements.
Although much has been written about the rift between Harry and his brother, the divide between Meghan and Kate has also remained a topic of public fascination. Body language experts and royal commentators argue that the differences evident in that first appearance laid the foundation for the strained ties that followed.