Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, seem to be ready to forge a new path in their relationship with Meghan Markle and to some extent Prince Harry. At least, this is what some fans are hoping for.
This week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to social media to wish the former actress a happy birthday. The Suits star turned 41 on August 4.
It was not an effusive gesture filled with charm and warm feelings. However, it did the job; they kept things short and simple.
They chose an elegant and flattering photo of the Duchess of Sussex from the Platinum Jubilee event in London. Of course, some critics will say it is not a lot, but it is an improvement compared to the non-interaction that occurred during the Jubilee in June.
Wishing a happy birthday to The Duchess of Sussex! pic.twitter.com/HrYdCbe6N1
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) August 4, 2022
Last month, many British royals gathered to pay tribute to the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The Duke of Sussex and his spouse saw this as an opportunity to make peace with some members of the family after the disastrous Oprah Winfrey interview.
Harry’s plan failed, and most of the royals completely ignored him and his wife (publicly). It was an embarrassing display that might have long-term ramifications for the royal family.
A few royal experts even say that Prince Harry will seek some form of revenge with his tell-all book that will be out later this year. After what happened in England in June, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who even skipped Lilibet Diana‘s birthday party, could be offering an olive branch.
It is not certain this will be enough for reconciliation. However, it cannot hurt the entire process.
Moreover, one of the main problems Markle always had with the royal family was the fact that she did not feel like she was seen or understood. A short and sweet little birthday message is a public acknowledgment of Markle’s existence after a tumultuous year for the family.
It will be interesting to see if this is the beginning of a new era for the two couples. There are many reasons to be skeptical about the whole thing, but there is at least one to be optimistic.
Some observers say there is a general consensus in the royal family that things might have gone too far in June. The grade-A snubbing did not make anyone look good. It might be the right time to lower the drama level.
A few naysayers say that William does not really have the choice because he might be trying to avoid more problematic headlines. For a few weeks now, he has been accused of cheating on Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and living double life that is in direct contradiction with his well-built and clean-cut public image.
There is no proof that a royal blind item from DeuxMoi has anything to do with the heir to the British throne. However, those, who believe that Harry has been unfairly treated, managed to make a connection with William.
For days, the hashtag “#PrinceOfPegging” has been trending in tandem with “#PrinceWilliam” on Twitter. The future king has faced this kind of rumor in the past, but the scrutiny never reached this level before.
In 2019, Duchess Kate‘s former friend, Rose Cholmondeley, was accused of having an affair with Prince William. When tensions are high between the two brothers, Harry’s supporters spend more time pushing these salacious rumors.
William and Kate might have reached the conclusion that it was better for their own sake to calm things down a little bit. It is unclear if followers on both sides will get the message.
