Meghan Markle is reportedly pointing the finger at Princess Kate as the fallout over King Charles’ decision to reaffirm Harry and Meghan’s non-working royal status continues to deepen, with a new report claiming the Duchess of Sussex believes the move was not simply the King’s decision but the result of pressure from other senior members of the family.

According to In Touch, via Yahoo, a source claims Meghan remains upset by the September letter confirming that she and Prince Harry remain non-working royals and believes King Charles acted at the urging of others. The source alleges that Prince William was instrumental in the decision and that Kate also played a role.

That allegation adds another layer to an already tense situation because Harry and Meghan had only recently returned to Britain with their children after years living in California, and the Palace clarification arrived with the couple apparently expecting their return to mark a new chapter.

Instead, the letter made one point unmistakably clear: their physical return to Britain did not mean a return to royal duties.

The official guidance said there was “no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex” and confirmed that their HRH styles remain in abeyance. It also described their position as “akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”

Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson said they “were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance,” although royal sources disputed the suggestion that they were completely unaware, saying they had seen the letter shortly before it was released publicly.

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Now the reported Meghan-Kate tension brings an old question back into the spotlight: just how much influence does Kate have within the family when major decisions are being made?

There have been claims in the past that Kate had a significant voice behind the scenes on family matters, particularly during previous royal controversies. Some reporting has portrayed William as someone who listens closely to his wife, while the couple have also presented a united front on difficult family issues. Those claims, however, should not be confused with evidence that Kate personally ordered or directed Charles to issue the latest letter.

What is established is that the letter was issued at the King’s direction after officials received “a number of requests for guidance” following Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain.

The timing has nevertheless fueled speculation because William and Kate have not publicly acknowledged the Sussexes’ return, and the latest report claims Meghan and Kate are not currently on speaking terms.

For Meghan, the reported belief that Kate helped push the family toward a harder line would make the situation particularly personal. For Kate, however, there has been no public confirmation that she played any role in the King’s decision.

And that distinction matters, because what began as a formal clarification of Harry and Meghan’s royal status is now being portrayed as another chapter in the much larger family struggle — one in which old wounds, competing loyalties and questions about who influences the King continue to keep the Sussexes and Waleses firmly apart.