Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family four years ago, and while some thought they would step out of the public eye, the reality was quite the opposite.

Their exit has remained a hot topic, as their outspoken comments about the monarchy have kept them in the spotlight and further strained their relationships with senior royals, including Kate Middleton.

In 2021, their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey kicked off their public criticism of the royal institution. Meghan revealed that King Charles had stopped taking Harry’s calls and claimed there had been discussions about “how dark” their son Archie’s skin might be.

But that was just the beginning. Through multiple interviews, their Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s memoir Spare, they continued to voice their frustrations, further widening the gap between them and the royal family.

One of the most talked-about tensions was between Meghan and Kate Middleton. In their Netflix series, Meghan recalled their first meeting as “uncomfortable,” emphasizing the cultural differences in formality.

Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand noted that Meghan and Kate were never close, despite Meghan’s hopes for support.