How Princess Eugenie Really Feels About Meghan Markle
Princess Eugenie of York and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle have certainly made a name for themselves as two royals to watch. Though one was born into royalty while the other married into it, they're both icons in their own right. And, as such, Brits, as well as fans from all around the globe, have paid close attention to the famous women, watching for details about their personal lives, their fashion choices, and their relationships.
But how do the headline-dominating royals get on with one another? Are they close friends or bitter rivals? Well, given some reports regarding Eugenie's famed October 2018 wedding to Jack Brooksbank, we'd suspect that their relationship may land somewhere in the middle.
Though neither woman has flat-out commented on their bond at the time of this writing, there are ways to look beyond what's been left unsaid and get at the truth. Keep reading to learn all about how Princess Eugenie truly feels about Prince Harry's wife and former Hollywood actress, Meghan Markle.
Meghan's wedding took priority
Engagements and weddings can get the best of people — it's an emotional time for everyone involved, especially the bride and groom! Now, imagine having to wait to tie the knot because your famous cousin wants to get married first. That may have been Princess Eugenie's reality after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle started planning their future together.
According to Express, Eugenie and her now-husband, Jack Brooksbank, were set to get engaged by the end of 2016, but it didn't happen until January 2018. That's because, according to Vanity Fair, it was reportedly suspected that Harry would soon pop the question to Meghan — and Eugenie and her beau likely didn't want to be overshadowed by them. Plus, it was reportedly royal protocol to allow Harry to marry first, as he is ahead of Eugenie in the line of succession.
An insider told Vanity Fair that there were "no bad feelings," but let's get real: wouldn't most people be upset at having to make important plans around another person's schedule?
Did Meghan steal her spotlight?
It's no secret that many brides — and grooms, for that matter — want their wedding day to focus solely on them. It's a celebration of their love, so it makes sense that any and all soon-to-be newlyweds would expect attention from their guests as they exchange vows. But things don't always go according to plan.
Ahead of Eugenie's big day, Meghan Markle reportedly told members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II, that she was pregnant with her and Harry's first child (via Harper's Bazaar). And though news that Meghan was expecting didn't reach the public until Oct. 15, 2018, royals in the know used Eugenie's wedding as a venue to share their congratulations with Meghan. And, well, that allegedly "put [Eugenie's] nose out of joint."
Radar Online reported that Eugenie "disappeared" after Meghan discussed her baby news with guests. And, according to the Daily Star, Eugenie was seen "on the brink of tears," having reportedly believed that Meghan had stolen her thunder on one of the most important days of her life (via The Sun).
Fergie to the rescue!
It may have been especially impolite for Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, to make any kind of remark against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their pregnancy announcement. However, regardless of any potential backlash, nothing was going to stop Eugenie's mother, Duchess Sarah Ferguson, from taking a stand. After Kensington Palace revealed to the public that Meghan was expecting, Fergie took to Twitter to redirect attention back to her youngest daughter's wedding day.
In one tweet, she shared a photo of herself from Eugenie's wedding, thanking Emanuel Ungaro for designing her eye-catching green dress. Then, she posted a series of pictures from the Oct. 12th wedding, welcoming Brooksbank into the family and noting that she was "so proud of Eugenie."
Now, Ferguson's timely tweets, which she'd started posting just one minute after Kensington Palace shared the news about Meghan's pregnancy, could have been been a coincidence. Or they could have been Ferguson's way to shift the focus back onto her daughter, who may have been devastated that her big day had been so swiftly overshadowed by a girl from across the pond.
Eugenie could be jealous of Meghan
As a former regular on the USA Network drama Suits, Meghan Markle used to walk the red carpet alongside other celebs. Then, she traded her Hollywood days in for a lifetime of royal events and philanthropic opportunities — not to mention top-of-the-line amenities and a fabulous wardrobe. Given just how unusual it is for a "commoner" — even a mildly famous one — to find herself in a serious relationship with a prince, people have been excited by Meghan and Harry's union ever since they took their relationship public.
When Meghan and Harry married on May 19, 2018, over 29 million people watched the wedding on TV across 15 different networks (via Forbes). That number was remarkably different that the ratings garnered by Princess Eugenie's wedding. Her big day was only broadcast on ITV and was viewed by about 3 million people, according to Express. While both Eugenie and Meghan's weddings were beautiful in their own ways, it's hard not to take notice of just many more people seemed to care about Meghan's nuptials.
Could Meghan's baby bring them closer together?
There's something heartwarming about welcoming a new generation into the world that can make even the most dysfunctional families grow close. And that could very well be the case for the British royal family. We wouldn't be too surprised to learn that Meghan and Eugenie form a new bond with the birth of the American-born actress' first child — especially if and when Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have their own first baby.
Of course, there was another big way that Meghan could've push her relationship with Eugenie into new territory — by naming her baby after her. Now, we didn't think that Meghan and Harry would name their kid Eugenie. Rather, they could've used one of Eugenie's middle names: Victoria. Seeing as we now know that Meghan and Harry had a baby boy, this name never stood a chance. But the speculation during Meghan's pregnancy wasn't unfounded considering no one knew the gender.
A spokesperson for the gambling company Ladbrokes informed Express that "Victoria" was a top contender for what the public believed Meghan and Harry would name their child. And while the moniker would have certainly be in honor of Queen Victoria — Queen Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother — it would have been a sweet nod to Eugenie, too, as she's also named after the 19th century monarch. There's always Harry and Meghan's next kid!
Family will always come first
Despite any bad blood that may have existed between Eugenie and Meghan, it's clear that they see one another as family. And, well, ask just about anybody — family members don't always have to get along, but they should always offer support. According to Express, Eugenie leaned on Meghan while planning her October 2018 wedding. A source told the publication over a week before Eugenie's big day, "Princess Eugenie and her fiancé Jack Brooksbank made a trip to see the couple around a month ago for Meghan to help the bride-to-be with her wedding plans."
Considering how Meghan and Harry tied the knot at the same venue that Eugenie and her now-husband later married, maybe the York princess wanted Meghan's advice on how to best decorate the space or where to take photos. Who knows! But it's clear from her visit to the royal couple that Eugenie values Meghan's opinion.
And, seeing as how Meghan's jaw literally dropped when she saw Eugenie walk down the aisle, we'd say the admiration is mutual.
They can't avoid comparisons
No matter what, every royal will be compared to one another — especially when it comes to their lavish weddings. Not only was Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's big day compared to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's union in terms of style and viewership, but even specific moments from their weddings — like their first kiss as married couples — were examined by the press. Talk about awkward!
With that in mind, it wouldn't be too surprising to see Princess Eugenie keep a healthy distance from Meghan Markle, just to avoid sparking any negative headlines. Who needs that?
So, with that space between them — and with Meghan's busy schedule bursting with royal engagements — it's possible that Eugenie and Meghan may never grow super close. Still, we hope to see them develop a closer bond in the future — one that we can witness via smiles and laughter at royal functions!
Eugenie 'likes' Meghan's style
After Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank, the royal bride wasn't the only one who reportedly felt that Meghan Markle's pregnancy announcement may have stolen attention away from her. Some royal fans and loyal Brits called Meghan out for taking the spotlight on Eugenie's big day. For instance, one Twitter user wrote, "Okay but how pissed is Eugenie that Harry and Meghan broke the baby news to family at her wedding."
However, it'd appear that Eugenie has gotten over any negative feelings she may have harbored toward Meghan, as less than a week after her wedding, she liked an Instagram post on a Meghan Markle fan account. The picture in question, according to the Daily Mail, was of Meghan during her trip to Dubbo, New South Wales, and it focused on the elegant Natalie Marie-designed earrings that she wore.
Sounds like Eugenie is willing to move past any beef she had with Meghan, and, like the Instagram page that posted the picture said, "THIS IS SOO MAJOR!!!!"