Meghan Markle tied the knot with Prince Harry on May 19, 2018, making the former Hollywood
actress an official part of the royal family.
And while Meghan Markle and her sister-in-law Kate Middleton may not seem that close, the
ladies may have more of a friendship than you may think.
Sneaky secret get-togethers
If you’re a royal, it’s hard to sneak out of the house unnoticed with press and
paparazzi constantly trying to grab a photo.
Luckily for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, that wasn't an issue when it came to spending
time with Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The brothers are neighbors, which makes secret get-together events way easier to plan.
Prince Harry and Markle opened up about this during an interview with the BBC, sharing
that Harry's big brother and sister-in-law had been very welcoming to Markle after they'd
made their relationship official.
Markle described her new sister as "wonderful" throughout this process.
“Yes, the family has been great, and over the past year and a half we’ve just had
a really nice time getting to know them.”
Meghan and Pippa are pals
To be friends with Kate Middleton, one almost certainly has to get along with her sister
and best friend, Pippa Middleton - so it should come as no surprise that Markle was on-hand
to support Pippa on her wedding day on May 20, 2017.
Though she was unable to attend the actual ceremony, Markle and Harry were spotted together
at the reception that followed.
This was a big moment for Markle.
As Us Weekly reported, this was the first event she attended with the royal family.
Secondly, it proved just how much Prince Harry wanted her to be there for the celebration,
as he reportedly drove 100 miles round trip to ensure Markle could attend the reception.
Relatable, much?
Meghan Markle is familiar with being in the spotlight from her time as an actor, but being
a part of the royal family is a whole new level of fame.
As she geared up for her royal wedding, Markle had to make quite a few adjustments in her
life - adjustments that Kate Middleton similarly had to make in the past.
A royal insider shared with Hollywood Life:
“Kate knows better than anyone how overwhelming and challenging it can be to make the transition
into being a member of the royal family, and she's vowed to assist Meghan in any way she
can."
Where trendy meets traditional
There’s no question that Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton’s clothing choices definitely
differ.
While Middleton has a more traditional, British look, Markle opts for a contemporary, trendy
style.
Of course, both women own their styles, looking fabulous in every outfit they pick.
And while the overall looks have major differences, the effect of these clothing choices is pretty
similar.
As Business Insider reported, Middleton's fashion picks have led to the "Duchess Effect,”
which essentially means that when Middleton wears a certain piece of clothing, it immediately
sells out.
Markle has had a similar effect on consumers, aptly called "The Meghan Effect."
In fact, according to reports, the white coat she wore during her engagement announcement
with Prince Harry attracted so much traffic to the designer’s website that it temporarily
crashed.
No bridesmaid, no problem
When Meghan Markle's wedding planning began, many wondered about Kate Middleton's possible
role in the ceremony.
In the end, Middleton wasn't a bridesmaid - but that doesn’t mean Markle didn't want
Middleton in the wedding.
As royalty expert Marlene Koenig shared with Town & Country, it all goes back to tradition.
Koenig told the magazine:
"Most royal brides do not have adult bridesmaids.
It would be unusual for a royal bride to have a woman in her late 30s as a maid or matron
of honor.
The Duchess of Cambridge having her sister, Pippa, was unusual."
Instead, Markle's wedding party consisted of ten children, including Prince George and
Princess Charlotte.
Opposites attract
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have certainly led different lives.
As Business Insider noted, while Middleton and Prince William met when they were still
in school, Prince Harry and Markle did not meet until they were already in their 30s.
While Markle has been married previously, Middleton's marriage to Prince William was
her first.
And when it comes to careers, Middleton obviously doesn't have any acting credits, while her
royal sister-in-law made a living in front of the cameras.
So, how could two women who seem so different create a close bond?
Perhaps they have more in common than meets the eye!
For starters, they both definitely have a type.
And while Prince Harry is Prince William's younger brother, Markle is actually the same
age as Middleton.
Age aside, once they spend more time together, these two royals are certain to find even
more in common.
Bonding over babies
On October 15, 2018, Kensington Palace announced that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were expecting
their first child together.
Royal fans across the globe were elated for the couple, as were Prince William and Kate
Middleton.
A royal spokesperson revealed that William and Kate were delighted to hear Meghan and
Harry’s exciting news.
Fortunately for the newly expecting couple, William and Kate are pros at the whole parenting
thing, as they have three little ones of their own.
Certainly, Markle will lean on her sister-in-law for advice during her pregnancy and long afterwards,
as she adapts to her new role as a mother.
And we suspect they’ll be scheduling plenty of play dates in the future!