Duchess Catherine reportedly ‘reached out’ to Meghan Markle after emotional interview

Duchess Catherine reportedly ‘reached out’ to her sister-in-law Meghan Markle after she gave an emotional interview in 2019.

• A report has claimed that Duchess Catherine "reached out" to Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex after an emotional ITV interview. 
• Duchess Catherine and Sophie, Countess of Wessex were allegedly "rebuffed" according to the report. 
• In other Royal News (opens in new tab), the Queen's 95th birthday will be marked by a new commemorative coin this year (opens in new tab). 

Duchess Catherine (opens in new tab) and her sister-in-law the Duchess of Sussex have become prominent members of the Royal Family since marrying Prince William (opens in new tab) and Prince Harry respectively. Meghan Markle in particular has often found herself under intense scrutiny. So much so, that the Duchess seemingly acknowledged she was “not really okay” in an interview in 2019. 

Following this, it has now been reported that the Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attempted to reach out to Meghan. 

It's also been claimed that Duchess Catherine wasn't the only royal to do so. 

What did Meghan Markle say in her interview?

Meghan Markle’s emotional admission came in ITV’s documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey which included an interview with the Duchess. Explaining her situation, she reportedly revealed: "Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant (opens in new tab), you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging."

She continued: "And then when you have a newborn (opens in new tab), you know. And especially as a woman...it’s a lot. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed. It’s um…yeah. I guess, also thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m okay, but it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes."

Her interviewer then asked if it was fair to say that Meghan was "not really OK" and that it’s been a “struggle”. She simply replied, "yes."

The Duchess of Sussex later clarified her earlier response in an interview for the Teenager Therapy podcast in October 2020. Here, according to Marie Claire, she explained: "I didn’t think about that answer. I just answered honestly."

Meghan continued: "I was in a moment of vulnerability, because I was tired, because there was no presentation. It was just, here’s where I am: I’m a mom with a four-and-a-half month-old baby and we are tired. But I think the reason it resonated with people is because everyone wants to be asked if they’re okay."

When is Duchess Catherine believed to have “reached out” to Meghan Markle?

In a recent piece for the Daily Mail, royal correspondent Rebecca English wrote: 'I have been told that Kate — and the Countess of Wessex (opens in new tab) — both repeatedly 'reached out' to the Duchess'. She added that this was ‘particularly after she voiced her unhappiness on a television documentary. But they were rebuffed’. 

She also revealed that ‘William was also deeply hurt by suggestions from the Sussex camp that he, and particularly his wife, had cold-shouldered Meghan’. 

Since this time, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made their home in California with young son Archie. They recently spent their first Christmas in America (opens in new tab) together. 

The rest of the Royal Family including Duchess Catherine and Prince William and the Earl and Countess of Wessex also had smaller Christmases this year after the restrictions put in place to the pandemic lead to the Queen cancelling the traditional gathering at Sandringham.

This year, the Duke of Edinburgh due to celebrate his 100th birthday and a memorial statue of Prince Harry and Prince William’s late mother Princess Diana is set to be unveiled.

It’s thought by some that it’s likely the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to the UK for these occasions, restrictions permitting.