Princess Kate Middleton made a much-anticipated public appearance at the Trooping the Colour event on June 15, 2024, after battling cancer for six months. The event, a yearly celebration of the British monarch’s official birthday, was attended by Middleton, her husband Prince William, and their children on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
As Middleton returned to the public eye, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was in the spotlight for other reasons. Over the same weekend, Markle introduced new products from her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which led to accusations by some experts and media outlets that she was trying to overshadow Middleton’s significant comeback.
Royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti expressed his views strongly on TMZ Live, suggesting that Meghan was trying to distract attention from Middleton. “Princess Kate’s appearance amid her health struggles reminded the public why they love the royals,” Sacerdoti said, criticizing Meghan’s attempt to grab attention as “pathetic”. He speculated that Meghan’s timing might have been deliberate, but also conceded that it could have been coincidental.
Chiming in with Sacerdoti’s perspective, some news reports suggested that Meghan’s product launch, promoted by her friend Nacho Figueras on Instagram, was a strategic move to eclipse Middleton. Figueras posted images of the new raspberry jam and dog biscuits from American Riviera Orchard, igniting backlash from royal fans who interpreted it as an effort to divert media attention.
However, not all experts shared Sacerdoti’s critical view. Some believe Meghan had no control over the timing of Figueras’ Instagram post. A source close to Meghan told reporters, “It would have been difficult for her to control the timing and context of his post, as celebrities may not react well to having their posts micro-managed.” This viewpoint was supported by PR expert Lynn Carratt, who stated, “Meghan sending a pot of her jam and dog biscuits to a friend was not done with any malice.”
Carratt further contended that the criticism directed at Meghan is often out of proportion. She pointed out that Meghan and Prince Harry have been under public scrutiny since their separation from royal duties in 2020, an event known as “Megxit.”
Despite the controversy, Middleton’s return to public duties was noteworthy. After withdrawing from her official duties in January to undergo abdominal surgery and start chemotherapy treatments, she expressed her gratitude for public support. Prior to the Trooping the Colour event, Middleton released a statement saying, “Thank you for the kind messages of support and encouragement I have received since my cancer diagnosis.”
Royal analyst Katie Nicholl emphasized the effort required for Middleton to attend the event, stating that it likely took a “toll” on her. “The princess has this sort of swan-like quality about her — she’s sort of gliding on the surface — but beneath the water, I think often she’s paddling quite frantically,” said Nicholl. She added, “Saturday’s appearance, which commemorated King Charles’ official birthday, followed a huge amount of preparation and time and effort.”
The public response to Middleton’s appearance was predominantly positive, with many expressing admiration for her resilience. “Seeing Kate back in the public eye was a reminder of the royal family’s enduring appeal and the strength of character that Kate embodies,” said Sacerdoti.
Conversely, Meghan’s supporters defended her against the allegations, arguing that her actions were not intended to overshadow Middleton. They suggested that the controversy was more likely driven by the ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.
