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As Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, continue their controversial royal hiatus, royal brides Kate Middleton and Duchess Sophie rise up to the task despite family rivalry. Long before the royal feud took form, whispers of a feud between Meghan and Kate already flooded the media, ultimately pitting the two women against each other, at least in the eyes of the public. The rivalry escalated following Megxit, as Harry and Meghan appeared to confirm the feuding rumors with scathing revelations via public outlets that portrayed Kate in a negative light. Hence, their speculated rivalry, initially thought to be a result of the two struggling to outshine each other in their bid to live up to Princess Diana’s legacy, blew up to become something bigger, involving their respective families.
These days, however, with Kate Middleton becoming less involved in matters concerning Meghan Markle and her husband, the rivalry seems scarcely discussed. In its stead, one unexpected royal has risen in the ranks to oust Meghan Markle’s impact during her brief stint as a royal, and even beat out Kate Middleton in the discharge of royal duties. Sophie, often dubbed the fourth hardest-working royal, after Princess Anne, King Charles, and her husband, Prince Edward, has made headlines in recent weeks for her activism. With this contender underway, the media has taken to creating comparisons between Meghan Markle and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who focuses her charity efforts on women’s advocacy, a niche similar to Meghan’s.
Duchess of Edinburgh Steps Up In Key Royal Role After Meghan Flop
Speaking to MailOnline, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explained that while the two women pursued the same interests in their philanthropic efforts, they each presented themselves in different lights. He suggested that Meghan Markle would have been in the spotlights cast on Duchess Sophie amid her latest string of royal duties if she hadn’t quit back in 2020. He divulged,
“Meghan is struggling to be an influencer, Sophie has influence in ways that really matter, which Meghan could have been.”
Having chosen their respective paths, the pair continues to make their presence felt in the fight for women’s rights, utilizing the platform at their disposal. The royal expert explained that while Meghan often did her philanthropic efforts in her comfort zone, Duchess Sophie has touched lives in areas across the world, including embattled regions. He quipped,
“Meghan has always boasted about how she promotes feminism. Yet contrast the occasional speech she makes in comfortable surroundings with the remarkable work of Sophie who actually visits areas of the world such as Sudan and Chad which have been devastated by war and attempts to comfort the women who are victims of rape and exploitation.”
Fitzgerald also claimed that Meghan Markle never would have left the royal family if she truly “wanted to make a difference,” as her role as a senior royal offered the best platform she could have. The royal expert condemned the 43-year-old’s actions as a case of “wasted potential,” citing the irony of abandoning an advocacy cause dear to her heart, in favor of sending out “pots of jam to celebrities.” With Meghan no longer in the picture, Duchess Sophie stepped in and became the royal family’s “champion of women’s rights.”
“While Meghan sends pots of jam to celebrities, it is the Duchess of Edinburgh who meets survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and displaced women in a landmark visit to Ukraine.”
Meghan Markle and Sophie’s Similar Goals Spark Royal Comparisons
Royal fans have also keyed into this comparison between Meghan Markle and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, likening it to the rivalry between the Duchess of Sussex and sister in law Kate Middleton. One Reddit user pointed out,
“They previously tried to play ‘Catherine vs Megs,’ now they are playing ‘Sophie vs Megs.’ I hate these media games. The two real royal women literally live in a different universe from Megs. They are incomparable. Meghan has always been and will always be a mediocre influencer who pulled a golden ticket that gave her a platform much higher than she could have built herself. But comparing her to Sophie or Catherine is like comparing a fly to a swan.”
Another shared,
“These royal wives – Sophie, Kate, Camilla, even Diana – actually have causes that are close to their hearts, and do what they can for them.”
Another pointed out,
“Sophie is a leader, Meghan is a boss. One is able to be effective and impactful, and the other commands, demands, and allows others to take the fall for misgivings.”
A fourth Redditor predicted that, despite Sophie’s efforts, Meghan Markle would end up as the one “awarded for her ‘work’ in the topic of female empowerment.” Taking an obvious swipe at Meghan, the user pointed out how in today’s world, “empty shells are applauded and put on covers, while people who are really trying to make a difference are overlooked.” The Redditor concluded by acknowledging Sophie’s impactful contributions so far, referencing her “visit to Chad/Sudan border.” In response, another Reddit user noted,
“Because Meghan pays for these awards. Sophie is loved and respected because she quietly shows up and gets on with it.”
This budding rivalry between Meghan Markle and Duchess Sophie comes days after an insider revealed Kate Middleton’s intention to respect her husband, Prince William’s decision to oust the Sussexes. The reports claimed Kate was giving up her attempts to foster a reconciliation between William and Prince Harry, opting instead to no longer get involved in the royal feud. This decision followed the Sussexes’ continuous dig at the royal family in public interviews, often pulling her into the mix and further aggravating her husband.
