Prior to their icy relationship, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a variety of engagements together.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were previously known as the ‘Fab Four’ and attended a variety of events together before Harry and Meghan abruptly left the firm in 2020.
Before ties soured, and only two months before Harry and Meghan married in 2018, the two spouses attended an event highlighting the work of the Royal Foundation, a charity formed by William and Harry.
Meghan made an unexpected remark about royal personalities, describing them as somewhat diverse but ultimately “very communicative.”
This was the Duchess of Sussex’s first public interaction with her future in-laws.
She said: “Thank goodness it’s such differing personalities and that everyone’s very communicative because that’s how you can really see bigger change.”
She praised the differences in views among the three royals she was now dealing with, saying that this diversity would inspire progress.
Meghan said: “If everyone’s thinking the same way, how are you going to push the envelope? You know, how are you really going to break through in a different sort of mindset??
According to a royal author, her remarks disturbed the foundation’s executives and produced an uneasy environment among the four.
Tom Bower said in his book Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors that Harry’s intervention during Meghan’s speech about empowering women was far more significant than previously assumed.
Meghan told the audience at the time: “With so many campaigns like MeToo and TimesUp, there’s no better time to continue to shine a light on women feeling empowered and people supporting them.
“You’ll often hear people say, ‘well you’re helping people find their voice’ and I fundamentally disagree with that, because women don’t need to find a voice. They have a voice, they need to feel empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen.”
Harry interjected: “Wedding first.”
One of the final times both couples were seen together was shortly after the late Queen died. The Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Harry and Meghan, were dressed entirely in black as they observed some of the tributes placed at Windsor Castle in honour of the Queen.
