Kate Middleton's Exiting Staff Fuels Royal Feud With Meghan Markle Amid Reconciliation Talks

Yahoo

2 days ago

Did 's former assistant add salt to the injury by unfollowing ?
The royal staffer has reportedly ended her 15-year watch with the Princess of Wales, but not without pulling some controversial stunts involving the actress on her way out.
Kate Middleton is reportedly on a mission to restore harmony and peace between her husband, Prince William, and his estranged brother, Prince Harry.
Kate Middleton's Ex-Assistant Extends The Unfollowing Favor To Meghan Markle's Inner Circle
Natasha Archer drew the curtains on her career as the Princess of Wales' assistant and famous unofficial stylist, and she instantly made some changes to her Instagram account by going public. She had worked with Kate for nearly two decades and was privy to her personal affairs while maintaining utmost secrecy.
Opening up her Instagram was not the only new thing she did; she also went on an unfollowing spree, targeting Meghan and some of her close friends who ended up on her following list over the years.
Natasha also unfollowed Meghan's "As Ever" official page after having followed it some weeks ago. The unfollowing axe struck a page connected to Meghan's hair colorist, Kadi Lee. She also unfollowed fashion blogs that followed Kate and Meghan's style and created content out of them.
PEOPLE shared that her Instagram bio also received an update, as she added "Luxury Consultancy" to the section and included a link to a website that will debut soon.
Natasha Archer's Journey With The Princess Of Wales Began 15 Years Ago
Natasha entered the royal family when she was appointed as a personal assistant to the couple in 2010, before transitioning into a primary member of Kate's team.
She reportedly played a significant role in transforming Kate's wardrobe from ordinary fashion to an elevated aesthetic that ended up on everyone's mood boards. The former assistant helped curate her outfits for official events within the U.K., international outings, and even personal celebrations.
She married her sweetheart, Chris Jackson, a royal photographer who worked for Getty Images, in 2017. Two years later, she was honored with the Royal Victorian Order for her indelible service and loyalty to the royal family.
Natasha earned a promotion in 2022, which elevated her to the role of senior private executive assistant to the mother of three and her husband. She has now left the royal service to begin her private consultancy firm.
Kate Middleton Reportedly Wants Bygones To Be Bygones
Natasha's unfollowing spree may or may not be a reflection of that situation in the palace, although The Blast shared that Kate was gearing up to help the brother bury the hatchet no matter what it takes.
The Princess of Wales is reportedly risking upsetting her husband with her decision, but she is done watching from the sidelines and genuinely wants to foster harmony this time.
She has allegedly met privately with King Charles to set a reconciliation plan in motion as the King himself has had enough of the feud and "wants Harry back in the fold before it's too late."
The Duke of Sussex also shares the same sentiment and is actually eager to make peace before the clock runs out. The princess reportedly knows that the brothers will miss out on so many memories if they do not make amends now.
The King reportedly views Kate as the glue that holds the family together and the key to making his dream of a united family a reality. Even though Williams disagrees with the idea, Charles reportedly believes Kate will be able to convince him.
King Charles And Prince Harry's Camps Seen In Possible Peace Talks
Kate's plan may have found fertile ground, as the prospects of reconciliation between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and King Charles are increasingly likely. The Blast noted that the tone in the family has become more optimistic, particularly after King Charles was diagnosed with cancer last year.
Meredith Maines, chief of communications to the Sussexes, and the communications secretary to the King, Tobyn Andreae, recently met at the Royal Over-Seas League in London. This reported encounter is speculated to be an initial move towards repairing the sour relationship between Harry and the King.
Sources suggest that, although there was no formal agenda, the gathering's casual nature allowed both sides to discuss various topics. Although the specific initiator of the meeting remains unclear, the insiders believed that King Charles supported the idea.
The King has always expressed love for both of his sons and remains open to further discussions whenever schedules permit. According to a source, while there is still a long way to go, the opening of communication after years of silence has sparked hope for better relations between father and son.
While the meeting did not have an official agenda, the conversation reportedly enabled the two sides to address numerous areas. No one can say for sure who initiated the meeting, but insiders are not ruling out the idea being put forward by King Charles.
The King has never ceased showing love to both his sons and is always ready to discuss more at any time schedules allow. As one source revealed, the formal break of silence that followed years of silence has led to optimism of improved relations between the father and son.
The chances for the boys and their father to start on a fresh page are reportedly very high, provided there is a willingness to reflect and engage in dialogue from Harry.
Prince William Is Seemingly Holding On To His Grudge Amid Reconciliation Talks
The peace meeting, which was meant to be secret, unfortunately leaked to the media, and from the bits, Prince William did not seem to be a party to whatever plans his family got going on.
The Blast reported that royal analyst Ian Pelham Turner noted that William's body language is significant regarding the whole situation, and it may hinder the progress of healing the rift. According to him:
"The important issue is that Prince William and his representatives were not invited. I feel that this was a warning shot across William's bows that Charles is King, not him."
He added that it may also be a stark warning that Charles will decide what happens during his reign, not William. However, another commentator, Richard Fitzwilliams, argued that William was fully aware of the meeting, but decided his team would be a no-show.
Williams reportedly still harbors a deep distrust for his brother but also understands that his ailing father wants a relationship with his grandchildren and has a gentler temperament compared to the future King.
The analyst warned that a united front in the family, including Harry, would upset loyalists of the monarchy; hence, the family should brace itself for backlash.
Where is this ship of Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle heading?
Solve the daily Crossword