British Brands Reportedly Avoid Upsetting Kate Middleton After Meghan Markle’s Move to the US

Meghan Markle’s return to the U.K. has reportedly brought renewed attention to her enduring tensions with Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. The situation is said to be creating a dilemma for British fashion brands, some of which reportedly worry that collaborating with the Duchess of Sussex could jeopardize their relationships with Kate and other royals. One source told Express that the issue had prompted an internal discussion: “We’ve had to have a meeting about it. We were about to send some products to [Meghan’s] team when someone asked, ‘Is it worth it?’” According to the report, several labels have opted to remain aligned with Kate. “The princess is our priority and we’ve decided to continue supporting her,” an insider said. “We don’t want to risk losing her so Meghan won’t be getting anything from us.”

Although Meghan and Kate have both appeared in many of the same designer labels over the years, their fashion identities are notably different. Designer Béatrice de Montille has described Meghan’s wardrobe as somewhat more daring, while characterizing Kate’s approach as polished, classic and enduring. “I don’t want to say that Kate is not modern. She is super modern as well, but maybe more classic and timeless,” de Montille told Business Insider in 2021. As the future queen of England, Kate also faces particularly intense scrutiny over every public style choice, the designer noted.

“They are so different,” Montille said. “They have their own style, which is quite assumed.” Meghan, the former “Suits” star, has also spoken openly about the significance of clothing. In an April 2026 interview with Australian Women’s Weekly, the Duchess of Sussex said fashion can shape both confidence and perception. “It influences how we feel and what we project,” Meghan said. “And even if you don’t say a word, you can convey something in what you wear.”

ALSO READ: Inside the Secret Service’s Race to Recruit for LA28 Olympics

As Meghan Markle returns to British soil, she is reportedly open to repairing her relationship with Kate Middleton — but not at the expense of her own dignity. A source told Radar Online that Meghan is willing to be civil and recognizes that a reconciliation with Kate could ease pressures across the family. However, the insider said she has no intention of accepting sole responsibility for the breakdown in their relationship. “Meghan is prepared to be civil and she recognizes that rebuilding a relationship with Kate would make life enormously easier for everyone,” the source said. “What she will not do is arrive back in Britain, bow her head and accept that everything that went wrong was somehow her fault.” The report said Meghan has adopted a similar stance toward the wider royal family ahead of returning to Britain with Prince Harry and their two children.

“Meghan has reached a point where she is simply not prepared to grovel to anybody to be accepted back into the royal fold — and Kate is no exception,” the source added. The divide is not limited to the two duchesses. Prince Harry and Prince William have been widely reported to have had a difficult relationship since at least 2018, with the strain deepening after Harry and Meghan stepped back from working royal duties in 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex surprised royal watchers late last month when they announced plans to return to the U.K. after six years. Prince William was reportedly unsettled by the news and is said to be reluctant to pursue a reconciliation. Even so, sources have suggested that the family’s return to Britain could provide a rare opening to address the long-running feud. “It would never happen with [Harry] in America,” a source told People in August. “This gives them opportunity to try and mend that bridge.”