The long-debated clash between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress is back in the spotlight, thanks to new claims in a royal biography. The incident, which unfolded just days before Meghan and Prince Harry’s wedding in May 2018, allegedly left both women in tears — and has become a symbol of the tension between the royal sisters-in-law.
The controversy began when reports emerged shortly after the royal wedding, suggesting that Kate had been brought to tears over the fit of her daughter Princess Charlotte’s dress. However, in her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan pushed back against that narrative, stating, “The reverse happened.” According to Meghan, she was the one left crying, though she emphasized that Kate later apologized with flowers and a heartfelt note.
Now, royal author Tom Quinn’s new book Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants sheds fresh light on the emotional fallout. The biography features insight from a palace staff member who insists that both women were equally distressed. “All the papers got this wrong,” the staffer shared. “Both Meghan and Kate were crying their eyes out. It was an emotional moment between two women under immense pressure.”
The disagreement reportedly centered on the sizing and tailoring of Charlotte’s dress. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry recalled the tension, revealing that Kate had texted Meghan expressing concerns about the fit, saying Charlotte “cried when she tried it on.” Meghan, according to Harry, urged Kate to visit the on-call tailor at Kensington Palace, but Kate insisted the dresses be redone. The exchange ended with Meghan in tears on the floor — a moment Harry said left him “horrified.”
Luxury tailor Ajay Mirpuri, who worked on the dresses, later confirmed that adjustments were necessary. In a 2023 interview, he acknowledged the stress of the situation but did not witness any arguments between Meghan and Kate. “All six bridesmaids’ dresses needed to be fixed, and we worked day and night,” he explained. “Weddings are stressful, especially at this level.”
This isn’t the first time Meghan has spoken about the cultural and emotional differences between herself and Kate. In the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the Duchess shared her surprise at the formality of the royal family behind closed doors. “I’m a hugger,” she said. “But I quickly realized that the formality carries over even in private settings.”
Royal biographer Omid Scobie echoed similar sentiments in his 2023 book Endgame, stating that Meghan hoped to bond with Kate as fellow outsiders to the monarchy but found little warmth. “Kate was uninterested in forming that kind of relationship,” Scobie wrote, suggesting that early tension between Prince Harry and Prince William only deepened the rift.
Despite their fractured relationship, the two couples appeared together publicly during the funeral events for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, a rare moment of unity that Prince William reportedly considered important for the family.
As public fascination with the royals continues, stories like the bridesmaid dress dispute reflect the pressure behind palace doors — and how even personal moments become public fodder in the royal spotlight.
