Kate Middletonended 2024 on a poignant note, sharing a heartfelt reflection on the ‘importance of love, empathy and how much we need one another in the most difficult times’ in a touching letter for her annual Christmas carol service.
And as the new year begins, the Princess of Wales is staying true to those words, with a source telling Closer she’s more determined than ever to reconcile with her brother-in-law Prince Harry.
Having long acted as a peacemaker between Harry and her husband Prince William since their bitter feud erupted when the Sussexes quit as working royals in 2020 and began making a slew of damaging allegations about life behind palace walls, Kate is now hopeful that – five years on – they can resolve their differences once and for all.
An insider says, ‘With all the water under the bridge and everything she’s been through this past year, she’s come to a place where she wants peace in every aspect of her life. Not just for herself, but for the sake of William and Harry, she’s very worried about what this long-running feud is doing to the both of them.’
Our source adds that while a friendship with Meghan Markle isn’t on the cards, Kate wants them to be civil. The insider explains, ‘This isn’t so much about wanting to be friends with Meghan - that’s never going to happen - but she believes she can lead by example and start 2025 off by reaching out to Meghan with a nice holiday message and a thank you to her and Harry for all the goodwill they’ve sent her way.
‘A lot of people still think Kate would be justified to hang onto a grudge after the way Meghan has behaved, but she has no interest in that. Sure, there were hurt feelings a while ago but she’s ready to let it go - time has been a great healer.’
It’s no secret that it’s been a difficult time for Kate, 42. Last March, she announced that, following abdominal surgery in January, further tests found that cancer had been present and she underwent preventative chemotherapy. While she revealed in September that she had completed her treatment, she added that her path to ‘healing and full recovery is long’.
Amid her health battle, the royal rift has continued to rumble on. Tensions first began in 2020 when Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, who share children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, quit royal life and relocated to the US. The feud became even more evident when the couple sat down with Oprah Winfrey for an explosive interview in 2021, where they dropped a string of bombshells about the royal family. And the strain appeared to reach breaking point when Harry released his 2023 memoir, Spare, in which he claimed that William physically attacked him and that it was Kate who made Meghan cry in the run-up to their 2018 wedding.
But our source says that despite everything that’s been said, Kate – who is mum to George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, with William, 42 – now has a new perspective on life.
‘Kate’s so full of gratitude to be alive, she’s seeing a lot of things in a new light. Things weren’t all terrible between her and Meghan, not when they first got to know each other, at least. She’s ready to remember the good times and go forward from there, she knows it would mean the world to Harry who she still misses terribly,’ the insider says.
‘She’s not blind to the pain Meghan and Harry both caused with their Oprah interview as well as his book, she understands people are still angry over that, but she’s not interested in holding on to the hurt feelings. She’s not going to want to disrespect William so she will give him a heads up and make sure to have his blessing, but she does want to make this gesture of goodwill and will push for it.’
Kate is also hoping that Harry’s upcoming solo trip the UK this month – which is centred on his ongoing court case against News Group Newspapers – could be the perfect opportunity to smooth things over.
The source says, ‘She intends to see Harry when he’s in the UK and is pleading with William to come along. This isn’t just about Meghan and Harry, it’s about the kids too – the next generation. If William and Harry can bury the hatchet, the King will see Archie and Lilibet more, which Kate knows he does want. Kate is extremely skilled in the art of diplomacy and she wants Harry and Meghan to know she wants a fresh start.’
They add, ‘Kate doesn’t want to dwell on the past anymore. She wants to put that all in the past and make a new go of this. While there’s no chance of the ‘fab four’ thing again, she feels like this could be their last chance to make peace with Meghan once and for all. She wants Harry to feel supported and she knows that won’t happen if Meghan isn’t included. Kate is doing all she can to bring the family back together, it's been far too long to be at odds this way.’