Royals

Why it’s not a big deal that Duchess Meghan didn’t attend Duchess Catherine’s birthday lunch

Has anyone made mention of the fact Catherine's own sister, Pippa, wasn't there either? No.

We all know it’s not easy being an inlaw – daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and all of the male equivalents. No matter what the role, as the inlaw (or more aptly, ‘outlaw’) you’re joining a family whose dynamics you’ll spend the rest of your life trying to figure out.

So whether the speculation about Duchesses Meghan and Catherine not getting along are true or not, we all know from our own inlaw experiences that there are bound to be some miscommunications as the two women get to know one another, and Meghan finds her place in the royal family.

On January 9 Duchess Catherine turned 37. Not one to make a fuss, she spent much of her actual birthday at home at Kensington Palace. But on the weekend before, Catherine had a handful of close friends over for lunch to celebrate at her and Prince William’s country home, Anmer Hall, according to the Mail on Sunday.

Were Meghan and Harry there? Apparently not – and speculation has been rife. But other reports claim the newly-weds were abroad on holiday the weekend the lunch was held.

Some publications claim Meghan and Harry were not invited. But other members of the royal family were not there either, and neither were the Middletons.

Has anyone made a deal of the fact Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla were absent? No. That Catherine’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, were not there? No. Or Catherine’s sister, Pippa Matthews? Brother James? No.

Harry, William and Catherine at the start of the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon in April 2017. The Heads Together mental heath campaign, spearheaded by the trio, was the marathon’s 2017 Charity of the Year.

We all know that before Meghan Markle met Prince Harry, Catherine and William enjoyed a close relationship with William’s younger brother. The trio not only had lots of fun together, they also spearheaded the mental health initiative, Heads Together.

But maybe Catherine and William took extra care of Harry because he was on his own, the affable third wheel? Now that Harry is happily married with his first child on the way, things are different. The three can afford to spend less time together because Prince Harry is busy nurturing a partnership and family life of his own. It doesn’t mean they are no longer close.

From what we understand the lunch was an intimate affair and the guest list had a bit of a theme. Those invited were close friends and also the godparents of Catherine and William’s children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte.

Sophie Carter, godmother to Princess Charlotte, and her husband Robert Snuggs, were said to be at the lunch – also Emilia Jardine-Paterson, godmother to Prince George, and her husband David.

Lady Laura Meade, one of baby Prince Louis’ godparents, was thought to be at the birthday lunch with husband James.

If it was a bigger bash, no doubt the Middletons and members of the royal family, including Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry, would have been there.

For what it’s worth, we hope Catherine and William had a great lunch with their friends. Happy birthday Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

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