Whilst one is an American, and one is British, both of these iconic women ending up falling head over heels in love with Princes. Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have become national treasures, and both form an integral part of our popular culture. But there really is something about Meghan and Kate that fascinates us, so it’s almost impossible not to compare them side by side. In spite of a select few similarities, there are some key things that really set these two women apart. Come to think of it, who knew that these two duchesses could actually be so different?
Kate And Her Origins
One of the main differences between the duchesses, is their origins and backgrounds. Kate Middleton is of course, quintessentially British. Having been born in Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Berkshire, Kate Middleton is British through and through, whereas Meghan Markle isn’t. Kate was lucky enough to attend St. Andrew’s School, Downe House School, and then Marlborough College. She then went on to study for an MA in the history of art at the University of St. Andrews, which is a public university in Fife, Scotland.
Kate And Her Origins
Meghan And Her Origins
On the other side of the coin, we have Megan, who was born and raised in America. Having been born in West Park Hospital in Canoga Park, LA, California, Meghan is from a mixed heritage. While her father is Caucasian, her mother is African American. She also had a privileged education, attending Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girl Catholic private school, before moving on to study at Northwestern University. There she studied for a bachelor’s degree as well as a double major, in both international studies and theater.
Meghan And Her Origins
Kate And Her Fashion
Kate is a certified fashionista, but she has trademarked her own traditional style, which is very much like the Queen. Kate tends to stick to classic, chic outfits, like conservative dresses, long coats and extravagant hats, rather than following the latest fast fashion trends. Kate is also similar to the Queen with her penchant for bright and bold colors, like patterns, blues, reds, and yellows. Her fashion choices inspired a generation of fashionistas throughout the years, which has become known as the the Kate Middleton effect.
Kate And Her Fashion
Meghan And Her Fashion
Meghan Markle also has her own trademark style, which is a little more edgier and more in-line with the latest fashion trends. Meghan is actually a trend-setter and has a tendency to wear less traditional outfits than Kate and the Queen. She prefers for darker, muted outfits, and her style is more unique, sophisticated and chic. Her style is sometimes more smart casual than Kate, opting for chic dresses or even trousers. Still, her trendy fashion choices have already drawn worldwide attention and made her a style icon in her own right.
Meghan And Her Fashion
Kate And Her Family
Kate Middleton and her family have always been close, and although Kate and her siblings have now grown up and fled the nest, they still remain a tight-knit unit. Kate’s sister Pippa was infamously chosen as maid of honor at her wedding, which incidentally plunged her into the public eye. She is also close to her brother James, and asked him to read the lesson at her wedding. Even now, Kate is close to her parents and she and William regularly visit them and spend time at her family home.
Kate And Her Family
Meghan And Her Family
Meghan Markle had a very different relationship with her family than Kate. As she was raised by her single mom, she and her mom still remain close. However, sadly, the same can’t be said for the rest of the Markle clan. According to reports, Meghan is not on speaking terms with her father, after he gave a series of interviews criticizing the Royal Family and Prince Harry. Meghan is also on bad terms with her half-sister Samantha, who lashed out at her on Twitter, insulting Meghan about how she treats her father. She even called her “inhumane” and “fake.”
Meghan And Her Family
Kate And Her Privilege
It’s fairly safe to say that Kate was born into privilege, and lived a particularly privileged life. Even though she wasn’t born into royalty, her family were wealthy. Growing up, she attended various boarding schools, as well as the prestigious University St. Andrews. Before she met Will, Kate’s family were owned a successful online party gift company. This meant her parents could support her, and Kate lived in their apartment worth around $1.3 to $1.8 million before she got married.
Kate And Her Privilege
Meghan And Her Privilege
Meghan Markle was also born into a privileged family. Thanks to her family, she was able to attend a Catholic private school, and went onto study at Northwestern University. Although Meghan didn’t exactly experience the same level of privilege and wealth than Kate. Her story was different, as her parents divorced when she was just six years old, leaving her mother to raise her on her own. So they did struggle a little with money and while Markle was trying to get her big break in acting jobs, she had to support herself with multiple other jobs. In fact, Meghan had to work incredibly hard for her money and find fame.
Meghan And Her Privilege
Kate And Her Fans
Commentators have often observed the way Kate interacts with her fans. More often than not, Kate is seen holding her bag in front of her, leading some to conclude that she tries to shield herself from the public. In truth, Kate does tends to distance herself from the crowd and prefers not to hug her royal fans or get too close. This may be because Kate likes to stick to the rules and this is part of the royal protocol, or maybe there’s too many people to hug. Or perhaps she just doesn’t like getting close to strangers. Anyway, it’s just an observation!
Kate And Her Fans
Meghan And Her Fans
Meghan has a different approach, and tends to be more ‘huggy’ and close with her fans. You can often find photos of her hugging people, particularly children, and rarely refuses to hug or keeps her distance. Some commentators have noticed that she has a big soft spot for children, especially as there are many photos circulated in the media of her hugging and talking to kids, with a huge, warm smile on her face.
Meghan And Her Fans
Kate And Her Opinions
As part of the Royal protocol, Kate has to stay neutral with her opinions at all times. This means she is not allowed to discuss politics or social issues with the media, to ensure she remains completely free from controversy (as much as humanly possible). Due to these Royal rules, Kate is not allowed to vote in elections. So far, Kate has stuck to the protocol seems to follow everything with a fine tooth comb, so has never been particularly outspoken opinionated about any issues.
Kate And Her Opinions
Meghan And Her Opinions
With Meghan however, it’ was a different story. During her younger years, she blogged about issues close to her heart, like gender inequality and prejudice. Her personality has always been strong-willed and she is known to be an outspoken feminist, which incidentally goes against the royal protocol. Nevertheless, after Meghan married Harry, she had to start following the Royal protocol and gradually become more neutral. First off, she had to delete her blog, which was a big subject of controversy, as well as delete all of her social media.
Meghan And Her Opinions
Kate And Her Past
As you can imagine, Kate has never been particularly controversial. Before she met Prince William in 2011, she had never been married before or acted inappropriately. After all, she grew up in a wealthy and privileged environment and lived a life of luxury. Since Kate was always seen as a respectable, sophisticated and upper-class lady, this made her a desirable choice for the Queen, who instantly approved of Kate Middleton as Prince William’s future wife from the outset.
Kate And Her Past
Meghan And Her Past
Meghan’s past wasn’t as squeaky clean as Kate. She was very outspoken in her opinions and wrote a controversial blog, entitled The Tig. This probably caused the Queen to be unsure about accepting her into the Royal fold. That’s not all though, she was also an actress and a model, which is usually frowned upon. As an added plus, she had previously been married and was a divorcee, which in the past has been a source of the Queen’s disapproval.
Meghan And Her Past
Kate And Her Protocals
As we’re sure you’re aware of by now, the Royals are obliged to follow an extensive list of rules and protocols, to ensure they represent the family properly. Kate seems to be a model student, and always manages to follow rules, dress codes, and instructions flawlessly. Although she is Royal by default, after marrying a Prince, she certainly knows how to be regal and follows each detail to a T.
Kate And Her Protocals
Meghan And Her Protocals
In contrast, Meghan is much less conventional and traditional in her Royal approach. Whilst she had a questionable past in the eyes of the Queen, she also chooses to wear much less traditional or more trendier outfits than Kate Middleton and the other Royals. She has also sparked some controversy over the strict Royal rules. One perfect example of this is when she actually closed her own car door in public. Although this might seem normal for the likes of us, this is frowned upon in the Royal circle. Some Royals were even outraged at both Meghan and her security guard. Still, others were more impressed, calling her “humble,” and “down-to-Earth” for her gesture.
Meghan And Her Protocals
Kate And Her Hobbies
Kate has always lead an active and sporty life. While she has to spend most of her time carrying Royal duties, being out and about with Prince William or spending quality time with her children, she occasionally has some free time to herself. So on those rare occasions, she likes to play sports. She seems to prefer intense sports and exercises, such as running, rowing, volleyball, and tennis. Kate is also an avid skiier, and it was actually on a ski trip in 2004 that Kate and Will made their relationship public.
Kate And Her Hobbies
Meghan And Her Hobbies
Meghan also enjoys being active and exercising in her spare time, although she typically enjoys less high-intensity sports than Kate. Her favorite exercise is yoga, and there’s a big reason for this. That’s because Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, is a certified yoga instructor, and has previously worked a great deal with the geriatric community. Meghan even revealed that she began mommy-and-me yoga with her mom at just seven years old, but she really got into it at college. The Duchess also used to enjoy running but says she never has enough time to jog too much now, so sticks to yoga.
Meghan And Her Hobbies
Kate And Her Relationship
Kate originally met Prince William in 2001. By 20012, their friendship swiftly developed into a relationship, but they kept it under wraps until the big announcement in 2004. It wasn’t always plain sailing for the couple though, as they briefly split up in 2007. At the time, it was reportedly so they could have some space to themselves and “find themselves.” Thankfully for everyone, they rekindled their relationship in 2008 and in 2010 William proposed in Kenya. In April 2011, the whole world tuned in to watch they had their iconic wedding. Despite the temporary break, and years of secrecy from the public eye, the royal family already approved of their relationship long before their marriage.
Kate And Her Relationship
Meghan And Her Relationship
On the other hand, Meghan and Harry had a completely different and much shorter love story. Some might even call it a whirlwind, as the couple met on a blind date in 2016 and clicked instantly. A few weeks later, Harry convinced Meghan to accompany him on his trip to Botswana. Their relationship grew from there and about six months later the news broke about their relationship. By November 2017, they announced their engagement and their high profile wedding in May 2018, was in one of the most-watched weddings in history
Meghan And Her Relationship1
Kate’s Place In The Royal Family
As Prince William is now second in line to the throne, following his father Prince Charles, this means that one day Will will likely be King. It also means that Kate will become the Queen consort, which is a very high profile position in the Royal Family.Since Kate will become the future Queen Consort, this means she has many responsibilities to attend to, and her position in family and the UK will be watched closely by the whole world.
Kates Place In The Royal Family
Meghan’s Place In The Royal Family
For Meghan, her place in the Royal family is actually less high-profile. That’s because although Prince Harry is William’s brother, Will now has three children. This means Prince Harry’s is number six in line to the throne. This could change in the future as well, as once his nieces and nephews grow up and have their own children, Harry will move even further down the line. For Meghan, this all means that while she is officially a Duchess, and a member of the Royal circle, she won’t have to worry about ever being the face of the country. So whilst she currently does have some responsibilities to the crown with her husband, over time it’s likely that these will lessen.
Meghans Place In The Royal Family
Kate’s Struggle In The Press
When you’re a high-profile member of the Royal Family, being in the public eye is never easy. In truth, sometimes the paparazzi and the press will do anything to get close to you and scrutinize your every move. Although Kate seems to be a Royal angel, she has had numerous struggles with the press. Still these are more down to severe breaches of privacy. When she was on vacation in 2012 with Will in France, the paparazzi managed find them and zoom in to take pictures of the Duchess topless, Not only that, they published them in a magazine, and understandably, Kate was extremely upset and even took the matter to court.
Kates Struggle In The Press
Megan’s Struggles With The Press
Unsurprisingly, Meghan has also struggled with her fair share of problems with the press and with fans. Although this is not to the extent that Kate has been and there haven’t been so many breaches of privacy. Still, when she was still dating Prince Harry, she did face some troubling harassment online. She has also had to deal with online controversy from some of her family members. This prompted her Prince to make a plea on her behalf to be left in peace. Nonetheless, she also faced some more criticism recently for choosing to announce her pregnancy at the same time as Princess Eugenie’s wedding.
Megans Struggles With The Press
Kate’s Ring
Kate’s ring is a real show-stopper. It’s simply stunning and the jewel-encrusted 12 carat diamond and sapphire stone was designed and produced by the royal jeweler Gerrard. Still, what makes this ring even more special is that it is a royal heirloom. That’s right, it that once belonged to Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana. Diana was well-loved by the public and was often been called “The People’s Princess.” This only made the significance of her daughter in law, Kate wearing it even more powerful and touching. Whilst some royal observers might wonder if it the boys ever fought over who got their mother’s ring, it made perfect sense that it would be passed down to the oldest brother.
Kates Ring
Meghan’s Ring
Since Meghan wasn’t able to receive the same kind of family heirloom from Prince Harry, like Kate’s stunning ring, Harry had to think a little more outside the box. Still he still managed to really make his bride’s ring extra special and was able to take two small diamonds from Princess Diana’s collection and incorporate them into his rings design. He also combined it with a larger diamond from Botswana, which still holds a special place in their hearts. The end result was this beautiful and elegant customized ring created by court jewelers Cleave and Company.
Meghans Ring
Kate’s Wedding
When Kate and Will announced their engagement and planned their wedding, it was the first time in a long time that a high-profile member of the Royal Family, especially one in line for the throne, would have a Royal wedding. There was even more hype, since William is a future king. When the Royal couple got married in London’s Westminster Abbey, it was treated a bit more like a state affair, and hosted important guests from around the world. This included numerous Prime Ministers, ambassadors, and leaders from around the world. Everything was also a bit strict and formal, as there were rules and everything had to be be done according to protocol.
Kates Wedding
Meghan’s Wedding
When Meghan Markle’s got married Prince Harry, the wedding had a slightly different vibe. The happy couple got married at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, and it was actually a slightly smaller ceremony. The couple also invited some Hollywood celebrities and the guest list included Meghan’s star-studded friends, like George Clooney and Oprah. The ceremony itself was also a little more unconventional. Some of the highlights included Bishop Michael Curry, gospel singing, and the overall, it was a little more relaxed, with people even laughing at points.
Meghans Wedding
The Future Of Kate’s Children
Kate’s future role in the Royal Family is important because of just who her husband is. It’s also significant because of who her children are. As she’s married to the future King, her children are directly in line to inherit the throne behind their father. Her oldest son Prince George is currently number three in line for the crown. The fact she has to raise future leaders of an entire nation is a big responsibility. Still, Kate manages to take it in her stride, and she certainly won’t be going at it alone.
The Future Of Kates Children
The Future Of Meghan’s Children
In contrast to Kate and William’s children, it’s highly unlikely that Meghan and Harry’s children will inherit the crown in the future. After Meghan announced she was pregnant, everyone was quick to observe that while her baby will still be a Royal, it will only be seventh in line for the Royal throne. What’s more, their place in the line for inheritance will most likely drop even lower after its cousins grow up and then have children of their own. This all means that Meghan will have slightly less pressure in teh future than Kate.
The Future Of Meghans Children
Kate’s Display Of Affection
The Royal family are traditionally known for having a stiff upper lip and bebing careful to not show emotion or display affection to the public. While Will and Kate don’t exactly fall into this stereotype and are very warm and approachable, the couple rarely engages in public displays of affection. In most cases, they usually opt to simply stand side by side. When they do touch occasionally, it’s usually all done very politely, and everything is still very proper and all above board.
Kates Display Of Affection
Meghan’s Display Of Affection
Whilst Kate and William’s maintain a more reserved appearance, some people have notice that Harry and Meghan are the opposite in public. Although they always keep things appropriate, the two do appear to be very affectionate when they’re out and about. They are often caught gazing to each other’s eyes, or holding hands when they are sitting next to each other, which is actually super cute. What’s more, the way they touch and lean into each other seems to speak volumes, and no one has any doubt that the couple are deeply in love.
Meghans Display Of Affection
Kate’s Net Worth
It might be easy to think that Kate Middleton’s net worth is down to her husband and his prestigious position in the Royal Family. Still, that’s not the whole story. A great deal of her financial earnings actually come from her own family’s party supply company, which is aptly called Party Pieces. Right now, Kate boasts a net worth of around $10 million, which is impressive. Many Royal observers have speculated that when William finally takes the crown, Kate’s net worth will jump significantly higher.
Kates Net Worth
Meghan’s Net Worth
Just like Kate, Meghan did not go into her marriage without a penny to her name. Meghan was already a hugely successful actress on her show Suits, and it was even reported that she amassed up to $50,000 per episode! After being a permanent fixture on the hit show for seven years, that sum definitely accumulates. Plus, with her prestigious marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan will likely be receiving allowances from her royal in-laws. So it’s her actual net worth currently stands at around $5 million.
Meghans Net Worth
Coming Together
In spite of their glaring differences, both Kate and Meghan know that they have big responsibilities to both their husbands and to the Royal Family. Each of these women are beautiful, talented and accomplished in their own right, and have inspired a new generation of royals. They both know exactly what is expected of them, and are ready to step up to their positions. In some ways, they are both two princess of the people, just like Princess Diana, and now our generation has got two instead of just one.
Coming Together
Kate And Meghan
Although there are a number of obvious differences between the two Princess, Kate and Meghan also share some similarities. They both became working Royals, have to adhere to strict rules and duties, and both Royal wives have pretty much of the same lives. They both attend Royal events and are dedicated to carrying out charity work. Being Royals, they are also prohibited from going out in public alone, and have to be accompanied by security wherever they go. They aren’t even allowed to take selfies with fans or post on social media. So in spite of their many differences, Meghan and Kate are still incredibly similar.
Kate And Meghan