Meghan Markle Couldn't 'Soar Like Kate Middleton' — So the Crown Clipped Her Wings and Crushed Her 'Diva' Dreams

Having to walk behind Kate, then-Duchess of Cambridge, and reportedly realizing she was a public servant and not a celebrity turned Meghan Markle away from the Crown.

This behavior led veteran royal reporter Jennie Bond to share, "Meghan is by all accounts a bit of a diva. She didn't like what she saw, and she didn't like her wings being clipped."

Bond added, "Meghan could have been such a credit — she is an independent, forthright woman. With her own career, her own thoughts, her own charities and causes. She could have been exactly what a modern monarchy needs. I think the monarchy didn't act as carefully as they should have done."

The former BBC correspondent said that the Duchess of Sussex "is not popular" in Britain, where the Suits supporting player consistently ranks below or one step above scandalous Prince Andrew. The former actress has not set foot in the U.K. since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral over two years ago.

"She doesn't want to come back, and they are going their own ways, to some extent," Bond further added when highlighting the growing professional divide between Meghan and Prince Harry.

Bond appeared on The Sun's "Royal Exclusive Show" next to fellow veteran royal reporter and photographer Arthur Edwards. The lensman shared her sentiment and further observed, "She’s got her program, and he’s got his. He comes into Britain now with no fuss. He’s come for the Invictus Games, in and out with no fuss, he came for his uncle’s funeral, no fuss" when compared to the "media circus" that surrounded his two visits with Meghan in 2022.

However, for many analysts, it is Meghan's "deeply insidious hate" for Kate that "primarily keeps her away," according to a Hollywood insider.

Although Kate technically outranks Meghan in the royal hierarchy, she would only currently be required to curtsy to her sister-in-law if Prince William was next to her. For royal spouses not born of royal blood, their rank is through their husband and his particular rank in the monarchy. William is the highest-ranking British royal behind his father, King Charles III, and his stepmother, Queen Camilla.

However, when William accedes to the throne and Kate immediately becomes his Queen Consort, Meghan would be expected to curtsy to her with or without Catherine's husband in attendance. A "majesty" always outranks a "royal highness," since only a King or Queen can be styled as His/Her Majesty.

As a general rule of thumb, British royals typically only bow and curtsy to monarchs and their consorts, which means Meghan or Harry would likely never pay homage to William and Kate while they are Prince and Princess of Wales. But if there is ever a future meeting between the Sussex royals and King William V and Queen Catherine, bows and curtsies would be expected.