Kate Middleton waited for Meghan Markle to leave Sandringham before going to shoot with her own 20-bore shotgun
Kate Middleton reportedly waited for her animal-lover sister-in-law, Meghan Markle, to leave Sandringham after Christmas day celebrations with Queen Elizabeth before she went shooting with her own shotgun as per the royal family holiday traditions, reports say.
Over the years, the 36-year-old Duchess of Cambridge has become a keen markswoman and has even bought her own shotgun. On Boxing day, Kate waited for Meghan to leave before joining her husband, Prince William, and other family members to hunt pheasants, partridges, and ducks on the Queen's 20,000-acre Norfolk estate on Thursday.
Last week it was reported that Prince Harry was going to join other members of the royal family for their traditional post-Christmas shoot, despite claims he was banned from the activity by his new wife, who is considered sympathetic to animal welfare.
Meghan was not a part of the Boxing Day celebrations, but she did join the royals for a merry lunch at Wood Farm, which a lot of people perceived to be a tacit endorsement of her husband's controversial pastime.
Royal sources previously denied that the Duchess of Sussex ever made any effort to bar Harry from going on the shoot. Kate also joined the family group for lunch, driving down to the farm with Meghan, the Queen, and Prince Philip. But the very next day, Kate walked in brandishing her own gun, which sources say is a 20-bore shotgun, which is much lighter and easier to use than the usual 12-bore.
The source said: "She frequently goes out shooting when she is staying at Anmer Hall [the Cambridges' country home at Sandringham] and has become a really good shot. She is very much into the hunting, shooting, and fishing country lifestyle. The 20-gauge smoothbore gun is ideal for shooting game birds"
It is also being reported that Meghan and Harry's absence from the shoot was pre-planned, for the two royals were never meant to stay beyond Boxing Day. It is also believed that the young couple is on their own holiday as of now.
Meghan, who is new to the royal family and their traditions, is slowly adjusting to the ways and methods of the royals, although she still is not a big fan of the family's love for hunting and shooting. "Meghan has realized that the royals have been doing this for centuries and aren't going to change their ways," the source said.
The source continued, "She is not a vegan or even a vegetarian, but she doesn't like unnecessary cruelty to animals. Harry has explained to her that the numbers of birds need to be kept down on the estate and that this is all part of the management. She has accepted this but doesn't like watching it. She enjoyed the lunch and got on well with Kate, but I'm not sure how she would feel about Kate taking part."
