Kate Middleton was hurt by 'cruel' Tatler article as she's very keen to stop comparisons with Meghan Markle
Kate Middleton was reportedly hurt by remarks made in an article which graced Tatler magazine's July/August cover because she's "very keen to stop the constant comparisons between herself and Meghan Markle."
The 38-year-old Duchess of Cambridge is allegedly considering legal action against the society magazine, especially after Kensington Palace declared that the "Catherine The Great" article was full of "inaccuracies and false representations." According to British newspaper Daily Mail, the palace is "furious" about claims that Kate feels "exhausted and trapped" by the increased workload following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step down as senior royals.
Former royal editor Duncan Larcombe told New magazine via OK! that the duchess was upset by the piece because she wants to stop comparisons drawn between herself and her sister-in-law. "It’s almost as though they want to draw a line in the sand where it’s gone a bit too far," he said, adding that the constant comparisons between them makes it seem like "Kate is almost used by some outlets as a stick to beat Meghan with."
"We know William and Kate are very sensitive about comparisons with Meghan. The narrative of that falling out between William and Kate and Harry and Meghan touches a nerve," he added.
Tatler dismissed a legal complaint by the Cambridges earlier this month in an ongoing row over the controversial piece, saying it had "no merit" whatsoever. The couple have reportedly sent legal letters to the magazine demanding the profile be removed from the internet. As mentioned, the palace does not appreciate claims suggesting Kate feels 'exhausted and trapped' following Megxit. "That is such an extremely cruel and wounding barb. It's disgusting. It's sexist and woman-shaming at its very worst," a royal source told The Mail on Sunday. "The piece is full of lies. There is no truth to their claim that the Duchess feels overwhelmed with work, nor that the Duke is obsessed with Carole Middleton. It's preposterous and downright wrong."
"The whole thing is class snobbery at its very worst. The stuff about [Kate's sister] Pippa is horrible," the insider continued. "Tatler may think it's immune from action as it's read by the Royals and on every coffee table in every smart home, but it makes no difference. It's ironic that the Royals' favorite magazine is being trashed by them."
"The Duchess is a naturally shy woman who is doing her best," they added.
Tatler's Anna Pasternak asserts in the controversial piece that the Cambridges feel tired because they have additional workload after Megxit. "Kate is furious about the larger workload… She feels exhausted and trapped," the article says, citing an anonymous source. "She's working as hard as a top CEO, who has to be wheeled out all the time, without the benefits of boundaries and plenty of holidays."
However, figures in the Court Circular -- which is the official record of royal engagements -- tend to paint a different picture. According to the document, the couple has had a similar number of royal engagements from January to March as they did over the same period last year. In fact, Kate has actually done lesser number of royal duties this year, 29, against 35 in 2019. "This story contains a swathe of inaccuracies and false misrepresentations which were not put to Kensington Palace prior to publication," Kensington Palace said in a statement issued after the article was published.
But Tatler remained defiant, hitting back with its own statement. "Tatler's Editor-in-Chief Richard Dennen stands behind the reporting of Anna Pasternak and her sources," the magazine said. "Kensington Palace knew we were running the 'Catherine the Great' cover months ago and we asked them to work together on it. The fact they are denying they ever knew is categorically false."