How Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Putting Distance Between Them Saved Their Friendship

From ELLE

People devoted its issue this week to the evolution of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's friendship and how its bumpy start (at least according to the tabloids) led to a real, blossoming relationship between the women in private. And the reason that things are as good as they are now is because the two duchesses separated professionally.

People detailed that first of all, the pressure from everyone to meet and become the closest of buds did affect them initially. “There was undue pressure where the whole world wanted them to be best friends,” an insider said.

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images
Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

The two have become more separate in their public lives since: Meghan and Kate no longer live at Kensington Palace together and no longer share a staff, either. Meghan and Harry have their own staff within Buckingham Palace, and the newlywed couple currently lives at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Kate and Meghan's work lives are separate, and that changed everything.

The separation is “allowing them more time to be like family” rather than colleagues, a royal source told People. “There is a sense of [Meghan and Kate’s] relationship strengthening.”

People's story echoes ELLE.com's own report this weekend that the duchesses have become closer, especially after Meghan became a mother. The Duchess of Cambridge was extremely supportive of Meghan during her pregnancy: “Catherine and Meghan enjoy seeing each other, and motherhood has definitely brought them closer together,” a source told ELLE.com.

The ladies' big day at Wimbledon, where they gave the world a glimpse of their friendship, was long planned. “Kate and Meghan had always planned to attend the final together. Not only is it something that they enjoy, it’s also a chance to remind people that the tabloid stories about their relationship have been wide of the mark,” a source told ELLE.com.

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