According to a new book by royal correspondent Valentine Lowe, it was none other than Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales herself, who insisted on including the phrase "Recollections may vary" in the Royal Family's response to the interview.
Behind the scenes, Kate was described as even more determined than Prince William in crafting a robust palace comeback to address the Sussexes' incendiary racism allegations.
As the future king and queen, William and Kate were united in their desire for a strong and unwavering statement following the televised bombshell.
The book reveals that they sat together, discussing with their officials how to handle the allegations made by Harry and Meghan. Initially, the draft statement was milder, but the couple, who had already experienced their fair share of clashes with Harry and Meghan, were resolute in their determination for a more forceful response. While both William and Kate were firm in their stance, it was reported that Kate exhibited even greater conviction on the matter.
When a courtier suggested the inclusion of the phrase "Recollections may vary" as a strategic move, at least two palace officials argued against it to avoid further provoking Harry and Meghan. However, Kate, with her astute understanding of the impact of history, passionately argued that the phrase was essential. She believed that without it, the public would perceive everything the Sussexes said as absolute truth, potentially damaging the monarchy's reputation.
This revelation sheds light on Kate's often underestimated steeliness and long-term vision. She is playing the long game, always mindful of her role and the historic path she is destined to follow as the future queen. Her determination to uphold the monarchy's integrity and protect its reputation is evident in her active participation in shaping the response to the interview.
The revised and strengthened statement, with the iconic phrase intact, received a resounding approval from the Queen herself and was released to the public on Tuesday night, making a significant impact in the aftermath of the interview. Amid the fallout, it's worth mentioning the well-known clash between Kate and Meghan, which Meghan famously claimed involved tears on her part. The incident, revolving around disagreements over dresses for the flower girls, became global news.
Later, Meghan revealed in an interview that she had forgiven Kate and even bought her flowers as an apology.
