It can’t be easy marrying into the royal family, but at least Princess Catherine of Wales knows she was accepted by the late Queen before her passing this year. At 42, Catherine’s battle with cancer has given her a new perspective on life and what truly matters.
A key story in her younger brother, James Middleton’s, new memoir sheds light on this, while also casting doubt on claims made by the Sussexes. In her controversial Netflix series, Prince Harry’s wife famously recounted her first meeting with Catherine. According to her, it was an awkward encounter, made worse by cultural differences — she explained that being a hugger was jarring for Brits.
However, in James Middleton’s memoir, there’s a different take on first introductions. James recalls that there was no awkwardness when Catherine met his wife, El. He describes how they spent the day with his family, including Catherine, William, and their children, and he even got a special hug from his sister, who whispered in his ear that El was “just great.”
In other developments, during Prince Harry’s recent visit to London for the WellChild Awards on September 30, he reportedly planned to meet with Catherine. Sources say the two have been in contact in an effort to mend their relationship. With Harry flying solo for his third overseas trip without his wife, it seems he’s distancing himself from her professionally. According to a source close to the Wales family, Catherine has been indirectly communicating with Harry, with William’s knowledge and approval.
Catherine’s loyalty remains with her husband, but she doesn’t want the family feud to drag on. She has a renewed appreciation for life and is committed to moving past the distress of recent years. As the future Queen of England, she’s not going to let Harry and his children be left behind. She believes her brother-in-law needs help and wants to return to the fold.
Harry is reportedly thrilled to know Catherine hasn’t given up on him. The estrangement has been painful, especially as the family faced various crises. Catherine’s cancer diagnosis was a huge wake-up call. While Harry’s wife’s reputation may be irreparable, there’s still hope for Harry himself. He’s seizing this opportunity to repair his relationships. With William still distant, Harry knows that Catherine is his only hope for opening a dialogue with his brother. He regrets some of his actions and never intended to hurt William, who was once his closest friend.
Despite the turbulence of recent months, Catherine’s “keep calm and carry on” attitude has been a source of strength — a trait the late Queen admired. Her Majesty went out of her way to make Catherine feel welcome, inviting her to Balmoral and allowing her to bring her camera to capture the beauty of the landscape. This gesture symbolized the Queen’s willingness to bring Catherine into the royal inner circle. Since that first visit, Catherine has become a regular at the Scottish Highlands retreat, and in 2019, the Waleses were even photographed attending Sunday church service with the Queen.
