A photo from Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s Wimbledon appearance together has been used by an expert to show the signs of their ‘strained’ relationship.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle

An expert has suggested that a photograph from Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s joint appearance at Wimbledon in 2019 reveals signs of their “strained” relationship.

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex were seen together in the Royal Box at the prestigious tennis tournament in July 2019.

Both are known to be fans of the sport, with Kate being a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Meghan had even attended the tournament prior to her Royal days, flying in to cheer on her friend Serena Williams.

However, according to Richard Eden, Diary Editor for the Daily Mail, a snapshot of the two at the tournament five years ago paints a rather bleak picture of their relationship. This was just a year after reports first surfaced of a disagreement between the two.

In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry alleges that Meghan was left sobbing on the floor following a dispute with her sister-in-law over Princess Charlotte’s dress in the run-up to their wedding. Eden now suggests that a photo of Meghan and Kate shows the Duchess of Cambridge “putting up a shield” with her handbag, indicating that the afternoon was far from the relaxed event it appeared to be.

Princess Kate and Meghan Markle.

Richard Eden says this picture shows a “strain” between the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex. (Image: 2019 David Gray/Getty Images)

Speaking on Reading the Royals, Eden commented: “In July 2019 Catherine very magnanimously extended the invitation again to Meghan to join her at the tennis, but this year she brought her sister Pippa along, perhaps as a buffer. This is Catherine’s favourite event of the year but once again her body language suggests it’s anything but.”, reports the Irish Star.

“She’s stiff and uncomfortable as she arrives as though this is purely duty, not pleasure, and you can only wonder if that is the prospect of spending the day with someone who makes her feel uncomfortable. Look at the expression on Catherine’s face, you know she looks very strained and she’s really gripping her handbag as if it’s some sort of shield to protect her.”

In the subsequent 2021 interview with Meghan Markle, US talk show legend Oprah Winfrey delved into the dynamic evident at Wimbledon, questioning, “Did you feel welcomed by everyone? It seemed like you and Kate… at the Wimbledon game where you were going to watch a friend play tennis…”

Winfrey pressed further asking: “Was it what it looked like? You are two sisters-in-law out there in the world, getting to know each other. Was she helping you, embracing you into the family, helping you adjust? “

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle

Kate and Meghan attended Wimbledon together in 2019. (Image: 2019 Karwai Tang/Getty Images)

Meghan’s response was poignant: “I think everyone welcomed me. When you say, ‘Was it what it looked like? ‘ my understanding and my experience of the past four years is, it’s nothing like what it looks like.”

“Was it what it looked like? You are two sisters-in-law out there in the world, getting to know each other. Was she helping you, embracing you into the family, helping you adjust? “.

“I think everyone welcomed me. When you say, ‘Was it what it looked like? ‘ my understanding and my experience of the past four years is, it’s nothing like what it looks like.”