It’s been nearly two years since the so-called fab four – Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – have been in the same room together. But with the Cambridges planning a royal tour in America in the not-too-distant future, the Sussexes are hoping this could change.
Meghan and Harry moved to the US after stepping down as senior royals in March 2020, and they think that the time is right for them to build bridges with Wills and Kate when they visit California – by having them to stay at their $15million mansion with their three children, Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and three-year-old Prince Louis.
“Meghan would like some show of commitment from William and Kate, even if it’s a tentative date or time frame to put in the diary for some time next year,” our insider explains.
“They haven’t had a single royal visitor since moving to America, which they know is mainly because of COVID, but now that travel restrictions between the US and UK have been lifted, they want that to change.
"Harry and Meghan feel very strongly about this and think it’s important that the Cambridges stay with them if they come over – it would seem odd if they didn’t. They’re certain that there would be no better way for them to put aside their differences than by spending quality time together in the California sunshine, away from the meddling and negativity they would have to encounter in England.
"And Meghan feels that they would be playing by her rules because they would be in her home and her home country.”
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Take a look: all the times Meghan was Princess Diana's style clone
All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana - slider
1 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
The glittering Roland Mouret gown worn by Meghan at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's Totem show was reminiscent of a Catherine Walker dress Princess Diana wore in 1990.
2 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Both Meghan and Diana chose a monochrome color palette for visits to Royal Ascot.
3 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
It seems both royals are a fan of pairing red and purple. Princess Diana wore the combo a visit to Hong Kong in November 1989 while Meghan wore it on a visit to Birkenhead in January of 2019.
4 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
In 1987 Princess Diana wore tartan at Bute Highland Games in Scotland and two decades later Meghan wore a Burberry tartan coat for an official visit to Scotland during her engagement.
5 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Meghan sheer pleated Givenchy skirt (which caused quite the controversy) and matching top may well have been inspired by Princess Diana's all-blue look from 1982.
6 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Both royal women are a fan of pinstripes, as seen by this pinstriped blazer worn by Diana in Sheffield and the buttoned Altuzarra dress Meghan wore at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
7 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Even at the end of her royal duties, Meghan channelled Diana in her wardrobe. Just look at this green dress and matching hat worn by Meghan on Commonwealth Day compared to Diana's Trooping of the Colour dress and hat from 1982.
8 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
At the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, one of the very first times we saw Meghan and Harry in public together, Meghan and her cali-girl vibes looked very similar to an outfit Princess Diana wore while in Bosnia.
9 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Not ones to shy away from colour, Princess Diana and Meghan also both know just how amazing a simple white dress can look.
10 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Both have sported tailored blush pink dresses. Princess Diana wore a Versace coat dress in 1995 while The Duchess of Sussex wore a modern take on the trend when visiting the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre in London.
11 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Meghan's second wedding dress (a Stella McCartney design) was noticeably similar to a high-necked evening gown worn by Princess Diana at a reception at Spencer House in London.
12 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Meghan wore a stunning Safiyaa caped red gown o the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall that looked very similar to the red Jacques Azagury dress Diana wore to an American Red Cross dinner in 1997.
13 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
The chic plaid suit that Diana wore while at Paddington Station in London in 1988 looks very similar to an off-the-shoulder structured shirt Meghan wore on a visit to Wales.
14 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
The off-the-shoulder pink Carolina Herrera dress Meghan wore to Trooping the Colour was rather similar to Princess Diana's look worn at the Royal Ballet in Germany in 1987.
15 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
At Commonwealth Day in March 2019 Meghan wore an emerald green Erden coat not dissimilar to the one worn by Princess Diana in 1982.
Reports claim that Kate and William are lining up a US trip next year as part of a royal tour and want to visit California along the way.
Last week, the couple attended the COP26 summit in Glasgow, where they spoke to world leaders about climate change. The Queen made an appearance via video link, in which she thanked Prince Charles and William for their work on environmental issues – failing to mention Harry, who has been very outspoken on the subject. With Harry still feeling so alienated from his family, now could be the perfect time for the prince to start rebuilding those bonds.
Relations between the two couples have been particularly strained since 36-year-old Harry and Meghan, 40, did a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, in which Meghan claimed Kate had made her cry and Harry said William was “trapped” in his life.
While the brothers have met in England twice – for Prince Philip’s funeral and the unveiling of the Princess Diana statue in the gardens of Kensington Palace – they have never really had any clear-the-air talks and put on a united front. Harry also wants them to bond with his new baby daughter Lilibet and two-year-old son Archie, who they’ve not seen in two years.
“The house is more than spacious enough, there would be ample opportunity to arrange for practicalities such as security and private transportation, and the Cambridges would have their own sleeping facilities and staff to take care of their daily needs,” we’re told.
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“The children will be well catered for, they would be able to play around in the back garden, and enjoy walks on the beach together in paradise. For Harry and Meghan, it’s just a no-brainer and only fair, plus it would send the world a powerful message that they’re letting bygones be bygones. They want to build bridges with William and Kate, introduce the kids to their cousins and show them in person what their life is like in America.”
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