A royal snub? Moment Meghan Markle’s friend Priyanka Chopra ‘ignored’ clapping for Prince William and Kate Middleton they took their seats at Wimbledon
Meghan Markle’s friend Priyanka Chopra appeared to ‘ignore’ Prince William and Kate Middleton as they were clapped into the Royal Box at Wimbledon.
In a newly emerged clip, the actress, 38, opted to fiddle with her scarf as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 39, took their seats to rapturous applause from the crowd ahead of the Women’s Singles Final on Saturday.
Several royal watchers suggested it was a snub after the Duchess of Sussex made remarks about Kate during her Oprah Winfrey interview.
Meghan claimed Kate made her cry and ‘hurt her feelings’ during a discussion about flower girl dresses ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry – after it was previously suggested it was the other way round.
Meghan Markle’s friend Priyanka Chopra appeared to ‘ignore’ Prince William and Kate Middleton as they were clapped into the Royal Box at Wimbledon
Meghan Markle and Priyanka Chopra have been friends since 2016 after meeting at an ELLE Women in Television dinner
She also claimed ‘conversations’ were had with a member of the Royal Family about the colour of Meghan and Harry’s son Archie’s skin.
It’s possible Priyanka didn’t see the Cambridges enter the Royal Box, or that she wasn’t aware of the etiquette to applaud, however several royal fans suggested her abstaining from clapping was intentional.
Remarking on her reaction, one said: ‘The way Priyanka did not even look in their direction is enough for me.’
Another tweeted: ‘I’m actually in disbelief about such a lack of manners and upbringing. The Americans sitting in the vicinity to Kate and William did NOT clap nor acknowledge their entry. Two past tennis stars with their wives, King and Navratilova, and a bestie of Meghan’s, Priyanka Chopra.’
One added: ‘She totally ignored them. I would do the same if my friend was mistreated’, while one remarked: ‘I would ignore them as well.’
Meghan Markle and Priyanka Chopra have been friends since 2016 after meeting at an ELLE Women in Television dinner. The Indian actress was a guest at the Royal Wedding in 2018.
It’s possible Priyanka didn’t see the Cambridges enter, or that she wasn’t aware of the etiquette to applaud, however several royal fans branded it a snub
Priyanka has been a vocal champion of Meghan since they became close; when the Duchess was named one of Time’s Most Influential People of 2018, she wrote a piece detailing her special qualities.
In the article, she predicted that Meghan ‘will be a princess for the people’ and branded her a ‘relatable young woman with her heart and mind in the right place’.
A source previously told E! News that Meghan confides in Priyanka about the ‘adjustments’ she had to make with being a royal.
Priyanka, who is married to pop star Nick Jonas, attended the Ladies Singles Final between Australian Ashleigh Barty – the eventual champion – and Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic at Wimbledon.
The film star radiated glamour as she made her way to her seat in the Royal Box on Saturday
Priyanka was seated in the Royal Box beside a friend a couple of rows behind Prince William and Kate – Meghan’s brother-and-sister-in-law
She wore an elegant billowing, marble-print gown which featured an asymmetric hem and a snakeskin print belt which nipped her in at the waist, and was seated in the Royal Box beside a friend a couple of rows behind Prince William and Kate – Meghan’s brother-and-sister-in-law.
During their controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year – which has been nominated for an Emmy award – Meghan said she didn’t make Kate cry over bridesmaid dresses, arguing ‘the reverse happened’.
‘A few days before the wedding she was upset about something, pertaining to… the flower girl dresses, and it made me cry. And it really hurt my feelings,’ she told the chat show host.
‘There wasn’t a confrontation and I don’t think it’s fair to her to get into the details of that because she apologised, and I have forgiven her. What was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didn’t do, but that happened to me.
‘I’m not sharing that piece about Kate in any way to be disparaging to her.’
Kate has not commented publicly about the interview, but she and Prince William were said to have been ‘deeply saddened’ by it.