<p id=”par-1_71″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/”>Meghan Markle</a> and Kate Middleton’s marriages to Prince Harry and Prince William were two highly anticipated royal events. The motives behind each woman’s decision to marry into the House of Windsor raised much speculation. Did Meghan wed Prince Harry out of true love, or was it a quest for royal status? Was Kate’s union with Prince William a genuine love story, or was there a desire for power and prestige? </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-markle-s-behavior-raised-eyebrows”>Meghan Markle’s behavior raised eyebrows</h2>
<p id=”par-2_32″>Meghan Markle’s marriage to Prince Harry has often been portrayed as a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-once-compared-herself-disney-princess-falls-love-prince-loses-voice.html/”>modern fairy tale</a>. The couple met in 2016. As an American actress, Meghan’s romance with Harry raised many eyebrows. </p>
<p id=”par-3_40″>Despite their differences, Meghan and Harry appeared genuinely in love. However, the narrative surrounding their union has since shifted. Meghan’s decision <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/king-charles-heartbreaking-serious-concern-meghan-markle-moments-walking-down-aisle.html/”>to marry</a> into the royal family was scrutinized, especially after the couple departed from royal duties in 2020. </p>
<p id=”par-4_65″>Critics have pointed to the couple’s decision to step away from royal responsibilities as evidence that Meghan may have been more interested in a royal title than the public service commitment that comes with being a royal. But it appears Meghan’s decision strongly suggests that personal freedom, the ability to openly speak and pursue independent projects meant more to her than a royal title. </p>
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<p id=”par-5_38″>Sadly, Meghan could have been an <a href=”https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/meghan-markle-blew-opportunity-asset-32542629″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>asset to the royal family</a>. If the clan played their hand right and utilized her as an advantage, Meghan could have helped grow the House of Windsor out of its rigid past.</p>
<p id=”par-6_53″>However, royal correspondent Charles Rae claimed on <a href=”https://www.the-sun.com/royals/11031590/meghan-markle-harry-had-everything-blew-it-royal-family/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show</a>: “We wanted to give her a chance. She had everything really, she was American, she was an actress, and she was good looking. She had all the right attributes to be a good member of the royal family and she blew it.”</p>
<p id=”par-7_38″>From multi-million-dollar media deals to philanthropic work, Meghan’s post-royal life reflects a desire for autonomy rather than the constraints of monarchy. If a title was her goal, walking away from the crown wouldn’t have been the right move.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-kate-middleton-s-journey-to-being-queen”>Kate Middleton’s journey to being queen</h2>
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<p id=”par-8_40″>In contrast, years of friendship with Prince William was the foundation of Kate Middleton’s journey to becoming the United Kingdom’s queen. William and Kate’s relationship began at St. Andrews University, long before the pressures of public scrutiny took hold. </p>
<p id=”par-9_17″>Kate and William dated for nine years <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-used-style-trick-make-waist-look-even-smaller-during-prince-william-wedding.html/”>before marrying</a>. Their union was a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-honored-153-year-tradition-royal-wedding-prince-william.html/”>highly celebrated event</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-10_35″>In contrast to Meghan’s reported outspoken nature, the public has embraced Kate’s steady and calm demeanor. Critics claim William and Kate are a perfect match, despite being an outsider who married into the royal family.</p>
<p id=”par-11_33″>Therefore, the argument can be made Kate married William not only for love but also for prestige. She seamlessly blended into the House of Windsor and became one of its most valuable assets.</p>
<p id=”par-12_47″>As the U.K.’s future queen, Kate holds immense power and influence on the global level. She’s carefully cultivated her public image as a dedicated mother, a stylish fashion icon, and a dutiful royal. However, there’s no denying that marrying William secured her position in the royal hierarchy.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-so-who-married-for-royal-prestige-vs-true-love”>So who married for royal prestige vs. true love?</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/kate-middleton-prince-william-prince-harry-meghan-markle.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Kate Middleton and Prince William and Prince harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding days” class=”wp-image-3786568″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Kate Middleton and Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding days | Ben Stansall and Leon Neal | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s Wedding ‘More Intense, Romantic’ Than Queen Elizabeth’s, Says Body Language Expert </a>
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<p id=”par-13_27″>The question of whether Meghan Markle or Kate Middleton married for love or prestige ultimately depends on perspective. Both women could be accused of the same thing.</p>
<p id=”par-14_39″>For Meghan, marrying into royalty placed her in the global spotlight. But it appears her motives were more complex than simply gaining royal status. She loved Harry but wanted to have a voice of her own within the institution.</p>
<p id=”par-15_64″>On the other hand, Kate Middleton’s story fits the traditional mold of a royal marriage: a woman in love with a man who happens to be the heir to the throne. While Kate undoubtedly benefits from the power and privilege that come with her royal title, her longstanding relationship with Prince William suggests that love played a significant role in her decision to marry.</p>
<p id=”par-16_44″>In the end, both Meghan and Kate have become key figures in the British royal family, and their marriages have shaped the monarchy in different ways. Each woman brought a different perspective to the House of Windsor that ultimately, changed it for the better.</p>
<p id=”par-17_57″>In the end, the question of love versus royal ambition may never have a definitive answer, but the paths Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton chose speak volumes. Kate embraced royal life with unwavering dedication, seamlessly stepping into her future queen role, while Meghan and Harry’s exit signaled a rejection of palace constraints in favor of independence. </p>
<p id=”par-18_26″>Whether one pursued power and the other sought love is up for debate. But one thing is certain: Meghan and Kate each uniquely changed the monarchy.</p>