Meghan who? Why Catherine is having the last laugh

Meghan Markle who? A beaming Princess Catherine has held court with world leaders and commoners alike overnight, showing the future Queen in a whole new, powerful light.

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales (C) speaks with Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark during a reception for overseas guests attending the coronation of Britain's King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace in central London on May 5, 2023. (Photo by Jacob King / POOL / AFP)

OPINION

Meghan Who?

A beaming Catherine, Princess of Wales held court with Kings and Queens and commoners alike overnight seemingly without a care in the world.

And why wouldn’t she be beaming?

No longer hanging over her head this weekend is the prospect of faked photo opportunities or awkward small talk with her estranged in-laws Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

With Prince Harry’s attendance at the Coronation expected to be a whistlestop visit and Meghan holed up in her Montecito mansion in California, there’s no need for Catherine to be looking over her shoulder.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, meets wellwishers during a walkabout on the Mall outside Buckingham Palac. Picture: Getty

As royalty and leaders from around the world converge on London to witness the historic crowning of her father-in-law King Charles III, Catherine and her husband Prince William are front row and centre.

At a state reception for dignitaries at Buckingham Palace, Catherine mingled with Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers, with pictures of her looking radiant and genuinely happy.

The Princess of Wales speaks is all smiles, again, as she talks with Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark during a reception at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty

Catherine, speaks with the First Lady of the United States, Dr Jill Biden and her grand daughter Finnegan Biden. Picture: Getty

The future Queen during a visit to the Dog & Duck Pub in Soho. Picture: Getty

Hours earlier, she joined Charles and William for an impromptu meet and greet with fans staking prime spots along The Mall outside of Buckingham Palace, where she was mobbed by adoring subjects desperate to shake her hand or grab a selfie with her.

As Queen-in-waiting, there is no doubt the future of the Monarchy weighs heavily on her and Prince William’s shoulders, especially giving opinion polls in the United Kingdom show support for the Monarchy is in decline.

According to a CNN poll, more than a third of those in the UK say their opinion of the Royal Family has become more negative over the past 10 years, with three in 10 saying they have become less interested in what the royals do.

If poll results are troubling the royals this weekend, they were making a good show of not letting on.

Meghan who? Picture: Getty

Ms Markle isn’t a crowd fave in London. Picture: Getty

As Meghan Markle puts the final touches to son Archie’s fourth birthday – the reason given for her skipping the Coronation – one can only imagine what she’s thinking while googling stories about the Coronation.

While the Fab Four morphed into the Fractured Four – the Royal Family is now banking on the Dynamic Duo of Catherine and William.

Originally published as Meghan who? Why Catherine is having the last laugh