Rumours of Kate and Meghan feud says more about us than them

While rumours of a bitter feud between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are just rumours, there is one grain of truth we can’t deny.

Meghan Markle is a volatile dictator.

At least, this is what the papers would have us believe, as the latest story to come from “an impeccable palace source” via The Sun alleges Meghan yelled at one of Kate’s staff.

According to the newspaper, The Duchess of Cambridge found out about the incident in May, before the royal wedding, and told her now-sister-in-law that it was “unacceptable” to speak to her employees in this way.

The Palace has issued a rare comment on the gossip, categorically stating that is untrue - for all the good it did.

Related: The Glaringly Sexist Problem Kate And Meghan Face Daily

Related: Meghan Makle and Kate Middleton’s Feud Explained

Related: All The Meghan Markle Family Drama Explained

Tension...Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle

This allegation is just one more drop in the ocean of rumours drowning Kate and Meghan in the public assumption that they don’t get on.

And how could they? They’re two attractive women in similar high-profile positions; society has a Hunger Games mentality when it comes to these matters - only one can prevail in order for us to make sense of it all.

Other rumours flying around this week alone have been that Kate was left in tears after Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress fitting, that Meghan Markle has “very high standards,” and that The Duchess of Sussex intends to return to acting.

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have been pitted against each other in the media. Picture: Ben Birchall / AFP Photo / Pool.

The reports of the “feud” say more about us than the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge. Picture: Chris Jackson / Getty Images.

And try as we might to ignore it, there is one common thread in all these rumours.

As they say, there’s no smoke without fire, but the fire isn’t where you think it is.

The one thing that is clear in each and every one of these rumours about Meghan Markle is this: there is nothing more terrifying to the status quo than a woman who thinks for herself.

A woman who dares to move too far outside of the role dictated for her by society will experience the rubber-band snap of public opinion sooner or later, and what started as a trickle of backlash after everyone got sick of writing about Meghan’s bump has now become a roaring tide.

The story behind Harry and Meghan’s move to Frogmore Cottage? Harry and Meghan spreading their wings. No big fallout but Kate and Meghan not close. No royal properties available in London apparently.

— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) November 26, 2018

The crazies on Twitter won’t like it but it is clear that Meghan is regarded as difficult and demanding by some in the family and on the staff.

— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) November 26, 2018

“The crazies on Twitter won’t like it but it is clear that Meghan is regarded as difficult and demanding by some in the family and on staff,” wrote royal correspondent Richard Palmer on Twitter last week.

Others were quick to point out the “shock” resignation of Meghan’s closest palace aide a few weeks earlier as proof of this.

The only thing that has been proven, however, is that we have a stunning lack of imagination when it comes to categorising women. We have the Madonna/Wh*re archetype, and we doggedly stick with it.

Meghan - older than Harry, American, an actress - must certainly fit into the latter, and thus live out her days labelled as “difficult,” “demanding,” and “bossy”.

Kate - let’s not forget the ‘Waity Katie’ headlines - will forever be positioned as an innocent if dowdy waif, bravely shouldering her duties as the obedient future queen.

The women will have a hard time shrugging off the picture the media has painted of them Picture: Indigo / Getty Images.

Because pitting women against each other never gets old, the Kate and Meghan stories will be here to stay. Picture: Adrian Dennis / AFP Photo

The headlines about Meghan and Kate will not stop coming. Our appetite for salacious gossip is trumped only by our appetite for pitting women against one another, so we can be sure that this ‘feud’ will dominate the news cycle until Meghan gives birth.

But might I gently suggest that as you read them, you apply some critical thinking and search for the underlying grain of truth. Sadly, you’ll probably find that the woman-hating at the core of these stories isn’t coming from either one of the Duchesses - but from us.

This story originally appeared on Whimn and was republished with permission.