Where Meghan Markle Sat With Kate and Pippa at Wimbledon in 2019 Sent a Powerful Message, Expert Says
While speculation continues as to whether Kate Middleton will be at Wimbledon handing out trophies, look back to 2019. That year, the now-Princess of Wales sat courtside at the famed tennis tournament alongside her sister, Pippa Middleton, and Meghan Markle. According to a body language expert, where the Duchess of Sussex sat signaled she was “very much part of the family.”
Meghan sat in a ‘Middleton ‘sandwich’’ at Wimbledon in 2019
Almost six months to the day before she and Harry announced they were leaving royal life, Meghan joined Kate, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which hosts the annual tournament, and her sister, Pippa, courtside.
The three sat in the royal box at Center Court in London, England. There they watched Meghan’s friend, the now-retired Serena Williams, face off against Simona Halep in the final match. (Halep defeated Williams.)
Examining footage from the appearance, body language expert Judi James noticed how Meghan sat in between Kate and Pippa, describing it as a “Middleton ‘sandwich’” to The Sun‘s Fabulous.
At the time, rumors were already swirling about a potential feud between Meghan and Kate. The two had gone to Wimbledon together in 2018.
In the days leading up to their Wimbledon appearance, the two were seen with their children—minus 3-year-old Princess Lilibet, who was born in 2021—watching Prince Harry and Prince William’s polo match.
Sitting between Pippa and Kate Middleton made Meghan look like a special guest
The seating arrangements said a lot, according to James. “As a public signal of intent,” she explained, “it seemed to imply that Meghan had cracked the sister group to be shown as the third sister. And, therefore, very much part of the family.”
On a more practical level, “it also meant both Kate and Pippa would be seen dancing their attention on Meghan.”
Meanwhile, “in the middle seat,” Meghan “would look very much like the honoured [sic] sister-in-law, hosted by both.”
The 2019 Wimbledon Championships marked the one and only time Meghan, Kate, and Pippa made a public appearance together.
As the Duke of Sussex later revealed in his 2023 Spare memoir, Pippa’s 2017 wedding became a source of friction. The Prince and Princess of Wales, he wrote, didn’t like how he and Meghan switched seats at the reception, a claim the Sussexes denied.
Meghan’s body language hinted at ‘some awkwardness’ at Wimbledon
“Pippa appeared to be able to put more ‘carefree’ effort into her chats with Meghan.” Although there were still some hints of “awkwardness.” Namely, how she “would often be photographed looking ahead” and putting a hand on her neck.
“Even during some of their chats, Meghan was seen touching her neck, implying some awkwardness. Or with one arm around her own torso in what looked like a barrier gesture,” James said.
As for Kate, she “appeared at one point to have adopted the super-polite, non-tactile pose of standing with her hands clasped behind her back as she chatted to Meghan.”
Now, five years after their Wimbledon appearance, Kate and Meghan, as well as Harry and William, don’t speak. Although Harry seemingly doesn’t want it to stay that way. He’s reportedly tried reaching out to his brother and sister-in-law in light of Kate’s cancer diagnosis, for which she has a “few” more months of preventative chemotherapy treatment.
