Kate Middleton Tried to Be Friends With Prince Harry's Ex, Chelsy Davy—But Chelsy Wasn't Interested
Back when Prince Harry was dating Chelsy Davy, Kate Middleton reportedly tried to establish a friendship with her. Chelsy wasn't interested and turned down Kate's invitation to hang out but they eventually bonded when they both met the queen for the first time.

- Long before there was speculation about Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's friendship, Kate reportedly tried to bond with another of Prince Harry's longtime girlfriends: Chelsy Davy.
- In her book Kate: The Future Queen, royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl explains that Kate tried to form a friendship with Chelsy by inviting her out shopping, but that Chelsy turned down Kate's invitation. This, apparently, led to a "coolness" between them.
- Kate and Chelsy did eventually bond in 2008 when they both met the Queen for the first time at Peter Phillip and Autumn Kelly's wedding and bonded over their shared nervousness.
Long before the British press was busy speculating about the state of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's friendship, Kate tried (and failed) to bond with another of Prince Harry's longtime girlfriends: Chelsy Davy.
Harry and Chelsy dated on and off from 2004 until 2010 and ultimately split because Chelsy realized that royal life just wasn't for her. Before their split, however, Kate, who was dating Harry's older brother, Prince William, during this time, apparently tried to strike up a friendship with Chelsy—but it didn't go great.
In her book Kate: The Future Queen, royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl describes the state of Kate and Chelsy's friendship in 2008, when they were both guests at Peter Phillip and Autumn Kelly's wedding at St. George's Chapel in Windsor (where Harry would eventually tie the knot himself with Meghan Markle). Nicholl writes:
"Harry and Chelsy, who were back together after a romantic reunion in Botswana, had been invited, and Kate was grateful, for she didn't know many of the guests. Her friendship with Chelsy was lukewarm; they were completely different characters and the bubbly Zimbabwean got along better with Pippa. Kate had made an effort to befriend Chelsy, inviting her clothes shopping, but Chelsy had turned the offer down, leading to a coolness between them."
Apparently everything changed at Peter and Autumn's wedding however, because Kate and Chelsy finally had something in common to bond over: Their shared nervousness about meeting the Queen for the first time. Kate's nerves were amplified because she was attending the wedding alone, on Will's behalf, since he had other commitments and couldn't attend.
"On this occasion, however, they bonded, because they were both nervous about meeting the Queen," Nicholl writes. "Although she was a regular guest at the royal palaces and had been to Sandringham for the Boxing Day shoot, this was, rather surprisingly, the first time Kate would be formally introduced to the Queen. Understandably, without William by her side, she was shy and later recalled, 'It was amongst a lot of other guests and she was very friendly.'"
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
I Scoured Through Hundreds of Runway Shows—These Are the Color Trends of Summer 2023
From the neutrals of quiet luxury to highly-saturated statements.
By Emma Childs
-
Unearthed Prince Harry Interview from 2017 Reveals He Already Wanted Out of the Royal Family—But Stayed for One Reason
He and wife Meghan Markle eventually left their roles as senior royals in 2020.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Matty Healy Addressed His Podcast Controversy: "It Doesn't Actually Matter"
Um...
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Not Expected to Invite Prince Harry to His Coronation, Friend Claims
That doesn't sound good.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
We Finally Know Where the Earthshot Prize 2023 Will Take Place
Let's go!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate Is Seen Skipping Happily With Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in Behind-the-Scenes Footage
This is too cute.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry Blames 'Daily Mirror' Publishers for Chelsy Davy Breakup in Court Documents
The court case began this week.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Tabloid Stories About Prince Harry Came From Members of the Royal Family, 'Daily Mirror' Publisher Claims
These claims could corroborate previous statements from Harry.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate Hugged a Little Girl Who Burst Into Tears During Windsor Walkabout, And Told Her Mom to Get Her an Ice Cream
So cute!!!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Here's How Princess Kate Kept an Eye on Prince Louis During the Coronation, According to a Body Language Expert
Smart.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Louis Was Filmed Eating a S'more So Delicious It Literally Made Him "Weak at the Knees"
Oh, Louis.
By Iris Goldsztajn