Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Classic Denim
    • Feminist Thrillers
    • Burgundy Makeup
    • Knee-Length Skirts
    • Beauty Advent Calendars
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Kate Middleton's Style Is Reportedly Simpler Now That She's Not "Competing" with Meghan Markle

    Kate apparently went through a phase where she was "intimidated by Meghan."

    By Kayleigh Roberts
    Published 5 April 2020 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    the duke and duchess of cambridge visit ireland day two
    (Image credit: Pool/Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal exit is having an impact on Kate Middleton's personal style, apparently.
    • A source close to the Duchess of Cambridge told The Sun that Kate's has "gone back to a much simpler style" since Harry and Meghan's move out of the United Kingdom. 
    • The source also said that Kate no long feels like she has to "compete" with Meghan Markle now.

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal exit has had a profound impact on everyone in The Firm—including Kate Middleton.

    According to a source close to the Duchess of Cambridge, that impact has been for the best in Kate's case.

    "Someone who knows Kate well said 'the atmosphere since the Sussexes left has noticeably improved,'" a royal insider told The Sun. "Kate does not feel she has to compete now. She has gone back to a much simpler style. Kate feels very much more relaxed now."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Apparently, Kate felt the pressure that would naturally come with the constant comparisons people made between Kate and her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle.

    "She most definitely went through a phase two years ago where she seemed slightly intimidated by Meghan," the source added. "She was afraid of comparisons being drawn between them and that Meghan was the one who looked glamorous and popular for a while."

    You may like
    • Princess Kate wears a structured white dress to attend Wimbledon and has long wavy brown hair Kate's Style Choices Are Part of a "Historical Continuum"
    • Meghan Markle wears her dark hair in a ponytail and wears a brown shirt and a gold necklace Meghan Markle Channels Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
    • Kate Middleton wears a giant straw hat and a green dress to attend Wimbledon in July 2026 Princess Kate "Melds More Easily" to Royal Life

    The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Ireland - Day Three

    (Image credit: WPA Pool)

    And, if this unnamed royal source is to be believed, Kate's style isn't the only thing undergoing a revamp after the Sussexes' royal exit.

    Kate’s makeup artist, Arabella Preston, is now reportedly using "less eye makeup, paler lips colors and more high street nail polishes in less obvious shades. She wears far less makeup and looks happy, relaxed and sporting high street clothes."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    The best part of that, of course, is the bit about Kate being happy and relaxed. Everyone deserves that.


    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.

    subscribe here

    RELATED STORIES

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Attend The Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit

    (Image credit: Mark Cuthbert)

    Kate & William Discuss Pandemic Mental Health

    Trooping The Colour 2017

    (Image credit: Samir Hussein)

    Kate Is Devastated About This Royal Split

    Explore More
    Princess Catherine Meghan Markle
    Kayleigh Roberts
    Social Links Navigation
    Contributing Editor at Marie Claire

    Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. 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.

    Read more
    Meghan Markle wearing a maroon coat holding Prince Harry's arm
    Royals It's "No Accident" That Meghan Markle Chose British Designers for Her Big Return
    By Kristin Contino
    Prince William princess Kate royal duties
    Royals Prince William and Princess Kate’s “Actions Speak Louder Than Words” When it Comes to Harry and Meghan, Says Royal Expert
    By Christine Ross
     
     
    The Clever Way Princess Kate Uses Beauty and Hair Styling Tricks to "Make a Statement" and Invoke "A Fresh Start," Per Celebrity Stylist
    Royals The Clever Way Princess Kate Uses Beauty and Hair Styling Tricks
    By Amy Mackelden
    Meghan Markle pulling up the collar on her coat and smiling
    Royals Meghan Markle's Bare Ears and Simple Rings "Send a Powerful Message"
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Prince Harry sitting next to Princess Diana, wearing a white blazer and blue hat
    Royals Prince Harry Says He Asks Princess Diana Questions Often—And Gets a Response
    Princess Kate wearing a yellow gown and tiara standing at a table
    Royals Princess Kate Narrowly Avoided State Banquet "Chaos" in Her Caped Gown
     
     
    Prince William laying a wreath in Aberfan
    Royals Prince William Joins King Charles and Queen Camilla for a Rare Joint Engagement
    Princess Kate wearing a tiara sitting at a banquet table
    Royals Princess Kate’s Royal Superpower Is Revealed By Body Language Expert
     
     
    Latest in News
    collage of fall-winter 2026 trends worn by London girls
    Celebrity Style I Want to Dress Like a London Girl This Winter—These Celebrity-Approved Trends Are My Blueprint
    Prince Harry sitting next to Princess Diana, wearing a white blazer and blue hat
    Royals Prince Harry Says He Asks Princess Diana Questions Often—And Gets a Response
     
     
    Princess Kate wearing a yellow gown and tiara standing at a table
    Royals Princess Kate Narrowly Avoided State Banquet "Chaos" in Her Caped Gown
    Lola Tung wore Bella Hadid's Coachtopia patchwork bag with an all-black going-out look
    Celebrity Style Bella Hadid's Under $300 Coachtopia Bag Is Becoming a Gen Z It Girl Favorite
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.