Keeping Up Appearances Kate & Meghan's United Front

The duchesses come to a secret agreement

Reunited for the first time since Prince Harry publicly admitted to being on “different paths” to his brother, the former Fab Four managed to put their differences aside to pay their respects at a series of moving British Remembrance ceremonies last week.

The two couples, whose falling-out has dominated headlines in recent months, joined the Queen and other senior royals at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London last Saturday, followed by an emotional service the next day.

Palace aides were said to have been panicking over how they would ensure the important occasions remained drama-free, but were delighted that the focus remained firmly on the solemnity and significance of honouring those who lost their lives in World War I.

“It would have been devastating if the drama between the couples spilled over into the public arena again, especially during such important and solemn occasions,” tells our source.

Now, Woman’s Day can reveal that behind the scenes, it was a breakthrough phone call between the duchesses themselves that ensured speculation over their rift was kept to a minimum.

Our well-placed insider claims that despite their fractious relationship, Kate reached out to Meghan, 38, in the days leading up to the events, and they agreed to devise a plan together.

“They were both very aware that this is one of the Queen’s most important events on her calendar and neither of them wanted to do anything to detract from that. While aides were trying to manage seating plans and arrival times, Kate and Meghan decided to make their own arrangements.

“They knew all eyes would be on them and their interactions, as well as Harry and William’s, so they took matters into their own hands, agreeing to keep their distance.