‘Leave Meghan alone!’ Kate Middleton 'forced to defend' Prince Harry’s fiancée

The Duchess of Cambridge is said to have stepped in after Meghan’s old school pal, Ninaki Priddy, made a number of unpleasant comments about the stunning Suits star.

Priddy, who went to school in Los Angeles with Meghan, called the actress “calculated” and “cold” while discussing their falling-out.

This, it is claimed, led pregnant Kate to step in and defend her future sister-in-law.

According to Australian news site New Idea, a palace source said Kate was horrified at the negative attention.

The insider was quoted as saying: “Kate’s been there and done that and knows how hard those first few weeks of royal life can be.

“Kate learnt very early on that you have to have thick skin to handle… all the critics that come out of the woodwork to have a swipe at you.

“Having such cruelness thrown at you when you’re in the early days of your engagement can be devastating. Kate suffered it when she was slammed for being ‘commoner Kate’, and the fact that Meghan is an actress and divorced means there are plenty of people out there in line to throw eggs at her.”

They added: “Kate, as a result, has vowed to take Meghan under her wing and shelter her through it all. Harry is like a brother to Kate, and she’s never seen him so happy.”

Meghan and Prince Harry announced their engagement late last months following months of fevered speculation.

The ginger royal, 33, revealed he got down on one knee while the couple was cooking a roast chicken in Nottingham Cottage.