'She was called "Waity Katie"…rude and racist are not the same': Meghan on her and Kate's treatment in the press

The Duchess of Sussex says her treatment in the press was "very different" to how her sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge fared.

Meghan made the comments in a newly-released clip from her and Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey, shared on American network CBS earlier today.

She made reference to how Kate was dubbed "Waity Katie" by some sectors of the British press, during her eight-year relationship with Prince William.

READ MORE: Kate made Meghan cry and not the other way around, duchess says

But media treatment of her and Kate differed because "rude and racist are not the same" Meghan said.

"This was different," Meghan said of how she was covered in the media.

Winfrey then asked, "Different because of the race?" to which Meghan responded, "And because of social media".

"It was like the Wild, Wild West," the duchess continued.

"It spread like wildfire. Plus, my being American — it translated in a different way across the pond. So, you had a noise level that was very different.

"But if they can't see that it's different..."

Oprah then asked: "So you felt bullied on an international level?"

READ MORE: Harry alludes to 'jealousy' by his family after Australian royal tour

Meghan replied: "I think the volume of what was coming in and the interest was greater because of social media, because of the fact that I was not just British, and that, unfortunately, if members of his family say, 'Well, this is what has happened to all of us.'

"If they can compare the experience of what I went through with similar of what has been shared with us.

"Kate was called 'Waity Katie,' waiting to marry William. While I imagine that was really hard — and I do, I can't picture what that felt like — this is not the same.

"And if a member of his family will comfortably say, 'We've all had to deal with some things that are rude,' rude and racist are not the same."

"And equally, you've also had a press team that goes on the record to defend you, especially when they know something's not true. And that didn't happen for us," she said.

The duchess had earlier spoken about her sister-in-law to clarify a story that was reported in the wake of the royal wedding.

It was widely reported Duchess of Cambridge burst into tears during a fitting for bridesmaid's dresses, sparked by something Meghan had said to her.

But Meghan says Kate made her cry and not the other way around.

"The narrative with Kate, which didn't happen, that's when everything changed," the Duchess of Sussex told Oprah.

"It was the beginning of a real character assassination".

"Did you make Kate cry," Winfrey asked the duchess directly.

"No, the reverse happened," Meghan said. "She was upset about something, she apologised, she owned it."

READ MORE: Prince Harry relied on money left to him by Princess Diana following royal split

Meghan then explained she would not elaborate on what made Kate cry.

"I would never have wanted that to come out about her," Meghan says.

"She was upset about something, about the flower girl dresses and it made me cry and it really hurt my feelings.

READ MORE: Harry and Meghan release new photo of son Archie hours after shocking Oprah interview

"There wasn't a confrontation and I didn't think it's fair to get into the details because she apologised and I forgave her."

Kate's daughter, Princess Charlotte, was part of the bridal party.

The Duchess of Cambridge had just given birth to her third child, Prince Louis, weeks before.