Kate’s Close Circle See Her Latest Magazine Move as a ‘Slap in the Face’ to Queen Camilla
Rumors of tensions are rippling through the corridors of Buckingham Palace following an unprecedented move by the inner circle of Princess Kate. While the Firm usually maintains a ‘never complain, never explain’ policy, a series of candid remarks by the Princess of Wales’ friends has reportedly left some senior royals feeling sidelined, especially Queen Camilla.
The catalyst of the current friction was a high-profile feature of The Times Magazine, which offered an intimate look at the future Queen. Titled ‘Arise, Queen Kate’ in print and ‘Kate will be a queen who listens’ online, the piece relied heavily on Palace insiders and long-term friends to paint a picture of how the Princess intends to modernize the monarchy. While the article was intended to be a tribute to Kate’s work ethic and preparation for her future role, experts warn that the timing and tone may have backfired. With King Charles currently battling cancer, the focus on the next reign is sensitive.
As reported by The Mirror, royal columnist Amanda Platell raised sharp questions about whether Prince William and Princess Kate had sanctioned the interviews. “Did those 'close long-term friends' of William and Kate have their approval to talk?" Platell said, also adding, "Did Kate and William, in fact, sanction this article in The Times Magazine about her intentions when she becomes Queen? We may never know, but even if they did not, it is surely ill-advised of their close circle to talk about her future in this way.”
She went on to suggest that the praise for Kate’s future as Queen could be interpreted as a slight against the woman currently wearing the crown, that is, Camilla. "Kate would never have intended any slight against Camilla, of course," the columnist noted, also highlighting that talking about the Princess of Wales’ qualities so openly would be like a “slap in the face for the present Queen.” In the same vein, even Newsweek previously noted, the Times Magazine article risks the Waleses appearing “a little too eager to sell their advantages over Charles and Camilla.”
The alleged ongoing tensions within the Palace are further complicated by recent polling data, which presents a significant gap between Charles and Camilla versus William and Kate. According to recent figures, the Prince and Princess of Wales remain the most popular members of the Royal Family, boasting ratings of 77% and 74%, respectively. Following closely, King Charles sits in fourth place and Queen Camilla in seventh.
While the chart placed her below Kate, it’s not the only feud making headlines in the media. Insiders, as per Closer Online UK have previously suggested that Camilla felt ‘sidelined’ and ‘panicked’ by Kate’s rising popularity, particularly after she took center stage during recent holiday events. One source noted that the Queen Consort was ‘territorial’ because she views the Princess of Wales’ symbolic choices as a sign that “it won’t be long before she’s Queen.”
The friction reportedly dates back years, with royal author Christopher Andersen alleging Camilla was a “bit of a snob” who didn’t believe Kate was ‘worthy’ of the family while speaking to the Daily Beast. He also claimed she even “whispered in Charles’s ear” to encourage William and Kate’s split in 2007. But despite all the pressure surrounding her, sources close to the Princess suggest she’s stronger than people think and is “not backing down” from her duties.