What to Know
The rumored tension between Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla may be more intense than we originally thought. According to a royal insider, Kate has been “limiting informal contact” between her children (particularly Prince George) and Camilla, but in the Princess of Wales’ eyes, she’s not doing it to be petty — she’s doing it to protect them.
The relationship between Kate and Camilla is reportedly “incredibly strained.”
A source told Radar Online that who George spends his time with recently has been based on how things are going behind-the-scenes in the royal family.
“There has been a conscious effort to keep George close to his parents and the Middleton side of the family,” the source said. “That has meant limiting informal contact with Camilla. It’s being interpreted in some circles as a snub, but those close to Kate see it as protective and intentional.”
Kate feels safer when her children are with her family.
With the fracture in her relationship with Camilla, Kate has become “fiercely focused on controlling her children’s environment.”
“Given the tension she feels toward Camilla, she is far more comfortable reinforcing George’s bond with William and her own parents,” the source continued. “George follows that lead, and at his age, that alignment speaks volumes.”
That means he’s been spending a lot of time with his maternal grandmother, Carole Middleton.
“Carole has always been a grounding presence for George,” a second source told Radar. “Kate trusts her implicitly, and that trust doesn’t extend in the same way to Camilla. George’s comfort with his granny reflects where Kate feels safest.”
To her, George is her son, not just the future king.
As George gets older, he’s been making more and more public appearances, and while of course, he’s in preparation to take the throne someday (hopefully, in the very distant future) to Kate, her first priority is his wellbeing as her son.
“Kate sees George as her responsibility first and a royal asset second,” a friend of the royals told Radar. “If that means keeping distance from people she doesn’t trust, even the Queen, she won’t hesitate.”
A royal expert told the outlet, “”What is happening is a gradual, carefully considered introduction to public life, where each appearance has a purpose and a clear boundary.”
The expert continued: “Nothing about it is random or performative. William and Kate are deliberately pacing his exposure, making sure he understands what he’s seeing and doing, rather than overwhelming him. From the outside it may look subtle, but it reflects a lot of planning and a thoughtful approach to preparing him for the responsibilities that lie ahead.”
