It's no secret that Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are not the best of friends. Ever since the news broke that Meghan and Prince Harry would not be moving into a bigger apartment at Kensington Palace when Baby Sussex arrives next spring but instead would be decamping to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, rumors of a feud between the sisters-in-law have reached fever pitch. Reports also say the tension between the women has strained the relationship between Harry and Prince William.
"Where there's smoke, there's fire," says one palace insider. "Given the ways things have been going, it was bound to come out eventually."
My royal sources tell me there hasn't been any major falling out between the two couples, but did confirm that the royal wives "do not get on particularly well and there has been plenty of tension at Kensington Palace."
So who's been spilling the beans?
The news of a breakdown in the relationship between the women of the "Fab Four" comes amid reports that Harry and Meghan have not endeared themselves to royal household staff with their "high-handed behavior."
The Duchess of Sussex reportedly emails her staff with requests as early as 5:00 a.m. "Meghan has very strong opinions about a lot of things and wants to make changes that have upset the staff," says the insider. "There are people who feel she does not understand the way things are done in the Palace and that there is a pecking order. It's all been a little too much for some people."
My source also told me this has been compounded by a change in Harry's behavior. "The Prince has a blind spot where Meghan is concerned. He thinks the staff needs to give in to her every wish."
Yesterday, the Sunday Mirror reported that Meghan's personal assistant Melissa Toubati resigned after six months on the job—a job that left her in tears on countless occasions. A source close to Toubati told the newspaper: "She put up with quite a lot. Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears."
All of this has put the Palace on the defensive. In an extraordinary move, Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of speaking out to deny the claims, saying, "This never happened," after the Sun published accounts claiming Meghan's bridezilla-like behavior left Kate in tears during the weeks leading up to the royal wedding.
"The staff sees everything," says my source. "When you have a situation where people feel they are not being treated with respect, bad feelings take hold. Some people resign, others begin talking to the press. That's clearly what's been going on here."
All eyes will be on the royals during the yearly walk to church at Sandringham on Christmas Day. Last year, Harry and his then-fiancée stayed with William and Kate at their country home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate for the holidays. "Everyone will have to be on their best behavior if they want to put the rumors to rest," said my source. "The slightest hint of tension between the couples will just be grist for the mill." And for more high-stakes drama from Kensington Palace, read all about how These Royals Are Reportedly Furious About Harry and Meghan's Baby News.
Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and author of Imagining Diana and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.
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