Since Charles III assumed the throne of the United Kingdom, tensions within the royal family appear to have intensified, especially between Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales. Far from being just a dispute of egos and prominence, the relationship between the two reflects not only personal rivalries, but also deeper conflicts over control of the future of the monarchy.
Camillanow queen consort, seeks to position itself as the central figure alongside King Charles in the midst of his delicate state of health. According to sources close to the Royal House, the sovereign has expressed discomfort over some decisions that Kate made without consulting her, which fueled the rivalry between the two.
In one of the most talked about episodes, Camila reproached the princess for having secretly traveled to the United States to receive cancer treatment without informing either her or the monarch. This trip, denied by the Palacewould have included a private meeting between Kate and Harry, the Duke of Sussex.
The secret meeting between Kate and Harry would have taken place in Houston, where he went in search of reconciliation at a particularly tense time for the family. Harrywho maintains a distant relationship with his father, she refuses to meet with him while Camila is presentwhich has further complicated attempts at rapprochement. This gesture by Kate to support a possible rapprochement did not sit well with the queen, who saw the meeting as a betrayal of the king’s authority and her own efforts to maintain the reins of the family.
The bond between Kate and Camila was never easy.
During the early years of Kate and William’s courtship, Camilla’s aristocratic friends looked with disdain on the future princess’s middle-class origins. The reason? They considered her “unworthy.”
Those years of courtship were marked by rumors of infidelity, breakups, and even offensive nicknames for the British prince’s then-girlfriend. In 2007 the couple broke up. Some time later, the writer Christopher Andersonauthor of a book about the couple, assured that behind that goodbye was Camila’s “hand.” Despite the comings and goings, Kate and William resumed their relationship, which persists to this day.
Despite the years that have passed and the consolidated role of Kate as one of the figures most loved by the British peoplethe animosity persists. Camila’s jealousy is not a secret in royal circlesespecially now that Kate is making headlines for her return to the public scene after overcoming cancer.
Kate chose the town of Southport for her official return, accompanied by William. The visit, focused on supporting families who had lost their children in a tragic attack, was very significant for both the princess and the British community. However, Camilla would have seen this event as an untimely distraction that overshadowed preparations for King Charles’ official trip to Samoa and Australia.
The strong character of both women was evident in a recent telephone conversation that was reported to the local press. Camila questioned Kate’s decision to resume her activities without consulting herto which the Princess of Wales coldly replied that the last thing she was interested in was taking orders from her at that moment. The tension between the two is a reflection of the general deterioration of family relations within the monarchy.
Another critical point is the influence that Camilla exercises over Harry’s access to the king.. The queen has blocked repeatedly the Duke of Sussex’s attempts to meet his father alone, which has deepened the rift between them. Harry, who still carries resentment over Camila’s role in his parents’ divorce, perceives her as an obstacle to any family reconciliation.
For their part, specialists in affairs of the British royal house also reported some time ago an alleged involvement of Camila in the leaking of scandals surrounding the couple Kate and William. These theories claim that their objective would be to try to weaken the image of the prince and princess.
Although they try to keep up appearances in public, the bad relationship between the two was evident last year when Kate refused to bow in front of the queen consort during Charles’s coronation. According to what was reported at that time by the specialized press, the reason behind this gesture by the princess would be the refusal of the queen consort to receive the princess’s family, who, in addition, was only allowed to invite four relatives. .
In his autobiography, Prince Harry acknowledged that Camilla and Charles would have criticized William for the prominence that his wife acquired.
He future of the monarchy also plays a central role in this dispute. With King Charles weakened by his illness, there is speculation about the possibility of an abdication. If this were to happen, William would take over as the new monarch, and Camilla’s influence would be drastically reduced. Many voices within the royal environment suggest that, under the reign of William and Kate, the queen consort would lose her title of “Her Royal Highness”, in an echo of what happened to Diana after her divorce from Charles.
Meanwhile, Kate continues to establish herself as a very popular public figure, which has increased Camila’s jealousy and frustration. The differences between the two have become a topic of constant media interest, which keeps both the British press and the general public in suspense. The possibility that the Princess of Wales will play a key role in the reconciliation between William and Harry also adds an extra layer of complexity to this tense family relationship.
With Charles isolated in Birkhall, his private residence in Scotland, and the royal family in chaos, Kate’s role as future queen looks increasingly crucial. In this context, the question that remains in the air is clear: what place will Camilla occupy in William’s eventual reign? The answer could shape not only the fate of the queen consort, but also the course of the British monarchy for years to come.