Princess of Wales’ bond with the King fuels new royal tensions
Catherine has become one of King Charles’ most trusted allies, a role that is said to be stirring unease within the royal household. The Princess of Wales’ close bond with the monarch may be strengthening the family’s future image, but it also risks creating fresh divisions at a time when tensions are already high.
At 76, Charles reportedly views Catherine as the future of the monarchy, admiring her composure, discretion, and steady approach. One insider revealed he has even referred to her as “the daughter he never had.” Yet this admiration appears to be unsettling Queen Camilla, whose relationship with Catherine has long been described as difficult.
The timing adds weight to the tension. Catherine recently stepped back into the spotlight during Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, just a week after Harry’s first meeting with his father in 19 months. That encounter, which took place against William’s wishes, left relations between the brothers at a breaking point.
Camilla’s history with Catherine has only deepened the divide. Biographer Christopher Andersen once noted that Camilla dismissed her as “not worthy” of the royal family, questioning her suitability to become queen. Reports also suggest Camilla has been uneasy about handing ceremonial duties to her step-daughter-in-law. “The reality is that Camilla never pictured Catherine as the one carrying the crown forward,” a royal source claimed.
Observers point out that Catherine now sits at the centre of three vital relationships: with William, with the King, and with the Queen. Two are thriving, one is not, and that imbalance could shape the monarchy’s future.
As royal historian Sally Bedell Smith put it: “Charles shares with William an impulse to protect Catherine. They are in this together, Kate and the King.”
