The Queen TRIES TO NOT PLAY FAVORITES

Meghan is determined to take center stage and fears that Kate will outshine her once she returns to the spotlight,” says a palace insider. “Meghan is hardly being subtle about wanting to continue being the queen’s favorite.” For her part, Kate, 36, who introduced Meghan to all aspects of royal life when the American arrived in the U.K. knowing hardly anyone, feels stabbed in the back. “Kate was being called the next ‘people’s princess’ until Meghan came along,” says the palace insider. “She’s fuming that Meghan has stolen her thunder. Tears have been shed.”

FIGHTING OVER THE QUEEN Meghan knows it’s only a matter of time before Kate, who’s mom to George, 5, Charlotte, 3, and 4-monthold Louis, has the ultimate upper hand. After all, as the wife of Prince William — the second in line for the throne behind his father, Prince Charles, 69 — Kate will become queen. “Meghan can’t help but be jealous,” says the palace insider. “She’s lying if she says she isn’t. She knows that one day Kate will be reaping all the rewards of that title.” In the meantime, Meghan’s doing all she can to butter up the woman who currently wears the crown. (As In Touch previously reported, the two grew so close that the queen even put Meghan in her will, which upset the other royals and led to many fights.) When producers approached the family about participating in ITV’S Queen of the World documentary about Elizabeth II, “Meghan jumped at the chance to be interviewed before Kate got a say in it,” says the insider. “Meghan is using the opportunity to let the world know how amazing the queen is in a bid to suck up to her even more.” Kate is trying to fight back. When she and William, 36, headed to Balmoral, the queen’s 50,000-acre Scottish retreat, to spend time with the head of the House of Windsor in late August, “Kate went out of her way to turn on the charm and