CAMILLA QUITS THE PALACE
Royal news Prince Charles’ wife is threatening to walk away from royal duties after a series of bitter rows
It’s no secret tension has been bubbling away between Duchess Kate and her mother-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, for years. But now, Woman’s Day can reveal things between them are more strained than ever before and their relationship has deteriorated so much Camilla is considering walking away from the royal family altogether.
“Camilla and Kate have had a huge fallout following a tense conversation at the Queen’s birthday parade
last month,” a palace insider reveals. “Camilla made several digs at Kate over the amount of money she’d spent on their new home at Kensington Palace, as well as criticising the amount of maternity leave she’d decided to take.
“This upset Kate, especially when Camilla has been known to exceed royal budgets and has admitted she can be extremely lazy and bows out of royal duties when she can.”
It’s no secret Camilla isn’t the most well-liked member of the family and has never won over the public after her affair with Prince Charles when he was married to Princess Diana. But she’s also aware she’s unpopular within the palace walls.
DEEP WOUNDS
“Camilla isn’t stupid and can see Princes Harry and William never really warmed to her,” a second source says. “She knows it’s because of her history with Diana and it’s a wound that’s probably too deep to ever truly be mended. But at this point she’s sick of being seen as the villain and scapegoat.”
At the same time, Kate – who is feeling vulnerable after the birth of her son Louis just 11 weeks ago – is feeling especially sensitive to Camilla’s nasty remarks.
“Kate would normally brush off Camilla’s little digs and snide comments, but she’s feeling extra emotional at the moment. Camilla’s hurtful remarks really hit a raw nerve,” an insider explains. “The pair had a very tense exchange of words, which was followed by Camilla threatening to walk from the family. She told Charles she was being bullied and she was refusing to put up with it any longer. “She said she felt as if she was still being punished for years of hatred and resentment the boys had built up against her and had clearly passed on to their spouses.” Determined to defend their mother, Camilla’s children are now threatening an explosive tell-all to air the palace’s dirty laundry – and they would have plenty of material to use.
GARDENING LEAVE
But Camilla may take a more low-key approach to dealing with the drama by quietly going into retirement. Indeed, the 70-year-old has readily admitted she’d rather be gardening than carrying out her duchess duties.
“I’d be here all day given half the chance,” she confessed while visiting the Garden Museum in London. “Joking apart, I’d do this every day if I could.”
While the insider says Camilla is “edging towards retirement for the sake of both her mental and physical health”, it won’t be easy for her to throw in the towel.
Charles is said to have hit the roof when he caught wind of Camilla’s secret plot to quit over her row with Kate – and called on the Queen to intervene.
“The Queen called Camilla and Kate to Buckingham Palace shortly before Camilla and Charles departed for their trip to Wales and told the women in no uncertain terms to settle their dispute once and for all – not only for their sakes but for the family at large,” adds the insider.
“Camilla was still raging as she and Charles left for Wales and she made it clear unless things change, she’s not sure how much more she can take. The way things stand right now, she’s ready to walk.”
‘Camilla is sick of being seen as the villain and scapegoat’