Star Magazine USA-January 18-2021

JANUARY 18, 2021 Star 29

equal footing as a couple, unlike her and
Charles, which is why she would make a
better queen.” Given that gossip spreads
like wildfire through the Palace, it wasn’t
long before word reached William. “He
hit the roof,” the insider says. “He was
so angry that he confronted Charles, and
told him, ‘Your wife is out of control.’
Charles denied everything, but William
didn’t buy it. Things between father and
son haven’t been the same since.”
Despite Kate’s steely reserve, the on-
going war of wills is wearing her down.
“She jokingly calls Camilla the wicked
stepmother to her friends, but she’s also
half serious,” shares the source. “There
are days when she breaks down in tears
in front of William, partly out of frustra-
tion and also because she’s secretly hurt
by Camilla’s behavior.” The strain was
showing during the family’s Christmas
Day Zoom call, when she and Wil-
liam joined the queen and her husband,
Prince Philip, from Anmer Hall, their
country manor in Norfolk, and Camilla
and Charles from their Highgrove estate
in Gloucestershire. Kate’s earlier run-in
with Camilla “put a damper on things,”
the insider says. “Kate made excuses
about having to to tend to the kids and
left early, but the real reason was because
she couldn’t stand to see Camilla’s face.”

WELCOME BREAK
The doting mom, however, did enjoy a
sweet Christmas with her children. “She
and William bought Louis, who loves
building things, the latest Lego collec-
tion, while Charlotte got a new ballet
outfit and a huge doll house,” the source
shares. As for George, “he
was thrilled to get a new
soccer net and a ball signed
by his favorite players.
The whole family has been
playing in the garden at
Anmer Hall.”
The Duchesses will no
doubt resume their duel in

being, Elizabeth, 94, Brit-
ain’s longest reigning mon-
arch, remains very much in
charge. “It’s anybody’s guess
who will eventually win the
battle for the crown,” says the
insider. “But when it comes
to Kate and Camilla, it’s like
playing chess. Every move
they make is calculated.” ★

I

world by stepping back from their royal duties last January. And now it seems

they’re rethinking severing all ties with the monarchy. The couple are report-

edly seeking a 12-month extension of their so-called Megxit deal, which expires

at the end of March, in the hope of keeping their royal patronages and reinstating

for the U.S. To that end, Harry,

LET’S MAKE

A DEAL!

Harry & Meghan: