The hunt for the royal mole

Rumours have been rife that there’s a growing rift between Kate Middleton and her sister-in-law Meghan Markle.

With multiple stories about the leading ladies metaphorically coming to blows hitting the headlines, it seems officials are desperate to find whoever is leaking this private information.

As a result, they’ve apparently launched a “mole hunt” to find the royal aide who has gone rogue.

The royal rumour mill started last week when it was announced that Prince Harry and Meghan were moving from Kensington Palace (where they were expected to stay as Kate and Wills’ neighbours) to a run-down cottage in Windsor.

Since then, numerous stories have emerged, alleging 36-year-old mum of three Kate doesn’t get on with the former Suits star in the slightest.

Royal pain

Trouble started as far back as last Christmas when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had Meghan and Harry over at the request of Prince Charles, according to a new report in the Mail on Sunday.

However that meeting did not bring the couples closer together as hoped, as it’s claimed Meghan and Kate had a “ghastly row”.

Their disagreement is said to be over Kate’s belief Meghan was “downright rude” — something she reportedly had a “quiet word” with her about.

“It escalated rapidly after Meghan complained to Harry that she had been ‘told off’,” a royal insider told the publication.

“He took her side, while William defended Kate, who was five months pregnant with Louis and certainly didn’t want this sort of confrontation.”

In another tale, it’s said Kate had a row with Meghan as she didn’t like the way the 37-year-old was was speaking to staff, according to The Sun.

“[Meghan] and Kate fell out when she b*****ked Kate’s staff,” a source told the publication.

“It’s a tricky situation but it was a one-off and they are determined to maintain a positive relationship even thought they are obviously very different in their approach.”

But it’s not just the Duchesses who are in strife — it’s believed that William and Harry’s close bond has been strained too as a result of their apparent struggle to get along.

Prince Harry, 34, is reportedly angry about the way none of his family have been “rolling out the red carpet” for his bride, who is now pregnant with their first child.

An expert weighs in

A body language expert has even weighed in on the feud, suggesting that the ‘first signs’ of tension between them actually began months ago when they and their husbands first positioned themselves as the ‘Fab Four’.

“For me, the very first signs of potential future rifts between these two women came when they appeared on stage together,” Judi James told the Mirror Online.

“Meghan was still using some postural mirroring of Kate as an understandable integration technique into the royal firm but all the poses that seem to show the two women laughing together are slightly misleading.”

Another report stated the two Duchesses are said to be “very different people,” something that could be accurate as Kate is more of a royal traditionalist while Meghan likes to push the boundaries and encourage change.

On the hunt

Despite reports the palace is now looking to shut down the leak, they’ve yet to comment on any of the claims officially.

But with multiple palace staffers leaving in the last few months, including Meghan’s personal assistant amid reports of her “dramatic” and “unreasonable” behaviour — it’s led some to believe there’s a “traitor” among them, Woman’s Day reports.

In a statement about Harry and Meghan relocating to Frogmore Cottage on the grounds of the Windsor estate, they stated the location — which is 32 kilometres from London — was a “special place” for the newlyweds.

“Windsor is a very special place for their royal highnesses and they are grateful that their official residence will be on the estate.”

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