We dream of a life of royalty. Luxury of the highest quality, unlimited wealth, and widespread admiration across the globe. Is there a better life imaginable?
Well, according to many tabloid rumors over the past few decades, royalty is a nightmare and the Windsors, the British Royal Family, is living proof. From Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle wrestling over the spotlight, to Prince William stealing the throne from allegedly murderous father, or Queen Elizabeth II’s disapproval of the late Princess Diana, no one in this dynasty seems to be able to get along.
But is any of this really true? Take a look at the most famous supposed feuds within the royal family and see who is really at each other’s throats behind closed palace doors.
Prince William vs. Queen Elizabeth II
In October 2017, Life & Style alleged that Kate Middleton had requested that she could “step back” from her royal duties, inciting a clash between Prince William and his grandmother. This story came out around the time that Middleton’s royal duties were scaled back due to her then-pregnancy with Prince Louis and, as the report claims, she wanted this reduction to be made permanent.
The tabloid’s so-called “royal insider” said that this “infuriated” the then-91-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, who took it out on William. The prince, however, was quick to clap back in support of his wife’s wishes to stay out of the public eye and participate less in royal engagements.
It may not come as a surprise to learn that, like many sensational tabloid pieces that have put the Duchess of Cambridge at the center of a royal family feud, this fight been the Queen and Prince William is an entirely fabricated lie. Furthermore, while Middleton was, in fact, given some time off to cope with her morning sickness, she did not hide away from the public eye at the time. For instance, that month, she attended the Coach Core graduation ceremony, at which William gave a speech.
Prince William vs. Sarah Ferguson
Sarah Ferguson is also known as the Duchess of York despite her divorce from its duke, Prince Andrew in 1996. Yet, even her royal connections did not earn her an invitation to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which her ex-husband and daughters, princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, did attend.
Is this wedding ban the result of a bitter family clash? Yes, there is actually some truth behind this one.
In a 2011 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Ferguson revealed that, while it was very difficult to cope with, she understood the family’s reasoning to keep her out of the wedding, stating, “I felt that I ostracised myself by my behavior, by the past, by living with all the regrets of my mistakes.” She is referring to when she was caught on camera selling access of her ex-husband to an undercover journalist for £500,000 in 2010.
That mistake, among other notable mishaps that hurt her relationship with other royals, more than likely was the reason for her absence from Will and Kate’s wedding. Ferguson was, however, able to attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Queen Elizabeth II vs. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Since Meghan Markle’s marriage to Prince Harry, the tabloids have been merciless in making her a target for some royal dirt, none of which has been true of course. At one point, National Enquirer made both members of the happy couple the opposition in a feud against the Windsor matriarch.
The tabloid, in March 2019, ran a front page story alleging that Queen Elizabeth II had “disowned” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, ultimately throwing them out of the royal family and even going as far as exiling them to the Mediterranean Island of Malta. The Enquirer’s “palace insider” went on to claim that the feud was caused by the Queen being “fed-up” with Harry and Meghan’s alleged clash with Prince and Willam and Kate.
Ah, a feud within a feud? How juicy! However, every single word of the story is pure garbage.
There was known evidence at the time to dispel any and all rumors suggesting conflict between the respective royal couples, Harry and Meghan’s exile to a remote island, and ultimately any ill will from Queen Elizabeth herself. In fact, at the time, Harry and Meghan were changing locations, but to a new home for them and their newborn child, gifted to them by the Queen.
Prince Charles vs. Prince William
There have been more than a few insane tabloid rumors involving Prince William and his father Charles at each other’s throats. This one from December 2018 is easily one of the most heinous.
Globe, a sister publication of National Enquirer, ran a cover story claiming that William bitterly usurped his father’s impending throne. Why? Because “astounding new evidence” had surfaced to prove that Charles was behind the tragic death of his first wife, Princess Diana.
The magazine’s unnamed tipseter went on to allege that William was able to crack the case of his mother’s murder with the help of unnamed investigators and a “secret witness” who claims Charles tampered with the brakes on Diana’s limo. It also says that William angrily confronted his father, deeming him “unfit to rule” and saying he “will never be king!” before begging Queen Elizabeth II to be cut from succession of the throne.
Well, for started, it was concluded in 1999 that Henri Paul, Princess Diana’s driver of the Mercedes 280SE (not limo, as Globe reported) she was in, was “inebriated” and under the influence of illicit substances at the time of the 1997 accident. Furthermore, there has not been any evidence brought forth to suggest Prince Charles was instrumental in Diana’s death to prompt William to take the throne away from his father. This is yet another non-existent conflict within the Royal Family.
Queen Elizabeth II vs. Kate Middleton
Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the pride and joy of Prince William and Kate Middleton, are two of the most admirably profiled children in the world… unless you count how the tabloids have treated them. In fact, one publication alleged that the royal siblings were at the center of their mother and grandmother butting heads.
Gossip website Celeb Dirty Laundry posted a 2017 story claiming that Queen Elizabeth II and Middleton were in a fight over how to properly raise the children. Without sources or any evidence to back it up, the website reported that the Middleton would rather the children have a “normal” childhood, while the Queen believes “royal protocol must be followed” and is “horrified over the fact that Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte act like messy children who… have screaming tantrums.”
As previously mentioned, there is no evidence available to prove that this feud is true, because it is not. The fact that Celeb Dirty Laundry roped Will and Kate’s children into this lie is probably the most disgusting offense.
Meghan Markle vs. Kate Middleton
Where do we begin with this phony feud? According to multiple publications, Kate Middleton and her sister-in-law Meghan Markle have been clashing with each other for years, with a different beef in each new report.
There is the time in April 2017 when Celeb Dirty Laundry alleged that Middleton tried to help ban Markle from her sister Pippa’s wedding. Or how, later that year, the same website claimed that Middleton was frustrated over the newly engaged Markle “stealing the spotlight” and, the following month irritated over her copying Middleton’s style? Don’t forget RadarOnline’s report that things go so heated between the royal women that Kensington Palace staged a fake photo op in order to convince the public that everything was fine.
These stories, and many more on the same subject from respective gossip publications, are a work of fiction. Not to mention, many of these lies have even come from the same publications that falsely claimed Middleton was helping Markle’s plan her wedding to Prince Harry. At least lie with some consistency!
Queen Elizabeth II vs. Princess Diana
Diana was referred to by many as “The People’s Princess,” due to her down-to-earth personality and honesty about life as a royal. Despite her international acclaim, many have speculated that someone who did not call herself a fan of Princess Diana was the Queen.
The truth, as told by trusted royal family reporter Ingrid Seward, is that the Queen Elizabeth II never held any ill will toward her daughter-in-law. However, Diana’s behavior and public persona was far from what the Queen anticipated from royalty, most notably her collaboration with a tell-all book that painted her ex-husband, Prince Charles, in a negative light.
Diana was a game changer in the royal family, redefining how they would be perceived in the public eye by embracing celebrity to a level that the Queen was not the most comfortable with. Yet, she, like the rest of the world, was utterly devastated by the Princess of Wales’ tragic passing.
No family is perfect, but at least the Windsors can say that they have never clashed over parenting methods or accused a relative of murder. Next time you hear about a feud within the royal family, take it with a grain of salt. It may either be blown way out of proportion or blatant pack of lies.