Prince William and Kate Middleton Face Growing Frustration from Palace Staff, Reports Suggest
Prince William and Kate Middleton remain the most popular members of the royal family in the eyes of the public. However, reports suggest that not everything is as harmonious behind palace walls.
While the Prince and Princess of Wales are widely seen as the future of the monarchy, some palace staff are reportedly becoming increasingly frustrated with the couple’s determination to do things their own way.
According to previous coverage by the Scottish Express, there appears to be a sense of resistance from William and Kate when it comes to fully embracing certain official duties, raising concerns within royal circles about their approach to tradition and protocol.
While it was entirely understandable for Prince William to step back from royal duties in 2024 to support Kate during her cancer treatment, palace insiders reportedly claim that concerns about the couple’s commitment to their roles predated her health issues.
According to sources, some staff had already begun referring to Kate as a “part-time royal,” suggesting frustration over her limited availability even before her diagnosis.
Critics have also pointed out that, despite his reduced public schedule, Prince William has continued to prioritize personal interests—traveling to Germany for the UEFA Euro tournament and to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize.
Kate Middleton, 43, is gradually easing back into royal duties following her cancer diagnosis, but her top priority remains her role as a hands-on mother to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. While her careful return has been met with public support, behind the palace walls, tensions may be rising.
Prince William, 42, has also faced criticism for his approach to royal duties. Despite his high public favorability, he reportedly had to be urged by his father, King Charles III, to represent the monarchy at Pope Francis’ funeral—a move that surprised some within royal circles.
According to Camilla Tominey, associate editor at The Telegraph, both William and Kate are “under growing pressure to increase their workload.” Aides are said to be concerned that the couple is spending too much time focused on their immediate family rather than stepping up their public responsibilities for “the Firm.”
Tominey also weighed in on the ongoing estrangement between Prince William and his younger brother, Prince Harry. Now 40, Harry relocated to California in 2020 and has strained relations with the royal family after airing grievances in public interviews and his explosive memoir, Spare. One major source of tension was a reported altercation between the brothers over Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, now 43.
While William is widely seen as a key obstacle to any reconciliation, Tominey suggests that his position has softened somewhat. Still, despite this shift, a reunion between the brothers remains unlikely.
Camilla Tominey also suggested that mending ties with Prince Harry is “low on the list of priorities” for the Prince and Princess of Wales. While friends claim that William is “no longer as angry as he once was,” the prevailing sentiment inside the royal circle remains unchanged—there’s “no way back” for Harry. As one insider put it, the general attitude is to “let sleeping dogs lie.”
Despite ongoing family tensions, Prince William has remained active on the global stage. Most recently, he turned his focus to environmental advocacy, urging world leaders to “think big” when it comes to protecting the planet’s oceans.
Speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) in Monaco—shortly after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron—William emphasized the importance of long-term investment and innovation in ocean conservation. His remarks at the Grimaldi Forum further cemented his commitment to sustainability as one of his key royal priorities.
