As the Royal Ascot was held on Tuesday, June 20, the main topic of discussion among the gathered monarchy was the tense relationship between King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Sussexes, according to an inside source.
"The buzz in the royal enclosure was the palpable sense of relief that Meghan and Harry were absent," an insider revealed to a publication, adding that the primary conversation revolved around Camilla's well-known animosity towards the couple.
Friends of Camilla have shared that the Queen continues to harbor resentment towards Harry for the derogatory remarks he made about her in his memoir, Spare, referring to her as a "wicked stepmother." This is the key reason why she opts to maintain a distance from the Sussex duo.
"Camilla has confided to Charles that their presence causes her discomfort, and Charles, who is deeply devoted to her — he made her his queen after all — will prioritize her well-being over them every time," the insider elucidated about Charles' alignment with his wife's sentiments. "Camilla is careful not to overstep, though, as she knows Charles still has affection for Harry. The entire situation is generally blamed on Meghan."
While a spectator at the Royal Ascot stated that Camilla was greeted warmly by the public, there appear to be lingering tensions between her and Kate Middleton.
The tension was brought into the open when Kate refrained from offering a curtsy to the newly crowned queen at her coronation in May. "This conspicuous slight was a major talking point," an insider revealed to a publication then. "Apparently, Kate was quite miffed over some directives Camilla had issued regarding coronation guests and chose to make her displeasure evident."
Another source revealed that the strain between the two women began to build up shortly after Queen Elizabeth II's passing in September 2022, when Camilla, in her new position as Queen Consort, started to exert her authority more assertively.
"Camilla's lifelong aspiration of becoming queen seems to have gone to her head. She began flexing her power, making it apparent who was in charge and expecting everyone to acknowledge her new status," a source revealed to Radar. "Kate was openly repulsed by Camilla's behavior."
Page Six managed to speak with an insider about Camilla's sentiments towards the Sussexes.