Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has reportedly sent a 'very clear message' to Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, amid rumors that Markle is planning to write her own tell-all book following the release of Prince Harry's memoir, 'Spare.' The message is clear: the Duchess of Cambridge is prepared to defend the royal family and herself, even if it means playing hardball.

According to insiders speaking to Closer Magazine, Middleton is "fiercely protective" when it comes to defending the family and the overall interests of the Royal Family. "If that means fighting fire with fire at times, then she's more than willing to do so – even if it makes her less popular with certain people," the source said.

The Duchess of Cambridge, known for her clear and fair thinking, has shown an incredible amount of tolerance in the face of recent revelations and controversies. However, even she has her limits. The source added, "She's shown an incredible amount of tolerance and bitten her lip, but even she can only be pushed so far, and this latest revelation is being seen as a very clear message to Meghan to back off and watch what she says about Kate moving forward."

The source also warned that Markle needs to be 'extremely careful' with these power games. "Kate won’t hesitate to keep sticking up for the royals as well as herself. The bottom line here is that Kate’s not afraid to take the gloves off and play dirty if she has to," the insider said.

This revelation comes as a bit of a shock for royal fans who have been keeping up with everything between the former core-four royals. A few months ago, Meghan and Harry reportedly claimed they were done with projects based on their time in the royal family, saying they have "nothing left to say."

However, with their Netflix deal still intact and Harry’s contract stating more books will be released, it seems the royal family, especially Kate, is airing on the side of caution. The Duchess of Cambridge's message to Meghan Markle comes amid reports that she has made a secret contact with Prince Harry, which has reportedly left the Duchess of Sussex 'furious' amid their separation rumors.