Kate Middleton and Prince William, allegedly, fled the royal family even before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their bombshell exit.

Last year, New Idea published a dubious story about the Cambridges after photos of them with backpacks surfaced online. In the snap, Prince William and Middleton are riding their private car.

The tabloid then claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were riding their car to flee from the royal family.

“Kate has been left really rattled by her and Wills’ split from Harry and Meghan. She’s incredibly upset by the whole situation and can’t believe it’s come to this – and things have ended so badly between the four of them. This sort of public split is her worst nightmare come true. She took off to Balmoral to get out of the spotlight for a while and collect her thoughts. She feels like 2019 has just been one drama after another, and their public split from Harry and Meghan is the last straw,” a source said.

The insider also said that Middleton isn’t used to the negative press that she was receiving after Prince Harry and Markle quit the foundation. As such, she’s finding all the attention a bit too traumatic.

“She always imagined she’d get along brilliantly with Harry’s wife as she did with Chelsy, and she can’t believe how bad things have soured with Meghan. She just can’t believe it’s come to this,” the source said.

The insider also said that the rumors about Prince William’s affair with Rose Hanbury didn’t help. This made Middleton feel that she had to get away for a bit.

“Kate’s just really hurt and needed to get away. With all the stress of their falling out with Meghan and Harry, as well as the rumors about Rose Hanbury, she just feels like it’s been one scandal after another,” the source said.

However, Middleton and Prince William never fled the palace last year. And if they were photographed riding their car with their backpacks, it was because they were traveling with their kids for a bit.

Shortly after their trip, the Cambridges returned home. And they didn’t also leave the royal family before Prince Harry and Markle’s bombshell exit in January.

In fact, even after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit The Firm, Prince William and Middleton stayed loyal to the royal family and the monarchy.