Source Say Prince William Is Causing a New Royal Family Rift

Prince William wears a suit and looks at his father King Charles

(Image credit: Henry Nicholls-Pool/Getty Images)

Royal fans were delighted to see members of the Royal Family attending church in Sandringham on Christmas Day. However, Prince William allegedly had some concerns about the inclusion of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie in the Christmas morning event.

Royal reporter Rob Shuter shared on his Substack, "Prince William strongly opposed King Charles's decision to include Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie in the family's highly choreographed Christmas church walk." However, the monarch apparently ignored William's alleged protestations and "overruled him, igniting fresh palace infighting," which insiders are reportedly calling "serious."

Shuter also suggested that, according to his sources, the Prince of Wales "warned that publicly parading ex-Prince Andrew's daughters would drag the monarchy back into scandal at the worst possible moment."

King Charles Christmas — The monarch apparently ignored William's alleged protestations and "overruled him."

A palace insider told the outlet, "William said it was a disaster waiting to happen." The source continued, "He argued the timing was toxic and that it would hurt everyone involved—especially the sisters."

Essentially, King Charles reportedly hates being challenged by his eldest son, and wanted to make it clear that he makes the most important decisions. "Charles doesn't like being told what not to do," a source told Shuter. "This quickly became about authority. He made the call even knowing William objected."

Multiple reports have suggested that there might be some "tension" between father and son at the palace, and Shuter's sources appear to agree. "Charles actually has more trouble with William than Harry," one source claimed. "William stayed—and challenges him."

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie 2025 — "He argued the timing was toxic and that it would hurt everyone involved—especially the sisters."

Per Shuter, "A Christmas meant to project unity instead exposed a deepening royal rift—one insiders warn could shape the monarchy's future."

Despite rumors of a "rift," royal fans were delighted to provide Christmas gifts for Prince Louis and share jokes with Princess Kate.

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Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.