**Kate Middleton’s Relationship with King Charles Stronger Than Ever, But Causes Unease Within Royal Household**
*Published: Sept. 26, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ET*
Kate Middleton’s relationship with King Charles has never been stronger. Insiders tell RadarOnline.com that their closeness has grown to the point where it may be unsettling others within the royal household.
The Princess of Wales, 43, has been widely praised for her composure during a year marked by personal and institutional turbulence. Palace aides say she has become one of King Charles’ most trusted allies.
### A Bond Like No Other
One courtier revealed, “Charles depends on Catherine more than most realize. He values her composure, her sense of discretion, and her steadiness. He has even spoken of her as the daughter he never had. But such closeness isn’t coming without consequences – it stirs unease in other quarters.”
This strain surfaces amid a delicate period for the monarchy. Earlier this year, Charles met his younger son, Prince Harry, 41, in London for the first time in 19 months. The meeting reportedly took place against the wishes of Harry’s estranged older brother, Prince William, 43, who was said to be deeply unhappy about the encounter. Relations between the brothers remain strained.
### Uneasy Ties with Camilla
Meanwhile, William and Middleton’s relationship with Queen Camilla, 78, has long been described as “complicated.” Royal biographer Christopher Andersen previously revealed that Camilla once dismissed Middleton as “not worthy” of the royal family due to her upper-middle-class background and questioned her suitability to become Queen.
Another insider suggested Camilla is uneasy about the prospect of eventually handing ceremonial responsibilities to her step-daughter-in-law. A royal source said, “The reality is that Camilla never pictured Catherine as the one carrying the crown forward.”
### Public Displays of Affection
Despite tensions elsewhere, King Charles has consistently shown his admiration for the Princess of Wales. During a 2023 state banquet speech in Kenya, he recalled William’s proposal to Kate in the country over a decade earlier: “It was here, in sight of Mount Kenya, that my son, the Prince of Wales, proposed to his wife, now my beloved daughter-in-law.”
Observers have noted Middleton reciprocating this affection through public gestures. At the recent funeral of Duchess Katharine of Kent, she greeted Charles warmly with kisses on both cheeks before curtseying—a moment seen as emblematic of their close rapport.
A senior aide commented, “Charles clearly draws strength from Catherine. The way she has handled the demands of royal duty has won his lasting admiration. But her growing influence inside the palace is obvious – and that makes some people uneasy.”
### Growing Influence Sparks Concern
Courtiers have not missed the tension brewing beneath the surface. William and Camilla’s frosty relations remain unresolved, with William reportedly struggling to reconcile his loyalty to his late mother, Princess Diana, with his father’s marriage.
Middleton’s closeness to Charles only sharpens that tension. One source added, “Catherine now sits at the heart of three key relationships – with William, with the King, and with the Queen. Two of those are thriving, one clearly is not. That imbalance is bound to shape the monarchy’s future.”
Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith previously remarked, “Charles shares with William an impulse to protect Catherine. They are in this together, Kate and the King.”
However, another palace insider suggested this close bond may create simmering sensitivities: “Alongside the respect Kate commands, there’s also jealousy and unease. When one figure becomes so close to the king, it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
As the monarchy navigates a complex future, the evolving dynamics between Kate, Charles, William, and Camilla will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the years ahead.
https://radaronline.com/p/kate-middleton-unbreakable-bond-king-charles-monarchy/