Prince Andrew's Disparaging Remarks About Kate Middleton Reportedly Fueled Tension With Prince William

Kate Middleton's popularity reportedly fueled long-standing tension between Prince William and Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew.

According to royal insiders, the former Duke of York's jealousy toward the Princess of Wales strained family ties.

Prince William, who is said to view his disgraced uncle, Andrew, as a liability to the monarchy, has also reportedly supported efforts to kick him out of Royal Lodge amid the removal of his titles.

Kate's steady rise as one of the most admired figures in the British royal family reportedly caused friction between William and his uncle, Andrew.

According to several royal insiders who spoke with Fox News Digital, the disgraced former duke grew increasingly resentful of Kate's growing popularity and her image as a down-to-earth royal devoted to her family.

Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich revealed that the tension stemmed largely from Andrew's envy and his "disparaging remarks" about the Princess of Wales.

"Prince William was infuriated," Fordwich explained. "Being fiercely protective, he instituted a zero-tolerance policy toward any wayward behavior or scandals involving Prince Andurew."

Before Andrew announced on October 17 that he would be giving up his Duke of York title, reports suggested that his strained relationship with William had already been simmering for years, with Kate at the center of their tension.

In a 2024 column for the Daily Mail, royal editor-at-large Richard Kay revealed that William and Andrew had clashed over both Andrew's scandals and his attitude toward Kate.

"William has long held a grudge against Andrew for being unwelcoming when he first introduced then–Kate Middleton to the royal family," Kay wrote, adding that the Prince of Wales also believes King Charles has been far too lenient with his brother.

In August, Andrew became the focus of an unauthorized biography by British writer Andrew Lownie, titled "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York."

The book alleges that at one point, Andrew behaved rudely toward Kate, an incident that reportedly sparked a long-standing rift between him and William.

The author also suggested that Andrew's attitude toward Kate may have stemmed from elitism, noting, "My source said Andrew was rude to Kate. And I think he was probably rude because he's a real snob. He may have felt that Kate wasn't aristocratic enough to marry William."

He added that Kate's grace and steadfast image have earned her universal respect, calling her "the savior of the royal family."

Lownie further claimed that Andrew's jealousy extends beyond Kate to William himself, remarking, "Andrew gets jealous of people. He may even be jealous of William's popularity. But I do know that when William comes to the throne, Andrew will be dust."

Now, new reports indicate that the tension is likely to escalate once William becomes king.

According to Roya Nikkhah, royal editor for The Sunday Times, William is expected to be "more ruthless" about his uncle's future role in the monarchy when he becomes king.

Writing on October 18, Nikkhah reported that Buckingham Palace confirmed that William was "consulted" on Andrew's decision to relinquish his title as the Duke of York, but noted that the heir to the throne "is not satisfied with the outcome."

"When William is king, Andrew will be banned from all elements of royal life," she wrote. "He will be excluded from public and private royal events, including the coronation, and banned from most state occasions."

Reports also suggest that William plans to extend the same restrictions to Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, 66.

The claims by the experts came shortly before Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew's "prince" title was being stripped from him.

Not only that, but his lease on Royal Lodge, which was initially meant to run until 2078, has been swiftly terminated, meaning that Andrew will officially vacate the property.

"His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," a statement read, per CNN.

It continued, "Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation."

According to reports, Andrew had requested Frogmore Cottage, the former U.K. residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as his next home after agreeing to leave Royal Lodge.

His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, is said to have had her sights on Adelaide Cottage, the property currently occupied by William and Kate, who are expected to move to Forest Lodge next month.

However, according to the BBC, Andrew will not be getting Frogmore Cottage. Instead, he will relocate to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, a move privately funded by his brother, King Charles.

The former Duchess of York, Sarah, is also expected to call the Sandringham estate her new home from now on.