Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton
Queen Elizabeth II and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, at Kings Cross Station in London in 2012. Reuters

It’s a new year, but the allegedly turbulent relationship between the British royal family's Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Queen Elizabeth II hasn’t changed. Following their rumored feuds over everything from Kate’s decision to stop working at the beginning of her second pregnancy to her plans to relocate 1-year-old Prince George, her son with Prince William, out of London, the two are reportedly at odds again.

According to a report from the Jan. 19 print issue of Life & Style magazine, Kate, 32, upset the monarch by breaking “decades of protocol" and having her parents, Michael and Carole, and siblings, Pippa and James Middleton, celebrate Christmas with her and Prince William at their country home, Anmer Hall. The couple usually celebrates the holidays with the queen at her Sandringham estate. Kate also broke tradition by bringing her side of the family to St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Day.

“The queen wanted Kate, William and George to have Christmas lunch with her, as they traditionally do… [But] Kate put her foot down and said she was eating with the Middletons instead,” a source told the magazine.

Kate’s decision to ditch the queen during Christmas reportedly stemmed from her grandmother-in-law’s unwillingness to accommodate her non-royal family members. While the Daily Mail reported that the dining room at Sandringham simply isn't large enough to fit all of Kate's family, Life & Style claims the queen intentionally barred Kate's loved ones from her home.

“She’s banned the Middletons from staying at Sandringham even though she has plenty of room for them,” said an insider. “She almost ruined Christmas for Kate.”
Michael and Carole Middleton
Kate Middleton's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, outside St. Mary's Hospital in London in 2013 after the birth of their grandson, Prince George. Reuters

Despite reportedly not letting the Middletons stay at her abode for Christmas, the tabloid claims that the queen did “begrudgingly” invite Kate’s family to visit on Boxing Day. The families reportedly came together for tea and a pheasant hunt.

While Her Majesty may have eventually extended an olive branch to the Middleton family, the magazine reports that Kate is “humiliated” by the queen’s behavior. After this latest affront, "insiders" claim the duchess is no longer willing to accommodate the queen’s every request, especially following an alleged comment about her inability to gain a proper amount of weight during her second pregnancy.

“The queen has told Kate to gain weight, but Kate says she would if she could!” said a source, referring to the duchess’ previous battle with hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute form of morning sickness. “The constant nagging is not helpful.”

In July 2014, Kate was said to be at odds with Queen Elizabeth II over her plans to relocate Prince William and Prince George from their apartment in Kensington Palace in London to Anmer Hall in Norfolk, England. Rumors of their alleged feud reignited in October when Life & Style reported that the queen “commanded” the pregnant duchess to return to work, despite her morning sickness.