Kate Middleton Reportedly Has a Case of Sibling Jealousy When It Comes to Sister Pippa

Being a princess might not be all that it’s cracked up to be. Kate Middleton seems to have a fairytale life from the outside, but inside the palace walls, it’s a bit more challenging. While the Princess of Wales has never been a rule breaker, sources are saying she envies the life her sister, Pippa Middleton, has because it’s hard to be under strict royal protocols at all times.

It seems that Kate wishes she had a bit more freedom like Pippa, who married hedge fund manager James Matthews. They share three children, Arthur, 5, Grace, 2, and Rose, 1, and are often seen traveling the world on luxury vacations. “She has the glamorous life of a socialite without any of the restrictions and duties Kate faces every day,” an insider told Life & Style. It pays to be royal-adjacent because Pippa can go to all of the big royal events, like King Charles III’s coronation, while living a normal life.

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Royal expert Jennie Bond has described the siblings’ relationship as “balanced” since Kate officially entered the royal family in 2011. “They talk about everything and I very much doubt that Catherine expects her sister to stand on ceremony when they are together,” she told OK! magazine, via Women & Home. “In public, of course, Pippa pays due respect to the future Queen, but I suspect they probably both find that sort of protocol quite funny.”

The sisters both live extremely privileged lives, but Kate’s life has a very clear path with guidelines that must be followed. Pippa, on the other hand, can comfortably frolic on the beach in her bikini. For Kate, privacy is of the utmost importance, but having a sister who circles the same social orbit that she does is the key to keeping their bond strong. “The fact that [Pippa] has married an extremely wealthy man, James Matthews, means that the relationship between the two sisters has remained quite a balanced one,” Bond added. “Pippa and James have a riverside mansion in Berkshire, less than an hour’s drive from Windsor (where Catherine lives) and half an hour from their parents.”

While Kate may not have the ability to travel on a whim like Pippa, she is the future Queen of England. Yet Pippa gets the bragging rights and the access to the palace without all of the fuss.

Before you go, click here to see the 100 best photos of the royal family from the past 20 years.

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