We Are Not Amused

William and Kate to sue over article claiming the duchess is struggling with her workload and her new role in the royal family

- Nici De Wet

It's the glossy society bible of many a member of the British upper class, lying on the artfully messy coffee tables and genteelly dishevelled sofas of aristocrats across the country – the royal family included.

But the latest issue of Tatler magazine is likely to be kicked under the couch or stuffed under a cushion by The Firm and their well-to-do friends.

The cover story, a lavish spread headlined “Catherine the Great”, has caused a right royal rumpus. So scurrilous is much of the content deemed to be that a spokesperson for Kensington Palace – the official residence of Prince William and his wife, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge – did something highly unusual: they stepped in to do damage control and refute many of the claims.

Palace aides would never have done this on their own, royal insiders say: William (37) and Kate (38) would’ve insisted upon it. And this fact was confirmed when news emerged that the Cambridges are planning to sue the magazine for publishing “a string of lies” about the future queen.

The couple are upset by the story, which includes criticism of Kate’s weight and what have been described as snobbish and cruel remarks about her family and her mom in particular. William is described as being “obsessed” with his mother-in-law.

What’s more, the Cambridges are furious about claims that Kate feels exhausted and trapped by her increased workload since Prince Harry (35) and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (38), left the royal fold in March.