William not in lockstep with King Charles, Kate not so close as daughter

Prince William and Kate Middleton's decision to  skip King Charles' pre-Christmas lunch has raised many eyebrows, with the monarch's loyalists expressing their anger at the couple.

The impression created by a section of the media that Prince William supports his father and Kate Middleton is like daughter to King Charles has also been dispelled by the monarch's supporters.

The royal couple has received backlash for skipping the event at a time when the king needed them the most, especially after the spy scandal involving Prince Andrew hit the headlines.

The king was neither accompanied by his sons nor younger brother Andrew when he arrived at Buckingham Palace for the pre-Christmas lunch.

And it comes as King Charles continue to receive treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.

Charles' younger son left the family with wife Meghan Markle in 2020 and stepped down from royal duties, while his heir William was spending holidays in Norfolk with his children and wife.

Andrew, the king's younger brother, pulled out of the event after it was reported that he had alleged links with a Chinese spy.