Prince Charles 'feuding with Kate Middleton's family over lack of time with Prince George'

He may be second in line to the throne, but unfortunately for Prince Charles, being royalty doesn't exempt you from family flare-ups and awkward interactions.

According to the Daily Mail, the monarch is reportedly feeling the full force of family dysfunction in an increasingly tense relationship with the in laws aka the Middletons.

The underlying issue is said to be the peripheral role he plays in Prince George's life and Prince Williams' obvious closeness to Kate Middleton's family. Considering George is his only grandchild, Charles is vexed that he rarely sees the toddler and has even complained to his friends about the "march of the Middletons".

"Carole [Kate's mother] has rather taken over, dictating when George naps, when and what he eats. All in all, behaving like she's Queen Carole," a source said.

To add salt to the wound, some believe that William has intentionally prevented George from bonding with his paternal grandfather in a bid avoid history repeating himself, as he reportedly resents his own rigid childhood. On the other hand, the Middletons are frequent visitors and play an active role in the household.

Despite the mounting speculation, a Clarence House spokesman insisted that all was well. "We would not comment on the specifics of private arrangements. His Royal Highness enjoys an excellent relationship with his grandson."

Ongoing friction

Prince Charles's frustrations follow reports that Kate is now in full-on feud mode with Queen Elizabeth.

Life & Style magazine previously reported that the Duchess of Cambridge's allegedly turbulent relationship with the monarch came to a head over the festive season after she decided to snub the annual Sandringham Estate (the Queen's country residency in Norfolk) gathering and celebrate Christmas with her parents, siblings and Prince William at their nearby country home, Anmer Hall.

The Queen was reportedly left fuming and even accused Kate of breaking "decades of protocol".

"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.

The feud reports contradict other stories that the royal duo get on like a house on fire.

"The Queen regards Catherine as the perfect partner for William and she thinks they are a great team," an insider previously said. "Most importantly, the Queen can pass on her knowledge of the countries, their cultures, histories and the dos and don'ts of what to say and not say."