Kate is said to be deeply upset following a string of personal attacks by Harry. Photo / Getty Images

Once boasting a bond that rivalled most brothers and sisters, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry were not only in-laws, but a team.

However, Kate’s relationship with Harry is now so broken, she won’t be the one to “hold out an olive branch” before Christmas time, a royal expert claims.

In the past, the Princess of Wales has taken on the role of mediator within the monarchy, notably bringing her husband Prince William and his brother together after Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021.

However, it appears the current tensions within the royal family prove more complicated after a series of “brutal” personal attacks in Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond told Fabulous: “Catherine has played the peacemaker in the past and has brought William and Harry together, and I think that comes from her own family, and their values.

“But I think she has got to a stage whereby she has had to take a step back. Things have gone too far, and she feels upset and, quite frankly, hurt and insulted.”

In Harry’s explosive book, which hit shelves in January, he shared a number of accusations against members of the Royal family.

He also alleged there were signs of conflict between his future wife and sister-in-law when Meghan was introduced into the royal fold - revealing that both women were left in tears following the infamous bridesmaid dress argument in 2018.

Despite the years since, Bond says the relationship between the three royals hasn’t gotten any better and she doesn’t think a family reunion before Christmas will be on the cards.

She added that not only was Kate hurt when details of the bridesmaid dress row were aired out in public, she was upset when Harry revealed that Meghan found her and William “cold” when they first met.

Former BBC royal correspondent Bond went on to say that Kate is renowned for her warm public image and for hugging and taking selfies with fans during royal outings, so the accusations were a kick in the gut.

What’s more, Harry detailed how Meghan asked to borrow a lip gloss from the Princess of Wales prior to their joint appearance at the first Royal Foundation Forum Summit in 2018.

He wrote in his memoir that Kate was surprised by the request, but rummaged in her bag before giving it to the Duchess of Sussex.

Harry went on to allege that Meghan applied a little bit of lip-gloss to her finger, and put it on her lips, before Kate pulled a “disgusted” face.

Later on, he recounted a number of uncomfortable interactions between the two women, such as when Kate dismissed Markle’s remedies for a common cold while they were having dinner together.