Was Prince Charles 'jealous' of William following his wedding to Kate?

The latest biography makes some shocking claims

Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde

When Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011, royal wedding fever was at an all time high. From the moment of William's romantic proposal to Kate in Kenya, all anyone could talk about was the young couple's big day.

But according to a new biography, Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, Charles was less than impressed after the ceremony.

The book by Sally Bedell Smith claims that Charles was fuming following William and Kate's trip to Canada and Los Angeles two months after they walked down the aisle. The tour was part of official royal business, but Smith writes that Charles felt the whole trip - complete with cowboy hats and Hollywood gowns - was 'tasteless' and he was left 'more than a little irked'.

Royal writers have previously discussed Charles' 'jealousy' following their wedding, leaving him feeling 'sidelined' in the same way that he believed his ex-wife, Diana, had done. The biography has also revealed details about their fifteen year marriage, with claims that Charles thought he could 'learn to love' the former Princess, and had called their relationship a 'Greek tragedy'.

Although their relationship has always seemed solid from the outset, royal writer Phil Dampier told the Mirror that Charles was irritated that William and Kate got such an amazing reception during the tour, unlike himself and Camilla when they had made the same trip.

'Charles felt overshadowed by Diana and now it seems he feels overshadowed by their son,' Dampier said.

'Some people may think he is jealous. I have always felt that as soon as William got married, Charles would feel sidelined.'

Awkward.