A FALLING out between Kate and one of her long-term best friends has stunned royal insiders.

Last week it emerged that the Duchess of Cambridge views Rose Hanbury as a “rural rival” while at home in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Now we have learned the falling out between Kate, 37, and her ex-close pal — who is the Marchioness of Cholmondeley — is much worse than first thought.

Prince William has even stepped in to try to broker peace because he and Kate have enjoyed double dates with 35-year-old Rose and her posh husband David Rock­savage — who at 58 is 23 years his wife’s senior — as the royal heir gets on with him.

However, royal insiders say Kate has refused and told William, 36, that former model Rose needs to be “phased out” as one of the ­couple’s closest confidantes.

Our source revealed: “It is well known that Kate and Rose have had a terrible falling out. They used to be close but that is not the case any more.

“William wants to play peacemaker so the two couples can remain friends, given they live so close to each other and share many mutual friends.

“But Kate has been clear that she doesn’t want to see them any more and wants William to phase them out, despite their social status.”

The fall-out has rocked the North Norfolk set, dubbed the “turnip toffs” after Kate and Wills moved to Anmer Hall, their country bolthole gifted to them by the Queen.

Rose and Eton-educated former film-maker David live just 3½ miles down the road at 106-room Houghton Hall.

They have twin boys Alexander, Earl of Rocksavage and Oliver, Lord Cholmondeley, who have been playmates of Prince George, and daughter Lady Iris.

The couple are impeccably connected in the worlds of showbiz and politics.

In fact, Rose first grabbed the headlines by ­posing for a ­picture while wearing a pink bikini with her socialite sister Marina and then Prime ­Minister Tony Blair in 2005.

They attended the royal couple’s wedding eight years ago — where Rose was hailed as the best dressed guest.

And in 2016, Kate and Wills were star attendees at a black tie gala event hosted at Houghton Hall, another illustration of their closeness.

Rose is a former model for the agency Storm, which discovered Kate Moss, and also had a brief stint as a political researcher for the Conservative MP Michael Gove.

Her paternal grandmother Lady Rose Lambert was a bridesmaid at the Queen’s wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.

And Rose stole the show at Prince Harry’s first ever State Banquet in July 2017 when she sat next to the royal wearing an extravagant tiara.

Her husband David inherited an estimated £112million estate 27 years ago, which included Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire

The newly independent Kate that has emerged over the past year has delighted those inside the Royal ­Family.

Already adored by staff for her down-to-earth approach, Kate was — as I previously revealed — the first to stand up to her sister-in-law Meghan, 37, over the way she spoke to her staff.

The tension between the future Queen and Meghan along with the imminent split of the royal households has emboldened the Duchess, who is growing more comfortable with her public role.

Kensington Palace declined to comment last night.

Harry: I'm sorry, Skip

PRINCE Harry is trying to patch up relations with old friends that have become strained since he met Meghan.

I’ve heard he has apologised to Tom “Skippy” Inskip for leaving him off the guest list for the evening part of his wedding last May – despite Harry and Meghan attending Tom’s own wedding in Jamaica the year before.

Skippy and wife Lara were invited to the first part of the reception but told friends they were mortified to be left out of the main do at Frogmore Hall.

While guests including Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney were put on a shuttle bus to the second reception, Skippy told pals he had to do a “walk of shame” in the opposite direction.

Harry recently called Skippy to apologise and blamed tight numbers for the snub, in which other old chums also failed to make the cut.

It’s never a good idea to cut off lifelong friends when you start a new relationship. They know you better than anyone.

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