Kate Middleton's Struggle with Stress and Scandal Unfolds

Friends of Kate Middleton attribute her absence from public life and need for recuperation from abdominal surgery to intense stress, exacerbated by royal dramas and media scrutiny. They criticize the media for harassing Kate over mistakes made by others and predict a staff shake-up at Kensington Palace. The ongoing rift between Prince William and Prince Harry is evident, and the fallout from a manipulated photo of Kate continues. Sources believe the stress of recent years triggered a stress-related illness in Kate, and emphasize the priority of protecting their children for William and Kate.