Is Kate Middleton secretly preparing to take the throne? Sources say she’s making shocking moves after a ‘devastating’ year—could she be plotting her rise to queen behind closed doors? 👇👇👇

Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three young children started Christmas early this year at their multi-million dollar country estate.

They skipped the traditional festive lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday with King Charles and the rest of the extended royal family, instead hunkering down at Anmer Hall in Norfolk after what a family friend called “an incredibly difficult time.”

William, 42, has dubbed this year “brutal” after the Princess of Wales’ battle with cancer took her largely out of the public eye for the past 12 months — and led to wild public speculation.

Kate has now finished her chemotherapy treatment and the couple is at home with their kids, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Prince Louis.