Royal rift rumours continue as Meghan 'not invited' to Kate's birthday party

As talk of a rift between them continues to intensify, it's been suggested that Meghan Markle was not invited to Kate Middleton's birthday party.

The Duchess of Cambridge turned 37 on January 9 and is said to have celebrated with a lunch with her closest friends and family.

Mail Online claims the lunch was held at Anmer Hall, William and Kate's Norfolk country home near Sandringham which was their wedding gift from the Queen.

The Mail claims neither Prince Harry or Meghan made an appearance at Kate's birthday lunch.

In the past royal observers have suggested that Kate lacks female friends, but her closest allies did attend her birthday.

According to Mail Online these women include her college hockey buddy Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who is Prince George's godmother.

When Kate and William went on a break in 2007, it's said it was Emilia who took Kate to Ibiza.

The interior designer is also said to have helped the couple redecorate Anmer Hall and Kensington Palace.

Emilia's husband David also attended the birthday event as well as Laura and James Meade, Princess Charlotte's godparents, and Sophie Carter and her husband Robert.

But Harry and Meghan were said to be noticeably absent, fuelling speculation that the two women do not see eye-to-eye.

Earlier this week a British television commentator suggested that Kate felt threatened by Meghan.

"Kate is the quintessential English rose. She went to private schools, she was never a feminist in the way Meghan is; she was never outspoken," journalist Carole Malone said.

"Meghan on the other hand is a driven girl. She came from a totally different kind of family.

"It was dysfunctional, her parents were divorced and Meghan had to strive for everything that she got, so they are two very different characters."

But in the public eye the pair look like the best of friends; they were last seen all smiles together during the royal's Christmas Day service.

Over Christmas the sisters-in-law are said to have bonded while playing board games after watching the Queen's speech.

Rumours of a royal rift began when the UK Telegraph claimed Kate was left in tears at Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress fitting ahead of Meghan and Harry's wedding.

Then it was decided that the newlyweds would not be moving into an apartment next door to William and Kate and will move to Frogmore Cottage instead.