A tense moment between Princess Eugenie and the Princess of Wales has reignited speculation that the pair have never been close - after experts suggested the Epstein Files could seal the fate of their relationship.
The 'awkward' footage captured during Kate's first Christmas at Sandringham with the Royal Family showed Prince William's cousin appear to almost 'push past' the newcomer while pointedly avoiding meeting her gaze.
While the future Queen is now well-versed in the art of the royal walkabout, she appeared rather nervous during her first visit to the monarch's Norfolk estate after marrying the Prince of Wales in 2011.
The short video, which was shared on YouTube, showed Kate and Eugenie - whose father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in office today - leaving St Mary Magdalene Church after attending the morning service.
Eugenie's Alleged Snub at Sandringham
Breaking royal protocol, Eugenie walked past Prince William's new wife and refused to look at her, as body language expert Judi James said Kate looked 'quietly wounded' by her actions.
Responding to the perceived slight, Kate - who picked an elegant plum coat with a matching hat for the occasion - turned away from Eugenie's direction, as Ms James explained the cues that reflected poorly on the latter.
'A forensic look at the body language here makes it hard to come down on the side of Eugenie, especially as Kate looks so quietly wounded by her action,' she said.
The absence of any 'small gestures of friendly support' from Eugenie towards Kate was striking, as fans online called out the 'intentional slight'.
Kate joined members of the Royal Family, including the late Queen and Prince Harry, at Sandringham for her first Christmas after marrying Prince William in April 2011.
The footage of her and Eugenie showed the latter 'leapfrog over the royal pecking order' and seemingly shut down Kate's attempt at engaging her in conversation, Ms James said.
Subtle Signals in a Tense Royal Exchange
While Kate 'appears to look at Eugenie with the kind of expression that might convert into a smile', the York princess responds with a 'set' facial expression.
'William was standing a way behind her, and Eugenie slid through the gap between them,' she continued.
'It looks from Kate's body language as though she'd been left in a small social hole where she had no one close to speak to while she had the world's cameras trained on her.'
While she acknowledged that Eugenie's intention may not have been to 'be any form of a mean girl', Ms James said it was 'understandable why some more negative assessments' are being made about their interaction online.
'Ongoing fan theories suggest this was a reaction from a true royal to a non-royal who has "married in" to the family,' Ms James concluded
Commenting on the video, one person wrote: 'It was obviously intentional. That was very rude.'
Another noted Kate's 'hair flip' before she walked past Eugenie to take her place alongside William.
Epstein Files Threaten to Deepen Royal Rift
A third added: 'Eugenie was terribly rude! She stepped between William and Catherine! Then, she forged her way ahead of Catherine! Royals all know their places and this sure isn't hers! What's with her? Is she asking to be removed from further appearances?'
It comes as royal experts suggested the latest revelations from the Epstein Files could put further strain on the already uneasy relationship between the Prince and Princess of Wales and Beatrice and Eugenie.
The most recent tranche of documents has raised serious questions about how much the two Princesses knew about their parents' dealings with the financier.
One email sent by Epstein in 2015 - after he was convicted for soliciting intercourse from girls as young as 14 - boasted to a friend that Beatrice 'liked' him.
It also emerged that Beatrice helped advise her mother on how to placate Epstein after Fergie called him an offender while apologising for accepting a £15,000 bailout from the convicted offender in a 2011 interview.
She also played a key role in facilitating her father's catastrophic 2019 Newsnight interview, and Beatrice and Eugenie must now face the possibility that the drip-feed of Epstein revelations could see them ousted from royal life as well.
William May Adopt Hard-Line Stance Toward Cousins
After King Charles stripped Andrew of all his military and royal titles, experts have suggested the Prince of Wales might take the same hard-line approach with his cousin - especially after his uncle was arrested today.
'William has made a point of inviting Beatrice and Eugenie, and other cousins, to help him host a Buckingham Palace garden party once a year. But there's no sign of him ever wanting his cousins to be taxpayer-funded working royals. That's been made pretty clear,' a source told the Daily Mail.
It comes as Andrew, eighth in line to the throne, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and is being held in custody on his 66th birthday.
Multiple unmarked police cars were seen swooping on Andrew's new home in Sandringham, Norfolk, where he has been living since he and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were forced out of Royal Lodge.
This is the first time the former prince, who has faced several allegations relating to financier Epstein, has been arrested.
Detectives are now carrying searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk, Thames Valley Police said.
It is not confirmed which properties are being searched but Royal Lodge is in Windsor, Berkshire, while his new home, Wood Farm is in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Andrew's Arrest Deepens Crisis for the York Family
Andrew's dramatic arrest comes in stark contrast to Sarah, who has been keeping a low profile since leaving Royal Lodge.
But sources say she has openly told friends: ‘I need to get back to work. I need money.’
In light of the 'cataclysmic scandal' the Yorks are embroiled in, 'it is unlikely' Kate and Eugenie will be spotted together in the near future, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said.
He said: 'We know that the sisters, especially Eugenie, were friendly with the Sussexes, though reports vary as to whether this remains the case.
‘It is therefore unsurprising that Catherine appears to have been cautious in her relations with them.
‘The sisters face an enormous challenge, being happily married, well adjusted and with careers, but clearly wanting to do more charity work as princesses.
‘However, their parents are engulfed in a very serious crisis which may prove absolutely cataclysmic.
‘Whatever the nature of the relationship between them, it is unlikely we will see them together with her very soon.’