Kate Middleton, Prince William break cover amid 'war' between King Charles, Diana's brother

Princess of Wales Kate Middleton and Prince William have made their first public appearance amid ‘war’ between King Charles and Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer.

Kate and William, who goes by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, arrived on the Isle of Bute - their first official visit to the island and the town that gives the name to their Scottish titles.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were all smiles and appeared unbothered by the drama surrounding the royal family when they arrived at the Bute Shinty Club.

The war has broken out between King Charles and Princess Diana's brother after he claimed the monarch told him she would be quickly 'forgotten' in the days after her death in 1997.

The spokesman for King Charles said: "While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss."

Meanwhile, royal expert Jennie Bond has said: "It is incredibly sad and it is, it seems to me, pure war now. We lived through the war of the Waleses – I did – back in the 90s between Charles and Diana.

“Now we have another war between Diana's brother and the King and I do not know what purpose it serves.”

The royal expert continued, “It can only go to hurt, I think, William and Harry who love their father and probably undoubtedly love their uncle as well. To see the family torn apart by this serves no purpose.”