The Duchess of Cambridge waited for animal-loving Meghan Markle to leave the Sandringham estate before grabbing her own shotgun and joining the hunt, according to royal sources.

Kate, 36, is an avid hunter who appears to love nothing better than shooting a bit of game at Christmas.

But she made sure the Duchess of Sussex, who is known for her strong stance against animal cruelty, had left on Boxing Day before joining her husband Prince William in the seasonal tradition of killing pheasants, ducks and other poultry, a royal insider told the Daily Mail.

Kate on a grouse shoot in Scotland in 2009 (Picture: Ikon Pictures/REX/Shutterstock)

Kate is a ‘really good shot’ (Picture: Rex)

Kate carries some dead birds on a shoot with Prince William in 2007 (Picture: Rex)

Meghan reportedly enjoyed a lunch with Kate, the Queen and Prince Philip on Wood Farm on her final day at the sprawling Norfolk estate.




The royal insider said Meghan knows the royals have been hunting for centuries and will not easily change their ways.

‘She is not a vegan or even a vegetarian, but she doesn’t like unnecessary cruelty to animals,’ the source told the Daily Mail.

‘Harry has explained to her that the numbers of birds need to be kept down on the estate and that this is all part of the management.

Kate has had years of practice with William at Sandringham (Picture: Rex)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk together with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Christmas Day (Picture: Rex)

Kate reportedly waited for Meghan to leave Sandringham before joining the hunt (Picture: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

‘She has accepted this but doesn’t like watching it. She enjoyed the lunch and got on well with Kate, but I’m not sure how she would feel about Kate taking part.’

When Meghan left for a Christmas holiday with Harry, Kate was reportedly eager to get going with her own 20-bore shotgun.

She is reportedly a ‘really good shot’ after getting years of practice with William at Anmer Hall, their country home at Sandringham.

The royal insider said it’s been years since Kate has joined the Christmas hunt.

She’s also allegedly keen on introducing George, Charlotte and Louis into the bloodsport when they’re old enough.

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