New Delhi, May 10 -- The Princess of Wales was the first member of the senior royal family to quietly distance herself from Prince Andrew well before his formal removal from royal duties, according to claims made by royal author Christopher Andersen in a recent interview.

Speaking to the New York Post's Page Six in an exclusive interview, Andersen alleged that Kate Middleton had deliberately refused to engage with Andrew at family gatherings and holidays, long before the Duke of York was formally stripped of his remaining royal titles and privileges.

"Kate Middleton was the first royal to wash her hands of the disgraced ex-Prince Andrew," Andersen told the publication, adding that "The Princess of Wales refused to speak to Andrew at fam...