The Duchess of Cambridge has "terrible arguments" with her best model friend

The Duchess of Cambridge had a spectacular argument with a longtime best friend and even told Prince William that she wanted the woman to be removed from her surroundings.

Kate, 37, considers Rose Hanbury, 35, a "rural rival" while at home in Sandringham, Norfolk, and their close friendship would be in tatters, according to royal insiders.

Prince William even attempted to mediate between the two women, while Kate and him had several meetings with Rose and her husband, David Rocksavage, the Marquis of Cholmondeley.

Kate and her former friend Rose Hanbury had a "terrible" dispute, according to royal sources

However, the Duchess has ignored all attempts at compensation, and insists that Rose, the Marquise de Cholmondeley, must be removed from her circle of confidants.

Royal sources have revealed that the relationship between Kate and her former close friend was worse than anyone thought.

A source told the Sun: "It is well known that Kate and Rose have fought terribly. They were close but that's no longer the case.

"William wants to play the peacemaker so that both couples can remain friends, as long as they are close to each other and share many common friends.

"But Kate made it clear that she did not want to see them anymore and wanted William to eliminate them gradually, despite their social status."

Rose and her husband David, 23, live within 3 miles of Anmer Hall, the country house offered to the Duke and Duchess by the Queen.

Rose attended the wedding of the royal couple and, with her husband David, the four went on several double dates (photo)

Rose's twins are Prince George's playmates and she is also a former model for the same agency that discovered Kate Moss.

Some friends had already claimed that they thought the ex-model Rose was a rival of Kate's rural crown and lived just a few miles away.

The Marquis de Cholmondeley is 23 years old and the eldest of the Marchioness and they have three children together

Rose and David live with their two twins, Alexander and Oliver, and their daughter Iris at Houghton Hall, which has 106 rooms.

The twins are Prince George's playmates.

Rose and David both attended the marriage of William and Kate eight years ago. Rose was considered by many to be the best dressed guest.

She is a former model for the same agency that discovered Kate Moss and also briefly worked as a policy researcher for Michael Gove.

She drew public attention for the first time after posing in pink bikini with her husband, Marina and Tony Blair, in 2005 while he was prime minister.

Her husband, David, inherited 27 years ago from an estimated 112 million-pound estate, including Cholmondeley Castle, in Cheshire.

Kensington Palace declined to comment.