ROYAL RESCUE KATE TAKES CHARGE!
Why the duchess has become the shining jewel in the Windsor crown
When the Queen was forced to cancel several public outings on the eve of her highly anticipated Platinum Jubilee celebrations after a series of health setbacks and mobility issues, a rare panic set in at the palace.
Would Her Majesty be well enough for her much-hyped milestone? Would all their planning be for nothing?
But while many courtiers appeared to lose their cool, the Duchess of Cambridge was a pillar of calm, reassuring royal aides that all would be well and offering to fill in for her grandmother-in-law at a series of engagements, including handing out the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design at a fashion event and, last week, hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
In between these two events, the 96-year-old monarch did eventually come out of isolation, attending first the Windsor Horse Show and then the opening of a new underground line named in her honour, but we’re told Kate’s steady presence while the palace was under pressure was greatly appreciated by the Queen and has cemented her place as the royal family’s secret weapon.
“With Harry and Meghan lobbing grenades from California, the Duke of Edinburgh’s tragic death and Prince Andrew sinking into a vortex of scandal, the upheavals of the past two years have thrown the royals into turmoil,” a palace insider reports.
“But through all these setbacks and even the worrying decline in the Queen’s health, Kate has emerged with her standing enhanced. Nothing seems to daunt her.
“There’s that combination of sweetness, inner strength, dazzle and dignity that have seen her become the most popular – and discreetly powerful – figure in the royal firmament.”
In the Windsor clan, no one is a success unless they have the approval and total confidence of the Queen – and we’re told Kate is now part of that small select group that makes the big decisions. “It hasn’t been easy for her,” notes our source. “During her first few years as a royal, Kate often appeared awkward and uncertain. There were stumbles. Nothing had prepared her for the constant scrutiny of royal life.
“But in recent years, Kate’s really found her feet. With Charles, Camilla and Anne all in their seventies, and the Queen scaling back, this is her moment to shine. She’s got that star appeal that’ll keep the monarchy relevant no matter what may happen.”
‘This is her moment to shine. She’s got star appeal’