Kate: A Queen in waiting
From a nervous newlywed to a promising princess, here’s how the Duchess of Cambridge has grown in confidence as she gets closer to taking the crown…
Once a shy, naive newlywed (who was so nervous on the day of her wedding in Westminster Abbey that her hands swelled to the point her ring wouldn’t fit!), the now Duchess of Cambridge has proved to the Royals – and the nation – that she will one day be a worthy, hard-working and dedicated Queen. From endless smiling appearances, to working with charities – most famously for children, such as Family Action and the Anna Freud National Centre – and dressing impeccably, Kate has, quite frankly, never put a foot wrong. ‘Never complain, never explain’ is the mantra we all know Queen Elizabeth has lived by, and it seems a future Queen Kate will abide by the same…
The perfect combination of grace and glamour, there’s nothing more Great Britain could ask of the Duchess of Cambridge in a future Queen – but it wasn’t always this way.
The elegant Duchess, now 40, who prefers to be known as Catherine, has come a long way from the shy university student who first caught Prince William’s eye in 2001.
Although she has never put a foot wrong – unlike other, more gaffe-prone members of the Royal Family – it’s clear that in the 20 years she’s been in the spotlight, she has grown in confidence.
It’s evident from the first time the public heard her voice – in an interview in which she got slightly flustered – that public speaking didn’t come naturally to Catherine, but now it’s second nature to the Duchess, who doesn’t seem to bat an eyelid at being centre-stage.
Along with William, she has made a perfect team. Now united not only by their decades of love, but by their three beautiful children, they are a clear mutual support for one another.
Another sign of Kate’s growing confidence is how her sense of style has evolved.
As glamorous at 40 as she was at 20, whatever she wears – whether it’s a vest top and jeans or a gown as dazzling as the sequinned number she wore to the premiere of No Time To Die – Kate’s choice of clothing can sell out in seconds, making her a true style icon.
But the ‘Kate Effect’ is not just limited to fashion. Her class and ability to connect with the public over the last decade has been noted by many.
And according to some Royal watchers, the monarchy has come to depend on Kate. Not only does she provide support to William, she has attempted to build bridges with his estranged brother Harry. (As shown by her decision to step aside at Philip’s funeral and let them walk together.)
According to author Tina Brown, the Royal Family rests on Kate’s ‘slim shoulders’ and would fall apart if it weren’t for her. ‘If for any reason, she thought “I’m out of here, I can do much better,” it would be a disaster… It would, I think, crumble at the moment without her because she’s the only modern, beautiful woman who’s well-educated, substantial in herself, who’s actually wanting to commit herself to the rigours of this institution. Not many young women could do that.’
Many in Royal circles describe Kate as ‘a perfectionist’ – but what is she really like behind closed doors? ‘She is shy,’ says a friend. ‘Very private, quite steady, she is not going to be the one who lets loose, and won’t pull the pin and get lashed,’ although she sometimes enjoys a gin and tonic at the end of the day.
William is said to be proud of his wife and her work, and that is another part of their success. Unlike his parents’ marriage, where Charles came to resent Diana’s popularity, William is happy that the future Princess of Wales is liked by the public.
And other members of The Firm appreciate her, too.
In 2019, the Queen promoted Kate to Dame Grand Cross, the highest female rank in the Royal Victorian Order, awarded personally by the monarch for services to the sovereign – a clear sign of her gratitude.
A Royal source believes Kate has discreetly observed Her Majesty’s style and successfully copied many of her habits. ‘She will be Queen for a long time, and knowing her, she will have thought, “Who is my role model here, who has done this really well? Who do I learn from to lay down and build the foundations for the long game, to stay solid, strong, calm and confident, without giving up too much of myself ?” I think she’s taken a lot from the Queen.’
And if indeed she has, what better role model could she have chosen? It is a typically astute move from the graceful, glamorous Queen-in-waiting.
‘The future of the monarchy rests on Kate’s slim shoulders’