Kate’s world has been transformed
JUST a few short weeks ago, the then Duchess of Cambridge was shopping in Holt, the town nearest to her Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate.
But on the first day her children started their new school, and the family had just moved into Adelaide Cottage, Windsor, Catherine received a message which changed her world.
The Queen had died, making Charles the King andwilliam a heartbeat from the throne.
The quiet years they hoped for while their young children grew up were wiped out.
In an instant, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge became the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, withwilliam inheriting the huge revenues and responsibilities of the Duchy.
They had scarcely time to get used to their new names when a day later King Charles III created William, Prince ofwales.
In his first speech as King, Charles announced: “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess ofwales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.”
Catherine became the first Princess ofwales since Diana to hold that title. A spokesman said: “The new Princess ofwales appreciates the history associated with this role but will want to look to the future as she creates her own
path.” Catherine will have to be William’s main support while he takes on a heavier load of royal duties. Still glamorous at 40, she will be the royal star but she must not outshine the new
King and Queen. A difficult tightrope walk indeed.
After the King’s coronation and the investiture ofwilliam, there will be no jubilees, no grand royal weddings, and probably no other regal celebrations for some time to remind us of the constancy of the monarchy.
At almost 74, Charles is seen as a link in the chain connecting the late
Queen andwilliam – the great hope of the continuation of the House ofwindsor.
Catherine’s role is crucial in maintaining the popularity of the monarchy. The Queen Mother used to reminisce about her life as Duchess ofyork before she became Queen, saying, “When we wereyork”.
Looking at the flowers at Sandringham’s gate on Thursday with William, Catherine might well have looked back fondly on those last summer days in Norfolk.
Back when they were still called “Cambridge”.