How ‘Steel Marshmallow’ Kate Middleton is preparing to become Queen – & why she’s being more assertive with Wills
WHEN the Princess of Wales returned to royal duties this autumn, it appeared very much business as usual.
Kate and William commemorated the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death with a poignant visit to St David’s Cathedral in Wales.
As ever, Kate’s thoughtful outfit contained a subtle tribute to our longest-serving and beloved monarch.
Her burgundy coat dress, hat and shoes echoed the colour the Queen wore on her last visit to St David’s, while her pearl earrings once belonged to her grandmother-in-law and are also a traditional mourning jewel.
Finally, the neat pillbox hat Kate wore was, in fact, crafted by a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.
Yet, immediately, there was a volte-face. Change was in the air.
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September 8 was to be the last time the Princess of Wales, 41, donned a dress, before kicking off a month-plus-long streak of blazers, trousers and sharp tailoring.
A navy-blue Alexander McQueen trouser suit was very on-trend, but other winners included a bottle-green Burberry suit and a red Zara blazer, while a Cefinn grey sleeveless jumper with Sézane trousers had fashion fans in a flutter.
It’s been just over a year since Kate took on the title of the world’s most famous woman.
She may never have met her mother-in-law, but following in the footsteps of Princess Diana can’t have been easy – particularly with the new season of The Crown, which airs later this month, chronicling her death – one of the most painful periods in royal history.
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Does Kate feel intimidated by such a heavy mantle? Not at all.
As someone close to her said: “Becoming Princess of Wales was a real moment for her.
“But, like the Prince of Wales, she is very clear that, while she appreciates all the history and tradition that comes with the title, she wants to pave her own way, as she did as Duchess of Cambridge.”
This can be seen in the way William and Kate have recently shaken up their office – hiring their very first CEO to run their household of more than 60 staff.
Two new private secretaries will report to the CEO – the most senior civil servant in the household – who will answer directly to William and Kate.
‘There’s been a deliberate strategy to look more businesslike’
It’s an interesting departure from the hierarchy favoured by King Charles and Queen Elizabeth.
But Kate is slowly laying plans to be Queen, echoed in her new look.
A royal source says: “Catherine has sometimes been frustrated that her style is what’s reported and commented on, rather than her substance.
“She realises that what she wears can convey a huge amount in a role where she has to be very careful with what she says.
“But there’s been a deliberate strategy to rewear outfits and look more businesslike in what is a huge step up in her role.
“She would prefer the focus to be on what she says and does, rather than on what she wears.”
The Waleses have also begun to divide and conquer in their work.
In times gone by, Kate would rarely carry out engagements on her own, but as her public confidence has grown, she has appeared less and less at William’s side.
This is partly due to them establishing their own separate brands, as well as there just not being enough senior royals to carry out public duties.
After the departure of Harry, Meghan, Prince Andrew and Queen Elizabeth from public life, there is now only the “Magnificent Seven” – namely King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Waleses, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh – to cover royal jobs.
Kate’s solo engagements have increased and concentrated on her charity and military patronages.
But sport, both in the form of patron of English Rugby Union and League and as benefits to mental health (a Freshers’ visit to Nottingham Trent University), has been a big focus – including two visits to the Rugby World Cup in France.
‘Her early years work is about her stepping out on her own’
Earlier this year, the Princess announced a key piece of the rest of her working life – promoting change in understanding how important the early years are to our later lives.
Shaping Us, a long-term campaign by The Royal Foundation Centre For Early Childhood, aims to increase public understanding of the importance of the first five years of a child’s life.
A royal courtier says: “I would say that she wants this to be her life’s work.
“When you think about legacy, she would want in 10 years’ time that we see societal change and awareness when we come to the early years.
“Shaping Us is about her stepping out on her own. It’s the golden thread of her work moving forward.”
At home, too, there have been changes.
The most significant was Kate and William relocating from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate.
Moving closer to co-ed private school Lambrook for Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, was one of reasons for the move, but family happiness was also a big driver.
While living in London, Kate had made no secret of the fact she found it somewhat of a “gilded cage”.
Adelaide Cottage gives them complete privacy, and the beautiful Berkshire countryside means the family can have the outdoorsy life that they love.
All the Middletons live close by as well, so Kate and the children spend a lot of time with their grandparents and cousins.
Life completely revolves around the kids, with weekends spent horse riding, bike riding or watching football, gymnastics and swimming events, and they arrange their work and royal tours around school pick-up times.
One parent, whose son was playing a match against Lambrook, was shocked to realise that the friendly dad who’d just given her directions to the football pitch was Prince William.
‘Kate’s very empathetic and kind, but a rod of steel runs through her’
Despite being one of the most famous families in the world, they manage to keep an extremely low profile.
Much of the school summer holidays this year was spent at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, and Kate was spotted jet-skiing off the coast, while William was on a water hoverboard and the children in a nearby boat.
The locals don’t bother them, and holiday-makers are blissfully unaware that the sporty, upper-class family enjoying the sea are in fact Britain’s first family.
During a cycle ride one morning, Kate had Louis on her bike, but George and Charlotte had zoomed ahead on their own cycles, when the family suddenly found themselves caught up in a half-marathon.
“We had no choice but to join in the race,” Kate laughed.
“We are all so competitive. It was quite funny trying to keep up and then get out.
“Fortunately, no one recognised us as we all had our helmets on and the race swept on.”
Though one royal expert recently claimed that, like any married couple, it’s “not all sweetness” and they do row and fall out, Kate’s relationship with William appears to be in a good place.
It’s also interesting to see her become more assertive with her husband – even in public.
A playful tap on his bottom at this year’s BAFTAs spawned thousands of social media memes.
Staying close to home, she has seemingly repaired her relationship with Norfolk neighbour and close friend Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, after it was rumoured that they had fallen out.
For a time, she and her husband David (who was Queen Elizabeth’s Lord Great Chamberlain) were seemingly absent from Kate’s shooting parties and weekend stays.
But Rose was invited to Prince William’s inaugural Earthshot prize-giving ceremony in London in 2021, and her son, Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, was a Coronation page for King Charles, alongside Prince George.
In August, Kate was spotted at a music festival, without William but with Rose and David, held in their back garden at Norfolk’s grand Houghton Hall.
She’s often referred to as being “enigmatic”, but the Princess of Wales is made of tough stuff.
A royal source says: “She is very empathetic and kind, but a rod of steel runs through her.
“I think it has to if you are prepared to take on a job like that.
“Old palace courtiers compare her to the Queen Mother, who was called the ‘Steel Marshmallow’, because she looked sweet, but was incredibly tough.
The fallout from the Sussex debacle was difficult, but she kept William calm and did what she needed to – including that Windsor walkabout after the Queen died, which she later described as ‘one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do’.”
That steeliness can be seen in a recent decision to take on fewer foreign tours and to stay at home this week while William goes to Singapore for an official visit and for his Earthshot ceremony.
She also cares little for public criticism – not that there is much – or that she “should” be doing this or that.
The reason she’s staying in the UK is to help George with his school entrance exams.
It’s a tricky time for any 10 year old, but particularly a future King, and for Kate, family always comes first.
Yes, her new status and title carry weight and responsibility, and she has an unwavering commitment to public duty and serving the people of Great Britain.
But, somehow, she manages to combine all of those roles while staying true to herself. Truly, Kate The Great.
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October 3: The Princess of Wales makes a visit to Cardiff, looking polished in pinstripes.
Here, she meets pupils from Fitzalan High School, as part of Black History Month, and hears about their work on Black History Cymru 365 and the Minority Ethnic Youth Forum for Wales.
October 3: Mirroring Diana’s penchant for being hands-on during walkabouts, Kate chats to delighted young fans at the Grange Pavilion in Cardiff.
She travelled to Wales with William and warmly greets the flag-waving children who have come out to see her.
October 3: Kate is deep in conversion with members from the Windrush Cymru Elders.
The royal couple are in Cardiff to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush to the UK.
October 4: Chic in a grey cosy knit, Kate strides confidently on a trip to Bracknell, Berkshire, where she visits the Vsi Razom Community Hub.
The organisation supports those who have arrived in the local area from Ukraine as a result of the ongoing conflict, and Kate is presented with a simple bouquet in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
October 5: Famously fit and sporty, Kate gets to grips with wheelchair rugby during a training session with the World-Cup-winning England Wheelchair Rugby League squad in Hull.
October 10: Relaxed and laughing, Kate speaks with young people in Birmingham as part of World Mental Health Day, as well as joining workshops on how young people can build mental resilience.
October 12: The Waleses spend time at the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, visiting a mental fitness workshop run by SportsAid.
Dressed down for the court, Kate shows off her netball skills – and super-toned arms – as she throws the ball to William.
October 15: Friendly Kate makes rugby fans’ days at the Rugby World Cup, stopping to chat at half-time.
The following week, when England is defeated by South Africa in the semi-final, Kate told the team they should be proud of their efforts.
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October 15: Following their Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-
final victory against Fiji, Kate congratulates the England team after the game in Marseille.
Stylish in monochrome, she’s unperturbed by the muddy and bruised players in the changing room.