The Details Of Kate Middleton's Most Important Relationships Revealed

Royal Review

They may be royals, but they're still a family. And just like your family, the web of allies and enemies can be surprisingly complicated. This is everything we know about the many relationships of Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Transcript

00:00:00They may be royals, but they're still a family, and just like your family, the web of allies

00:00:05and enemies can be surprisingly complicated.

00:00:07This is everything we know about the many relationships of Catherine, Princess of Wales.

00:00:13He's a pint-sized prince who digs grass stains and dirt.

00:00:16But were his first words really Mary Berry?

00:00:18He's the apple of his mama's eye, and here's why Louis will always be her baby.

00:00:24Though the public were thrilled for Princess Catherine when she announced each of her pregnancies,

00:00:28she also suffered from an extreme version of morning sickness.

00:00:32And because of that, the scenario with her third child, Prince Louis, was tough from

00:00:36the start.

00:00:37Nothing can really prepare you for that."

00:00:40Kate reflected on the experience two years after Louis was born, telling the Happy Mom,

00:00:45Happy Baby podcast,

00:00:46"'It was utterly rotten.

00:00:47I was really sick.

00:00:48I wasn't eating the things I should be eating, and yet the body was still able to take all

00:00:52the goodness from my body and to grow new life,' which I think is fascinating."

00:00:57She noted that her husband, Prince William, felt useless, since there wasn't much he could

00:01:01do to help.

00:01:02Kate added,

00:01:03"'Because it had been so bad during pregnancy, I actually really quite liked labor, because

00:01:07actually it was an event that I knew there was going to be an ending to.

00:01:11No pregnancy is the same, no birth is the same.'"

00:01:15Prince Louis came into the world on April 23rd, 2018, rounding out the family of five.

00:01:20And after a brief respite, Kate was back on the public scene shortly after.

00:01:24By January 2019, she was opening up about the new addition, sharing during a visit to

00:01:28Scotland,

00:01:29"'Louis is a fast crawler.'

00:01:31Two months later, Catherine gave yet another quick update about her youngest son, explaining

00:01:35that he was already giving her a run for her money.

00:01:38She said,

00:01:39"'Louis just wants to pull himself up all the time.

00:01:41He has got these little walkers and is bombing around in them.

00:01:44I turned around the other day and he was at the top of the slide.

00:01:47I had no idea.'"

00:01:49Any fan of British TV knows that life couldn't possibly be complete without the great British

00:01:54baking show.

00:01:55Judge Mary Berry was a staple on the show for many years, and is a well-known figure

00:01:59in Britain for her classic cookbooks and sweet treats.

00:02:02As it happens, Kate keeps some of Berry's cookbooks in her kitchen, and they just so

00:02:06happened to be at Louis' eye level when he was learning to talk.

00:02:10Appearing with Berry during a Christmas special in 2019, Kate revealed that one of Louis'

00:02:14first words was actually Mary, adding,

00:02:17"'Children are really fascinated by faces, and your faces are all over your cooking books,'

00:02:21and he would say,

00:02:23So he would definitely recognize you if he saw you today."

00:02:27As William and Kate have raised their children in the public eye, they've also focused on

00:02:30giving their kids as normal of an upbringing as possible.

00:02:34And Kate has been dedicated to getting her three kiddos out in the fresh air, admitting

00:02:38that it's her favorite time to spend with them.

00:02:40As she told Happy Mom Happy Baby,

00:02:42"'Outside in the countryside, we are all filthy dirty.'"

00:02:45"'What animal do you like?'

00:02:49As for Louis, he's all about the outdoor adventures.

00:02:52Appearing at the Back to Nature Festival in 2019, Kate explained that one-year-old

00:02:56Louis loved being around plants.

00:02:58As a guest of the event described to People,

00:03:00"'She was telling us how her son Louis loves smelling flowers.

00:03:03He enjoys being outside.'"

00:03:05As any mom knows, before you even realize it, your little one is walking, talking, demanding

00:03:10snacks, and heading off to preschool without batting an eye.

00:03:13For Kate, watching Louis grow up has been especially bittersweet.

00:03:17Referring to him as her baby, she shared during a visit to Brent,

00:03:20"...I keep thinking Louis is my baby, but he's a proper boy now."

00:03:24Of course, the public had just watched Louis appear at the Trooping the Color event for

00:03:27the first time, and to say that he had fully come into his own as a young boy was an understatement.

00:03:33As an insider told Hello!, the princess had become more determined than ever to stay grounded

00:03:38as a parent, adding,

00:03:39"...Kate takes her kids to the trampoline park quite regularly and really blends in

00:03:43as any other mom."

00:03:44When it comes to the Cambridge kids, parallels have frequently been drawn between them and

00:03:49their parents.

00:03:50Prince George and Princess Charlotte are spitting images of their father, Prince William.

00:03:54They have his eyes, his smile, and his coloring, but Louis, meanwhile, looks exactly like his

00:04:00mom.

00:04:01And this has become even more apparent as he's gotten older.

00:04:04"...Healthy, happy children shape a healthy, happy future."

00:04:10Kate has continued to champion causes close to her heart, and one of them is her Shaping

00:04:14Us initiative that focuses on parenthood and the early childhood years.

00:04:19During a kickoff event, she shared photos of herself as a baby with her dad.

00:04:23Immediately, fans recognized just how similar Louis and Kate look as kids.

00:04:27She added,

00:04:28"...I hope you'll also consider joining me and sharing a picture of yourselves before

00:04:32your fifth birthday to help with those conversations and to share some smiles and memories, too."

00:04:37It seems like it was only yesterday that Prince George was born, but he's already a bustling

00:04:42nine-year-old in line for the throne.

00:04:44And while he's the baby of the bunch, Louis is also growing up fast.

00:04:48Speaking to social media to honor Mother's Day in the U.K. in March 2023, Kate shared

00:04:53adorable photos of her kids, one holding Louis as if he were still an actual baby.

00:04:58Body language expert Judy James noted that the photo is indicative of Kate's feelings

00:05:02about her youngest son, explaining to the Daily Mail,

00:05:05"...this pose shows Kate fully back in mom role again, cradling Louis in her arms and

00:05:10looking down with a warm, loving, and caring smile.

00:05:13Louis was always the child she tended to carry around the most when he was a baby, although

00:05:17she clearly cherishes the way he is growing up to be confident, spontaneous, and playful."

00:05:23As their kids got older, William and Kate decided to move them out of London, where

00:05:27they had been residing at Kensington Palace, and make their home in the countryside.

00:05:31The family of five now live on the Windsor Castle grounds, allowing them much more privacy.

00:05:36Of course, schooling has been a focal point for the parents, and they enrolled their children

00:05:40at Lambrook School in Windsor.

00:05:42Though the school is private, elite, and surely provides the royal children with an excellent

00:05:46education, it seems Louis still prefers to be out of the building rather than sitting

00:05:51in class.

00:05:52During a visit to a therapy garden in Wales, Kate shared,

00:05:54"...Louis comes home and says, I need to get my energy out."

00:05:58Being interactive outdoors has huge benefits on our physical and mental well-being, particularly

00:06:04for young kiddies."

00:06:05Apparently, Louis runs for the garden at the very first chance he gets.

00:06:10As Prince Harry has carved out a space for himself outside of the royal family, he's

00:06:14brought attention to the role he played growing up.

00:06:17Openly referred to as the Spare, to Prince William's heir, Harry claims he was often

00:06:22seen as the sidekick.

00:06:23"...You should kind of be sitting there, a little bit in the monarch's shadow, and just

00:06:27wait your turn."

00:06:28As they've gotten older, William and Kate's kids have sometimes been cast in a similar

00:06:33light.

00:06:34Prince George is the heir to the throne after his father, but Charlotte and Louis will likely

00:06:37never rule, making them potential spares.

00:06:40As more and more focus has been drummed up by Harry, William and Kate are said to be

00:06:44incredibly focused on how their two younger children are raised.

00:06:47As royal expert Tom Quinn told Express,

00:06:49"...I think because the royal family now is so aware of the mistakes that they've made

00:06:53in the past, especially with bringing up children, they will make enormous efforts to make sure

00:06:57that Louis doesn't feel like a lost soul."

00:07:01Kate clearly adores each of her kids, and most certainly holds on to every last moment

00:07:05from their childhoods, so perhaps it's worth asking if she would ever have another baby.

00:07:10And as it turns out, Kate apparently seems sold on the idea of baby number four.

00:07:15But William doesn't appear to be convinced.

00:07:17While they were on a tour of Scotland after Louis was born, Kate spent time with young

00:07:21children while visiting St. John's Primary School in Glasgow.

00:07:24The mom-of-three was clearly smitten with the little ones, leading William to remark

00:07:28on any ideas she may be getting.

00:07:30"...Can you get my wife out of here before she gets broody?"

00:07:33William's quip came just shortly after he made a previous comment about Kate's possible

00:07:37desire to add to the family.

00:07:39While the two took part in a royal engagement at the Clitheroe Community Hospital in Lancashire,

00:07:44Kate shared a loving moment with one little girl, posing with her for photos.

00:07:48Obviously witnessing how much his wife was fawning over the baby, William quickly piped

00:07:51up,

00:07:52"...Don't give my wife any more ideas."

00:07:54If we had to take a guess, we would assume that the royal couple's family may already

00:07:58be complete.

00:07:59And that means Louis, no matter his age, will always be Kate's little baby.

00:08:04From a shared interest in clothing to a weirdly similar mannerism, Princess Charlotte certainly

00:08:09has a lot in common with her mother.

00:08:11Though the royals deal with the same familial problems as the rest of us, they are known

00:08:15for their stiff upper lip mentality.

00:08:17"...Oh, really?"

00:08:19The late Queen Elizabeth II was a stickler for tradition, sticking to her role as the

00:08:23head of the Church of England and denying her sister Princess Margaret from marrying

00:08:27the man she loved because he was a divorcee.

00:08:30Prince William, however, was brought up by the beloved late Princess Diana, who was determined

00:08:34to change the royal way of doing things, often hugging her boys and giving them access to

00:08:38as much of a normal life as possible.

00:08:40Diana certainly turned the tide, and Princess Catherine took notice, encouraging her daughter

00:08:44Princess Charlotte to talk about her emotions.

00:08:46In a rare interview, William reflected on his and Catherine's tactics with Charlotte.

00:08:51Though she was just two years old at the time, William and Catherine were dedicated to her

00:08:54emotional process.

00:08:56According to Express, Prince William said,

00:08:58"...Catherine and I are clear that we want both George and Charlotte to grow up feeling

00:09:01able to talk about their emotions and feelings.

00:09:04Emotional intelligence is key for us all to deal with the complexities of life and

00:09:07relationships."

00:09:09It's easy to believe that the children of the royal family don't enjoy a normal life.

00:09:14They go to events and have made debuts in public like they're celebrities.

00:09:17But as noted by People, Princess Catherine has made sure that Princess Charlotte and

00:09:20her brothers live as normal of a life as possible.

00:09:23An insider shared what that dynamic looks like after visiting the family at their home

00:09:27in the English countryside.

00:09:29Catherine greeted the insider at the door holding Charlotte, then two years old, and

00:09:32three-year-old Prince George was clinging to her ankles.

00:09:35The insider revealed to People,

00:09:36"...there was no formality at all.

00:09:38It really was like any other family sitting down to lunch, with George and Charlotte eating

00:09:42their homemade food in their highchairs and toddling around with their toys."

00:09:46Noting that Charlotte's life in the country was full of arts and crafts while highlighting

00:09:49her affinity for the cartoon Peppa Pig, the guest told People that Catherine and Prince

00:09:53William were largely raising their kids on their own, shunning the history of governesses

00:09:57and royal nannies.

00:09:58You know, at times my children drive me insane and no sleep, but I love them dearly."

00:10:03The term royal siblings has become mired, as Prince William and Prince Harry's ongoing

00:10:07feud redefines such a phrase.

00:10:09But when it comes to William and Princess Catherine's own kids, the trio has a humorous

00:10:13dynamic.

00:10:14Of course, Prince George came first, followed by Princess Charlotte, and later Prince Louis,

00:10:18the hilarious little brother who often steals the show.

00:10:20Not only is Charlotte the only girl in the mix, but she is the middle child.

00:10:24As noted by People, during an official visit back in 2017, Catherine stopped for a mummy

00:10:28chat with Samantha Burge, the wife of a Royal Marine Commando.

00:10:32Swapping stories about their kids, Burge later told reporters that Catherine shared a rather

00:10:36hilarious truth about Charlotte's role in the family.

00:10:38She calls the shots.

00:10:40According to People, Burge told reporters,

00:10:42"[Catherine said that Charlotte is growing up really fast.

00:10:44She is the one in charge.

00:10:46We have both got two-year-olds and they are ruling the roost."

00:10:48Royal watchers, of course, know that Charlotte has often told her older brother what to do

00:10:52during public outings.

00:10:54From fixing his posture during the national anthem to bowing at Queen Elizabeth's coffin

00:10:57during her funeral procession, Charlotte clearly knows royal protocol like the back of her

00:11:01hand and isn't afraid to tell her siblings what to do.

00:11:05Though it wasn't technically a royal wedding, Princess Charlotte served as a bridesmaid

00:11:08for her Aunt Pippa Middleton when she married James Matthews in 2017.

00:11:12The princess looked absolutely adorable on the day and was overseen by none other than

00:11:16her mom, Princess Catherine.

00:11:18Catherine corralled the kids as they got in position for the ceremony, looking flawless

00:11:22while doing so.

00:11:23Prince George, of course, was a page boy for Matthews, and Charlotte looked adorable

00:11:26in her little white dress and flower crown.

00:11:29At one point, Charlotte appeared to be a little overwhelmed by the day's festivities.

00:11:33But her mom was right there to offer a comforting hand, all while flashing her radiant smile

00:11:37at her little boy George, who stood in front of her.

00:11:39If anyone knows how to multitask on the job, it's Catherine.

00:11:43It's amazing what habits we can pick up from our parents without even realizing it.

00:11:47From the way we speak, to how we carry ourselves, to the little things we do subconsciously,

00:11:51many of us have our parents' mannerisms down.

00:11:53Princess Charlotte, as you may have guessed, is no exception.

00:11:56Royal watchers were quick to point out how the young princess has adopted quite a few

00:12:00of Princess Catherine's characteristics over the years.

00:12:03As noted by the Mirror, a particular habit of Catherine's was first pointed out amid

00:12:06the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, during which she attended a number of virtual events

00:12:10and was seen on camera.

00:12:12Fiddling with her ponytail, wrapping a curl around her fingers, and then flicking it back

00:12:16behind her, Catherine was seen repeating the process a number of times while chatting with

00:12:20teachers at the Ribbon Academy.

00:12:21Who has picked up such a habit?

00:12:23You guessed it!

00:12:24Charlotte!

00:12:25A royal fan account on TikTok was the first to point out that Charlotte has mimicked the

00:12:28exact same hair-flipping habit, especially in instances where she appears a little bit

00:12:32nervous.

00:12:33At just six years old at the time, Charlotte was already picking up her mom's subtle ways,

00:12:37perhaps even without realizing it.

00:12:40Though Princess Charlotte and her mom, Princess Catherine, might be moving into more friendship-oriented

00:12:44territory as she gets older, every little girl needs her mom's comfort now and then.

00:12:48The grief throughout the royal family was on full display in the aftermath of Queen

00:12:51Elizabeth II's death, and though they were not present for all of the events, Charlotte

00:12:55and her older brother, Prince George, attended their great-grandmother's funeral alongside

00:12:59their parents.

00:13:00I think when you look at the Cambridge children, they have had so much change in the last couple

00:13:05of weeks."

00:13:06Catherine appeared keenly aware of her children's emotions on the day in question, and regularly

00:13:10placed a hand on Charlotte's back or shoulder as they got through the day.

00:13:13Holding her daughter's hand as they made their way into Westminster Abbey, it was clear that

00:13:17Catherine was both grieving herself and in full mom mode.

00:13:20The queen's passing didn't necessarily come as a huge shock to the world, given her age

00:13:24and the health struggles she had been facing in the months prior to her death, but it still

00:13:28rocked the royal family to its core.

00:13:31Particularly close to the monarch, Charlotte was pictured sobbing at her great-grandmother's

00:13:34funeral.

00:13:35But regaining her composure like the little boss she is, Charlotte relied on her mom's

00:13:39guidance throughout the day and still showed her brother who was in charge when she nudged

00:13:42him to follow proper royal protocol.

00:13:45When we think about the royal institution as a whole, it can come across as rather insular

00:13:49and a bit stuffy.

00:13:50That said, there doesn't seem to be a lot of room for individuality, but it certainly

00:13:54appears as though Prince William and Princess Catherine are changing that dynamic for the

00:13:58better.

00:13:59In their first holiday appearance after Queen Elizabeth's death, William, Catherine, and

00:14:02their three children took part in the famous Christmas walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church

00:14:06in Sandringham, Norfolk.

00:14:07Keeping a firm hand on Prince Louis, the rambunctious prince who always seems to get himself into

00:14:12the royal parents let Princess Charlotte navigate the event largely on her own accord.

00:14:16As noted by body language expert Judy James, such a tactic is indicative of the parents'

00:14:21hands-off approach.

00:14:22James told The Mirror,

00:14:23"[Charlotte was pulling ahead as they walked towards the church, and George has gone from

00:14:26being the rather shy-looking boy holding his father's hand to the older brother keeping

00:14:30an eye on four-year-old Louis."

00:14:32James went on to add that Charlotte striking out on her own was a deliberate move by William

00:14:36and Catherine.

00:14:37The parents of three certainly had their hands full with Louis alone, and Charlotte's cool,

00:14:41calm, and collected approach without a doubt puts her in a league of her own.

00:14:45There is one thing that pretty much everyone knows about Princess Catherine, which is her

00:14:49wardrobe is on point.

00:14:50That said, it appears Charlotte is taking notice.

00:14:53Charlotte and her mom attended the Commonwealth Games together in 2022, and people quickly

00:14:57witnessed the little royal rocking an outfit very indicative of her mom's style.

00:15:01For the occasion, Charlotte wore a navy blue and ivory striped dress that featured a little

00:15:05white collar.

00:15:06With her cute braids, the little princess looked the perfect combination of polished.

00:15:10The dress was from designer Rachel Riley, and the design in question is referred to

00:15:14by the fashionable among us as the Breton Stripe.

00:15:16Who's worn this look many times?

00:15:18Well, Catherine, of course.

00:15:19In the few times that we've seen Catherine in more casual attire, she has often rocked

00:15:23a Breton Stripe.

00:15:24On one occasion, the princess stepped out in a Breton Stripe shirt and white shorts,

00:15:28giving us just that little flash of leg that keeps royal watchers on their toes.

00:15:32Shortly after the Commonwealth Games, Catherine was seen in the print yet again, clearly indicating

00:15:37that it's a favorite of hers and her daughter's.

00:15:40No kid lives a life quite like the heir to the British throne, but what does that mean

00:15:44for the relationship between Prince George and his mother, Princess Catherine?

00:15:50Public engagements are usually a big deal for the royals.

00:15:53Given that nearly every senior royal is expected to participate in this tradition, it was only

00:15:58a matter of time before Prince George followed suit.

00:16:02While George has yet to carry out his first solo engagement, Princess Catherine found

00:16:07time for her prince to make his first public appearance in 2014.

00:16:12That year, Prince William and Princess Catherine engaged in a royal tour of New Zealand.

00:16:17There, the two met with other parents and the child care organization, Plunkett, at

00:16:22Government House.

00:16:24While the adults talked, the eight-month-old Prince George got to play with the other babies

00:16:28in attendance.

00:16:30It may have been no coincidence that Princess Diana had taken Prince William for his first

00:16:35public engagement in New Zealand over 30 years before.

00:16:39Apparently, those in attendance quickly noticed Princess Catherine and Prince George's resemblance

00:16:44to Princess Diana and Prince William.

00:16:47Given the royal family's interest in sports, onlookers couldn't help but notice the mother-son

00:16:52connection between Princess Catherine and Prince George at Wimbledon in 2022.

00:16:58Paired with navy blue ensembles, Catherine followed tradition by taking her son to his

00:17:03first Wimbledon match.

00:17:05Despite George's first public engagement, Catherine's appearance reminded some people

00:17:09of the moment Princess Diana took Prince William to his first Wimbledon match in 1991.

00:17:16Fans who had attended to see Novak Djokovic face off against Nick Kyrgios in the men's

00:17:20finals seemed equally entertained by the array of emotions George displayed throughout his

00:17:26time there.

00:17:27Only the eldest of Princess Catherine's three children attended that year's Wimbledon, though

00:17:32This was her second time attending the event that weekend.

00:17:35She apparently wanted that day to be dedicated solely to Prince George.

00:17:40When reporters asked the princess about the absence of her other two children at the event,

00:17:45she told them,

00:17:46"'It's George's treat today.'"

00:17:48Princess Catherine has become involved in a number of sporting events and organizations

00:17:53over the years.

00:17:54For example, she is the royal patron for the Rugby Football Union, a position previously

00:17:59held by her brother-in-law, Prince Harry.

00:18:01The advocacy work she does, especially for women and where we want to take the women's

00:18:05game, I think having a female at the head of it is brilliant."

00:18:09And it appears that Catherine's passion for rugby rubbed off on Prince George, as he took

00:18:15up an interest in the sport at an early age.

00:18:18During her appearance at the Six Nations Rugby Tournament in February 2023, the mother-of-three

00:18:23praised Prince George for his natural build for the sport.

00:18:27On George's transition from touch rugby to the proper game, she said,

00:18:31"'They are trying to teach him the rules.

00:18:33They move them around for their confidence.

00:18:36Because he is tall, he has the physique.'"

00:18:39Catherine had previously hinted at George's fascination with the sport at the England

00:18:43vs. Wales Six Nations match in 2022.

00:18:47Catherine revealed that the then-8-year-old Prince had started playing the sport at school,

00:18:52and his dedicated tackling partner?

00:18:54None other than Catherine herself.

00:18:57While Princess Catherine and Prince George share an interest in athletics, the two seem

00:19:02to hold opposing opinions about their respectable prowess in sports.

00:19:07Although Catherine went on record to insist that George is a talented rugby player, the

00:19:12young prince has been less than generous about his mother's talent in football.

00:19:17In 2019, Prince William and Princess Catherine traveled to Northern Ireland to meet children

00:19:22at the Windsor Park football stadium.

00:19:25After talking to the kids, Catherine participated in a friendly yet competitive football match.

00:19:31Prince William saw this as an opportunity to warn the kids of her ankle-sweeping tactics,

00:19:36and Catherine even poked fun at herself, revealing that her eldest son isn't too fond of her

00:19:41football skills.

00:19:43As a hands-on mother, she'd spend her time at home helping the young prince sharpen his

00:19:48skills at the sport.

00:19:50According to Catherine, however, George would rather playfully insult her, telling her that

00:19:55she's

00:19:56"...so rubbish at the sport."

00:19:58Catherine apparently agreed with the 9-year-old's past comments at the event, saying,

00:20:02"...I should have picked up some tips from George."

00:20:06As the son of Prince William, Prince George is now second in line to the British throne,

00:20:11and it is likely that he will take the throne after the death of his father.

00:20:15Given his young age, you might imagine how difficult it can be to break this news to

00:20:20a child.

00:20:21After all, that's a heck of a lot of responsibility for a kid to bear.

00:20:25"...very unwieldy."

00:20:28Royal traditions can also create difficult challenges for young heirs, since their relation

00:20:34to the British throne makes them a priority among their siblings.

00:20:38According to Robert Lacey's book, Battle of Brothers, Prince William and Princess Catherine

00:20:42both informed the future monarch about his position in the royal family.

00:20:47Lacey writes,

00:20:48"...sometime around the boy's seventh birthday in the summer of 2020, it is thought that

00:20:53his parents went into more detail about what the little prince's life of future royal,

00:20:58service, and duty would particularly involve."

00:21:02While they have informed him about his future role as king, William and Catherine also want

00:21:07to prepare George for his royal obligations at their own pace.

00:21:11To give her child as normal an upbringing as she possibly can, Catherine has taken slow

00:21:16and steady steps in introducing him to the busy life he'll likely lead in his adult years.

00:21:23King Charles III's coronation marked a turning point in royal history and garnered significant

00:21:28global media attention, especially when it came to who would play a part in the ceremony.

00:21:34And that included Prince George.

00:21:37However, stories quickly surfaced regarding Princess Catherine's apprehension about her

00:21:42son taking part in the ceremony.

00:21:44While there was no real pushback from Catherine, she did express worry about the pressures

00:21:49her son may face after the coronation.

00:21:52In March 2023, an insider told The Sunday Times that Catherine didn't mind if her son

00:21:57played a major part in the ceremony.

00:22:00She did, however, want to ensure his public safety.

00:22:04In their approach to their son's royal obligations, the insider revealed that Catherine would

00:22:09happily accept George's part in the coronation if they could ensure he wouldn't face, in

00:22:14their words, overwhelming scrutiny.

00:22:17Reports soon emerged suggesting that Prince William and Catherine were scheduled to talk

00:22:22with King Charles about Prince George's role in the ceremony.

00:22:26Meanwhile, royal historian Hugo Vickers suggested that George's appearance in the coronation

00:22:32would be significant to his role as a direct heir to the throne.

00:22:36He said,

00:22:37"...bringing George in also sends all the right symbolism for the future and gives him

00:22:41something he will always remember."

00:22:44Despite Catherine's worries, George played his important role in the coronation, a significant

00:22:49moment in the young prince's royal career.

00:22:53Although Prince George receives special treatment due to his role in the royal family, William

00:22:58and Catherine make sure his siblings are treated equally.

00:23:02Hopefully, this would mean that no resentment is harbored toward each other.

00:23:06Still, despite this self-awareness, it's only natural for sibling rivalries to ensue.

00:23:12Whenever that is the case, it seems that George is usually the catalyst for their quarrels

00:23:17at home.

00:23:18In an interview with ITV's This Morning in 2020, Catherine revealed that homeschooling

00:23:23during the pandemic had been difficult because she couldn't keep her eldest son satisfied.

00:23:28"...George gets very upset because he just wants to do all of Charlotte's projects, like

00:23:33making sort of spider sandwiches that's far cooler than doing literacy work."

00:23:37George's envious feelings towards his young siblings also extend to Prince Louis.

00:23:42For example, Catherine has encouraged her kids to pick up gardening as a family pastime.

00:23:48While helping to plant sunflowers at The Nook, a children's hospital facility in Norfolk,

00:23:54she revealed that gardening often becomes a little competitive between her two boys.

00:23:59Since Louis had an innate knack for gardening at two years old, George grew jealous of his

00:24:04younger brother's ability to grow sunflowers.

00:24:07Catherine said,

00:24:08"...The children are really enjoying growing their sunflowers.

00:24:11Louis is winning, so George is a little grumpy about that."

00:24:15In her capacity as Princess of Wales, Princess Catherine often undertakes humanitarian work.

00:24:21In tackling societal issues ranging from drug addiction to mental health, the princess

00:24:26has expressed an interest in helping others on a number of occasions.

00:24:30This ultimately led to her hosting Royal Carols together at Christmas in 2021.

00:24:36According to Catherine's program for the concert, the holiday spectacle served as a tribute

00:24:41to those who assisted their communities throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

00:24:45She wrote,

00:24:46"...This carol service is our small way of recognizing the inspiring contributions so

00:24:51many of you have made.

00:24:53Thank you."

00:24:54As the event was run by the Royal Foundation, several members of the royal family attended

00:24:59to show their support for the cause.

00:25:01There were a few exceptions, however.

00:25:04Notably, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were absent.

00:25:09It's possible that they may have been kept home to lessen their potential exposure to

00:25:13COVID-19.

00:25:15That said, George and his sister made an appearance to support their mother for the second rendition

00:25:20of the event in 2022.

00:25:22There, George got to watch the royal family pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth, including

00:25:28Prince William himself, who read an excerpt from a previous broadcast from his grandmother.

00:25:35Princess Catherine's role as a doting mother has been tested several times by the limitations

00:25:39placed by higher-ups in the royal family.

00:25:42As Prince George is a direct heir to the throne, the amount of protection he requires

00:25:47is understandable.

00:25:49This can conflict with their everyday lives, however.

00:25:52Something as simple as traveling with George has to be done with the utmost care.

00:25:57For example, the royal family's unwritten rules state that two or more heirs should

00:26:02never travel on the same plane.

00:26:04As expected, Catherine regularly broke this rule so that her 9-year-old prince didn't

00:26:09have to travel alone.

00:26:11Given her approach to motherhood, this wouldn't be the only time she would break royal tradition

00:26:16for George's sake.

00:26:17The annual St. Patrick's Day parade held at the Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow is a 121-year-long

00:26:24tradition, one that Prince William and Princess Catherine regularly attend.

00:26:28Despite her four-year run participating in the service, the mother of three did not attend

00:26:33the parade in 2016.

00:26:36Those in attendance were informed that her absence was strictly family-related, though

00:26:41it wasn't directly stated, it appeared that Catherine prioritized staying at home with

00:26:46Prince George and his newborn sister Charlotte over attending the royal event.

00:26:52Some bonds are unbreakable, and that's definitely the case when it comes to Kate Middleton's

00:26:56relationship with her younger sister, Pippa Middleton.

00:26:59Here's why the siblings have remained so remarkably close throughout the years.

00:27:05Kate and Pippa Middleton have spent much of their lives in the spotlight, but they've

00:27:08battled the ups and downs of that high-profile life together.

00:27:11Kate, the older of the two sisters, was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton on January 9th,

00:27:171982.

00:27:18Less than two years later, her parents welcomed another daughter, Philippa Charlotte Middleton,

00:27:23on September 6th, 1983.

00:27:26While the girls have one younger brother, James Middleton, their sisterhood has been

00:27:30a focal point of fans' adoration of the royal family.

00:27:33Because they are close in age, Pippa and Kate went through many of life's milestones together,

00:27:39From their early childhood days to the most lavish royal affairs, they've stayed incredibly

00:27:43tight-knit.

00:27:44In fact, the siblings say they care deeply about each other's well-being.

00:27:48As Pippa told Today in 2014,

00:27:50"...we support each other and get each other's opinions and things."

00:27:56Details about Pippa and Kate Middleton's early life aren't actually much different from the

00:28:00average family.

00:28:01As royal biographer Katie Nicholl explained in her 2013 book, Kate, the Future Queen,

00:28:07the Middleton family shared nightly dinners, with the sisters helping set the table.

00:28:11They would also embark on family trips together, and even as the sisters got older, they lived

00:28:16parallel lives.

00:28:17Additionally, Kate and Pippa both joined the same brownie troupe, opting to stick together

00:28:22as much as possible through early adolescence.

00:28:25When it eventually came time for the siblings to go their separate ways, they still opted

00:28:30for similar lifestyles.

00:28:32Pippa and Kate both went to boarding school, which marked the first time they spent significant

00:28:36time away from each other.

00:28:38As Nicholl wrote in her book, the Middletons were an exceptionally close family.

00:28:42Nicholl also revealed that there was a lot of noise and laughter in their upbringing.

00:28:46We have a very normal sisterly relationship."

00:28:50Pippa and Kate Middleton were both very active growing up, and they wound up playing a variety

00:28:54of different sports.

00:28:56According to excerpts from Katie Nicholl's book Kate, the Future Queen, Pippa was a bit

00:29:00more athletic than her older sister, but both ladies made sports a big part of their lives.

00:29:06As their former coach told Nicholl,

00:29:07"[They had such drive and were very competitive, particularly Pippa.

00:29:12They were very much a team."

00:29:14Kate highly preferred field hockey over other sports, according to Nicholl.

00:29:18So when both sisters wound up attending Marlborough College on full sports scholarships, it didn't

00:29:22take long for them to get involved with the school hockey team.

00:29:27Both Kate and Pippa Middleton are happily married, and while their weddings occurred

00:29:31six years apart, there were some very similar moments in each ceremony.

00:29:36Interestingly, the moment they both helped carry each other's wedding dress trains captured

00:29:39royal fans' hearts.

00:29:41As People pointed out, for her 2011 wedding, Kate asked her sister to stand behind her

00:29:46as she walked down the aisle and to hold her lengthy train.

00:29:49Six years later, Kate did the same for her younger sister.

00:29:53The duchess returned the favor and ensured the stunning Giles deacon-designed gown her

00:29:57younger sister wore was in good hands.

00:30:00Ironically enough, years after Pippa was accused of stealing the spotlight at her sister's

00:30:04wedding, Kate was said to have done the same, according to Vogue.

00:30:09Kate and Pippa Middleton have lived life under the public lens since their early 20s, but

00:30:14they've managed to handle it with grace every step of the way.

00:30:17It's clear in Pippa and Kate's respective interviews that they have nothing but the

00:30:21utmost respect for each other.

00:30:23As Pippa told Today during a 2014 interview,

00:30:26"...we spend a lot of time together.

00:30:28We still do a lot together as a family."

00:30:31She went on to explain that maintaining a semblance of normalcy is important to the

00:30:35Middletons, saying,

00:30:36"...I think that's really the heart for all of us is having a really close family that

00:30:40we can sort of be normal with each other, treat each other normally, and that sort of

00:30:45kept us all, you know, affixed to the ground."

00:30:47"...It's wonderful."

00:30:48"...Yeah, that's the biggest smile I've seen this morning."

00:30:52According to E! News, who shared excerpts of Katie Nicholl's biography, Kate the Future

00:30:56Queen, the sisters grew up taking nature-centric excursions with their family.

00:31:01Oftentimes, they stayed local, embarking on countryside picnics.

00:31:05However, as the Middleton sisters got older, the excursions became more elaborate, including

00:31:10trips to tropical islands or adventures to the snowy French Alps.

00:31:15No family is without at least some problems, and Pippa and Kate Middleton have certainly

00:31:19faced theirs.

00:31:21For instance, when Kate got married to Prince William in 2011, her younger sister was accused

00:31:27of stealing the show.

00:31:28Pippa looked drop-dead gorgeous at the royal wedding, and her beautiful dress commanded

00:31:31attention around the world.

00:31:34Reports soon started surfacing about a long-standing rivalry between the sisters.

00:31:38The Scotsman reported, per a source in 2008,

00:31:41"...There is allegedly some jealousy between the pair.

00:31:44Kate was always quite jealous of Pippa.

00:31:46I sensed that she feared being eclipsed by her."

00:31:49Meanwhile, The Things aired out dramatic details of an alleged feud between Pippa and Kate.

00:31:55The publication posted a video claiming the sisters have always had a rivalry which has

00:31:59continued into adulthood.

00:32:01But all in all, Pippa and Kate aren't unlike most families.

00:32:05After all, no one is perfect.

00:32:07For as much as Kate and Pippa Middleton have in common, they also have their fair share

00:32:12of differences.

00:32:13For starters, they lead very different lives, particularly when it comes to how much their

00:32:18actions are filtered through the public lens.

00:32:21As Prince William's wife, Kate is constantly being watched by people all around the world,

00:32:26scrutinizing every move she makes.

00:32:28Sure, the same could be said for Pippa, but the scrutiny isn't quite as intense, especially

00:32:33as she technically isn't a royal.

00:32:35Personality-wise, Kate and Pippa are also very different.

00:32:39As a source told The Scotsman in 2008,

00:32:41"...Pippa has more natural effervescence.

00:32:44She is socially much more at ease and was always popular with everyone."

00:32:48Pippa was also much pickier when it came to choosing her friendship circle, with the source

00:32:53adding,

00:32:54"...she was very charming about it but quite ruthless and cultivating the right friend."

00:32:59As Kate and Pippa Middleton grew older and started families of their own, they were still

00:33:03super supportive of one another.

00:33:06On October 2nd, 2018, when pregnant with her first child, Pippa was photographed at the

00:33:10very same hospital Kate welcomed her children in.

00:33:14Pippa would go on to give birth at that hospital on October 15th, 2018, welcoming a healthy

00:33:19baby boy.

00:33:20Three years later, Pippa welcomed a baby girl.

00:33:23Naturally, Pippa's older sister couldn't have been happier to see Pippa's family at a new

00:33:27addition.

00:33:28A source close to the Cambridges told Hello!,

00:33:30"...the Duke and Duchess are absolutely overjoyed by the happy news."

00:33:36Life as a royal doesn't mean everything goes swimmingly all the time.

00:33:40In 2007, Prince William broke up with Kate Middleton after five years of dating.

00:33:45As Showbiz Cheat Sheet reported,

00:33:46"...Kate didn't handle things well, but it was her younger sister Pippa who helped her

00:33:51pick up the pieces and ended up playing a large role in the exes rekindling their relationship."

00:33:57Kate and William later reconciled and announced their engagement in November 2010, but the

00:34:01happy ending may not have come to fruition without Kate's little sister.

00:34:05Pippa reportedly encouraged her sister to get out and hit the town, distracting her

00:34:10from the devastating breakup.

00:34:12The photos of their fun-filled nights reportedly got back to William, who was allegedly sad

00:34:16to see his ex living life without him.

00:34:20Kate and Pippa Middleton are total tennis fanatics, and it's one of the many things

00:34:24they've bonded over throughout their life.

00:34:26A family friend told GQ in August 2012,

00:34:29"...the whole family are mad about tennis, and they hate losing."

00:34:33Not only do they enjoy hitting the courts, but Kate and Pippa have also been seen watching

00:34:37pro tennis championships together.

00:34:39In July 2019, they enjoyed a girls' day out with Meghan Markle at Wimbledon.

00:34:44Additionally, their love of tennis seems to have been passed on to their brother.

00:34:48According to GQ, James Middleton grew up playing rounds of tennis with them and Chelsea.

00:34:53The Middleton sisters and tennis have become so synonymous with one another that Kate made

00:34:58a video about the cancellation of the 2020 Wimbledon tournament.

00:35:02She explained,

00:35:03"...This year, sadly, though, things are very different, but we will bide our time

00:35:07until we sit on the edge of our seats again and celebrate again.

00:35:11So when the time is right and we open the gates, we will be back again and it will have

00:35:15been worth the wait."

00:35:17As with any siblings, the dynamic between Kate and Pippa Middleton had shifted over

00:35:22the years.

00:35:23After years of playing on the same sports teams and joining the same brownie troops,

00:35:28Pippa and Kate's paths diverged, as E! News reported.

00:35:32Even as adults, the Middleton sisters live parallel, though separate, lives.

00:35:36After all, they both wound up attending Marlborough College.

00:35:39But it wasn't long after that the sisters' lives both changed drastically.

00:35:43When Kate enrolled at St. Andrews University in Scotland, she met Prince William and set

00:35:48things on an entirely different course.

00:35:51In the end, both Kate and Pippa have gained a sense of independence as they began their

00:35:55own families.

00:35:56They also battled the fame that came with Kate's marriage together, but the sisters

00:36:00continued to stick together through thick and thin.

00:36:04We all know about Prince Harry's rocky relationship with his brother, William.

00:36:08But where does Kate Middleton fall into the mix?

00:36:10Kate has been by William's side for over a decade, so she's been a pretty integral part

00:36:14of Harry's life, too.

00:36:16Here's the truth about Harry and Kate's relationship.

00:36:19The world watched when Prince Harry and Prince William walked behind their mother's casket

00:36:23in 1997, just two young boys.

00:36:26But they were grieving on the world stage.

00:36:29Both Harry and William went on with their lives, and William met Kate Middleton at the

00:36:33University of St. Andrews in 2003.

00:36:36Kate met Harry quickly thereafter, and things blossomed from there.

00:36:40A St. Andrews source explained to the Daily Mail,

00:36:43"...from the earliest days, Kate always maintained an open-door policy to Prince Harry.

00:36:48While they were students, she always made him feel welcome.

00:36:50The three also spent weekends together.

00:36:52Of course, Harry's teens and early twenties were a bit rough, with drugs, fights, and

00:36:57other controversies, so it's hard to say exactly how his behavior impacted his relationship

00:37:01with his brother and Kate.

00:37:03His early years were a bit all over the place, and we can't help but wonder if Kate gave

00:37:07him some sisterly advice.

00:37:09Perhaps it sounded a bit like Harry's description of being a royal, revealed during that infamous

00:37:14Oprah interview."

00:37:15You gotta get dressed, you gotta get in there, you wipe the tears away, shake off whatever

00:37:19you're thinking about, and you gotta be on your A-game."

00:37:22If anyone is going to tell you the truth about your prospective significant other, it's your

00:37:26sibling.

00:37:27You can always count on them for their brutal honesty.

00:37:29But that was a reality that Kate Middleton reportedly clued in on.

00:37:33As noted by the Daily Mail, Kate quickly learned that a positive relationship with Prince Harry

00:37:38was crucial in maintaining a good romance with Prince William.

00:37:42An inside source even said that Kate, quote,

00:37:45"...knew that getting on with Harry was key to her relationship with William."

00:37:49Of course, Kate was from a fairly normal family and had a sibling of her own, so it comes

00:37:53as no surprise that she was a bit of a natural when it came to bonding with the young prince.

00:37:58A source told the Daily Mail,

00:37:59"...from day one, Kate made a massive effort with Harry.

00:38:03But it was a natural thing, because she grew up in such an inclusive family.

00:38:07The Anmas, Middletons, and all that."

00:38:10Anmas Middletons was a nickname the family picked up because they always moved together.

00:38:15Looks like Kate really knew what she was doing.

00:38:17"...I hope we'll, you know, be able to have a happy family ourselves."

00:38:22The royals are known for being private.

00:38:24They reportedly rarely talk about their feelings, the inner workings of the family, the experiences

00:38:29they go through, or the realities of being royal.

00:38:32However, Prince Harry sat down with Newsweek in 2017 for an interview and was surprisingly

00:38:38forthcoming about the dynamic that he had with his family members.

00:38:42Kate Middleton included,

00:38:43"...let's start with the Queen.

00:38:45Harry called her remarkable, something we can all agree on."

00:38:49He then talked about his late mother, Princess Diana, sharing that she did everything she

00:38:53could to make his life fun and safe.

00:38:56Harry hardly mentioned his father, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles,

00:39:00which given the history there, doesn't come as a huge shock.

00:39:04But what about Kate?

00:39:05When William asked her to marry him, Harry called Kate the sister he'd never had.

00:39:10Newsweek also reported that Harry had made a habit of going over to his brother and sister-in-laws

00:39:15for dinner at Kensington Palace, as Kate would make him his favorite meals.

00:39:19These two clearly have a very special bond.

00:39:23At one time, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton were neighbors.

00:39:26According to the Daily Mail, Harry lived in the two-bedroom Nottingham cottage on the

00:39:30Kensington Palace grounds, which was right next door to Kate Middleton and Prince William's

00:39:35apartment, Apartment 1A.

00:39:37At one point, according to an insider, Harry was reportedly more than comfortable just

00:39:41going over to his brother and sister-in-law's apartment whenever he felt like it.

00:39:45The source said,

00:39:46"[Harry is totally at ease popping over to the Cambridges' gym to work out next to Wills,

00:39:51and he's used to seeing Kate in her cashmere dressing gown reading to Charlotte or joining

00:39:55in cozy family suppers, eaten from their laps."

00:39:58They also shared that Kate encouraged Harry to come play with his niece and nephew, Princess

00:40:03Charlotte and Prince George.

00:40:05Baby Prince Louis wasn't on the scene yet, as often as he wanted.

00:40:09As noted by Harper's Bazaar, things allegedly got complicated when Harry and Meghan Markle

00:40:14started their lives together.

00:40:16For a while, they lived in the two-bedroom apartment that Harry had been occupying as

00:40:20a single man.

00:40:21They eventually relocated to Frogmore Cottage.

00:40:25Even if you're not a fan of the royal family, you most likely know some of what went down

00:40:29between Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

00:40:32After a decade of stress, scandal, and infidelity, the two got divorced.

00:40:37Diana tragically died in 1997, and Charles married his longtime companion Camilla Parker

00:40:42Bowles in 2005.

00:40:45So where does Kate Middleton come in?

00:40:47An insider told the Daily Mail that Kate stepped in for Harry as an emotional confidant, given

00:40:51that the role had previously been filled primarily by his mother.

00:40:55And while sources say that William and Harry get along with Camilla and are happy to see

00:40:59their father happy, the brothers don't really confide their deepest thoughts in Camilla.

00:41:04So it was Kate that Harry reportedly turned to in moments of need, and the two reportedly

00:41:09developed a genuine friendship while relying on one another for support.

00:41:13Kate was described as Harry's trusted counsel, and while their time together didn't always

00:41:17consist of deep talks — they were known to watch Game of Thrones together, for instance

00:41:22— they always had each other's backs.

00:41:25There's nothing more fun than being an aunt or uncle.

00:41:28You get the best part of the kids without having to change the diapers or do the 2 a.m.

00:41:33And it certainly seemed like Prince Harry embraced the role of fun uncle.

00:41:37An inside source told the Daily Mail that Kate Middleton and Harry really bonded over

00:41:42his free and easy spirit, and his attitude came in handy when playing with her kids.

00:41:47The source shared,

00:41:48"[Kate adores the way Harry plays with her children.

00:41:51He is very good with them, a charming big kid and silly uncle."

00:41:54But as you can imagine, things went downhill pretty quickly, and given the rift between

00:41:59Harry and Prince William, Harry's role as an uncle suffered.

00:42:03According to the 2020 book Finding Freedom, Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern

00:42:08Royal Family, Harry's bond with Prince George and Princess Charlotte suffered as a result

00:42:13of the feud between the brothers.

00:42:15The authors also alleged that Kate was fiercely loyal to William, and that even during his

00:42:19feud with Harry, she did, quote, "...little to diffuse the situation."

00:42:25Things tend to get more complicated when new additions to the family are made, but

00:42:29according to Finding Freedom, things reportedly got distant between Kate Middleton and Meghan

00:42:34Markle, a no-go for Prince Harry.

00:42:36The authors alleged that Kate and Meghan had met each other with a distant politeness,

00:42:41and the tone of their relationship was something the press and public picked up on fairly quickly.

00:42:46Things really came to head at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day, when Kate and Meghan

00:42:51were spotted together.

00:42:53They reportedly had a cordial but distant rapport that was pretty much obvious to everyone.

00:42:58Of course, we can imagine that the dynamic didn't please Harry at all, especially considering

00:43:03that there was a lot going on in the royal family behind the scenes.

00:43:07While Kate and Meghan barely talked at the event, the Finding Freedom authors assessed

00:43:11that their dynamic was reflective of the conflict between Harry and the institution of the royal

00:43:16family.

00:43:17Either way, it seemed as though Harry's relationship with Kate, his brother, and the royal family

00:43:22was slowly starting to crumble.

00:43:25The interview.

00:43:26Two words.

00:43:27And if you're a fan of the royals, you know exactly what we're talking about.

00:43:31Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with Oprah Winfrey and pretty much aired all the

00:43:35royal dirty laundry.

00:43:37Unsurprisingly, Kate Middleton was reportedly mortified over what they shared.

00:43:41"'What was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didn't do, but

00:43:48that happened to me.'"

00:43:49As noted by Page Six, one large point of contention between Kate and Meghan was over wedding details.

00:43:55It was originally reported that Meghan made Kate cry over flower girl dresses, but Meghan

00:44:00asserted in the interview that it was actually the other way around.

00:44:03"'She was upset about something pertaining to — yes, the issue was correct — about

00:44:09flower girl dresses, and it made me cry.'"

00:44:12Of course, it was just one small example of how quickly things had degraded between Harry

00:44:17and Meghan and Prince William and Kate.

00:44:20Royal expert Katie Nicholl explained,

00:44:22"'You never hear about Kate falling out with anyone because she is very careful with how

00:44:26she treats others, so for this story to be circulating is very hard.'"

00:44:30Nicholl also said that Kate was saddened, disappointed, and hurt by the interview.

00:44:35And given what we know about the bond she used to have with Harry, it makes all of it

00:44:39sting just a little more.

00:44:42Hindsight is always 20-20, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating.

00:44:46And for Kate Middleton, it was reported that she regretted getting involved with the soap

00:44:50opera that was Prince Harry and his exodus from the royal family.

00:44:53According to Page Six, Kate and Prince William set about surrounding themselves in goodness

00:44:58in order to combat the stress that Harry and Meghan Markle's departure was causing.

00:45:03What did said goodness consist of?

00:45:05Their children, Kate's parents, Pippa Middleton and her husband, and close family members.

00:45:11An inside source told Page Six,

00:45:13"...William and Catherine could not be more discreet.

00:45:16They don't want to get involved.

00:45:17Even when Harry spoke about the fallout with William, there was no briefing from them.

00:45:21And by saying nothing, that is the smartest move."

00:45:24Throughout the drama enveloping their extended family, Kate and William reportedly made an

00:45:28effort to listen to their advisors.

00:45:31The source concluded,

00:45:32"...they don't wish to elevate this soap opera."

00:45:35Cheating rumors, nasty gossip, alleged backstabbing — is Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury's friendship

00:45:42really as bad as the tabloids say it is?

00:45:44Here's what we know.

00:45:46A scandal erupted in 2019 when it was rumored that Prince William and Kate Middleton, the

00:45:51Prince and Princess of Wales, had anything but a picture-perfect marriage.

00:45:56That April, tabloids reported that the royal was cheating on Kate with her friend Rose

00:46:00Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.

00:46:03Rose and Kate had been friends for quite a while when the alleged affair was first reported.

00:46:08The Sun noted that Prince William and Kate lived just three and a half miles from Rose

00:46:12and her husband, David Cholmondeley, and that Rose and David's children are friends with

00:46:17William and Kate's children.

00:46:19Rose also attended Prince William and Kate's 2011 royal wedding, so her relationship with

00:46:24the couple goes much further back than the rumors.

00:46:27Even before the claims that Rose and Prince William had an affair, the tabloids were hinting

00:46:31that the friendship between Kate and Rose was rocky.

00:46:34The Daily Mail reported in 2016 that Kate and Rose were rivals vying to be the leader

00:46:40of their social set, nicknamed as the Turnip Toffs by the press.

00:46:44Unsurprisingly, neither Rose nor Kate publicly addressed the rumors.

00:46:49However, sources claiming to be close to the two women have denied all allegations of either

00:46:54a rift between the women or an affair between Rose and Prince William.

00:46:59One source told the Daily Mail in 2019,

00:47:02These hurtful rumors of a fallout are simply false.

00:47:05Both wives are hurt by the suggestion that there is any argument or even a coolness between

00:47:10them.

00:47:11Another source told Hollywood Life that even though Kate didn't believe the rumors circulating

00:47:16about her husband and her friend, she and Prince William were hurt by the gossip.

00:47:20By the way, you have to be careful what you say now, because these guys, they're filming

00:47:23you."

00:47:24I know!"

00:47:25The source told the outlet,

00:47:26And it doesn't just hurt them.

00:47:27They are very concerned for Rose.

00:47:29She's a married woman with children, and she's not used to this kind of public scrutiny.

00:47:34She's a friend of not only Kate's but also the entire family, so this is upsetting for

00:47:38everyone.

00:47:40Rose maintained a low profile following the rumors of the affair.

00:47:43However, she and Kate were spotted together at a church service in January 2020, so it

00:47:49appears that their friendship remains intact in spite of everything that has been said

00:47:53about them.

00:47:54King Charles III's coronation also seemed to be a turning point in their relationship.

00:47:59Since the coronation was one of the most important events to take place in 2023, it makes sense

00:48:05that any drama broiling behind the scenes would be set aside so that the focus was solely

00:48:10on King Charles' accession to the throne.

00:48:13Yes, that includes any drama between the feuding besties, Kate Middleton and Rose Hambry.

00:48:18We were all happy to see that there were no angry, side-long looks being swapped between

00:48:23the two at the coronation.

00:48:25Instead, Kate and Rose kept their watchful gazes on their children.

00:48:29Both of their sons played a role in King Charles' coronation.

00:48:32During the big event, Rose's son Oliver was a page for His Majesty alongside Prince George.

00:48:38Seeing their children be a part of something so historic might have been enough to thaw

00:48:42any ice between Kate and Rose.

00:48:44A royal insider told Marie Claire that the two mothers decided to forget the rumors and

00:48:49have a chat with one another at the coronation.

00:48:52This is where they finally managed to make amends.

00:48:54The source informed the outlet,

00:48:56"...there was tension between them because of all the nasty gossip.

00:48:59At the coronation, they had a chance to speak for the first time in a while and made peace.

00:49:04Now, hopefully, there won't be any awkwardness among their social circle this summer."

00:49:09One's the Duchess of Edinburgh, the other's the Princess of Wales.

00:49:13So far, so royal.

00:49:14But how well do Sophie and Catherine actually get on?

00:49:19Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, married into the royal family on June 19th, 1999, almost

00:49:24a full 12 years before Catherine and William's own nuptials in 2011.

00:49:29With so much experience already under her belt as a working royal, Sophie appeared to

00:49:34take the then-newly-minted Duchess of Cambridge under her wing as she learned to adjust to

00:49:38her new life.

00:49:40Despite Princess Catherine now having served as a working royal for over a decade, it seems

00:49:45she still leans on Sophie for her support.

00:49:47In 2020, body language expert Judy James told The Express,

00:49:51"...many of the poses of the two women together show Sophie face-checking Kate with quite

00:49:56strong bouts of watchful-looking eye contact to suggest she's taking a semi-maternal approach.

00:50:02However, she also has raised brows and what's called a pinging smile that implies she wants

00:50:07to ensure Kate is enjoying herself."

00:50:10Sophie's influence on Catherine has clearly paid off, as the princess more than holds

00:50:14her own in public.

00:50:16Likely due to the nature of their early relationship, Sophie and Catherine appear genuinely close

00:50:20whenever they are seen together.

00:50:23Sophie and Catherine also share similar backgrounds, in the sense that they both grew up as non-royals.

00:50:29Prior to marrying Prince Edward, the Duchess of Edinburgh was known as Sophie Rhys-Jones.

00:50:34Her father was a salesman and her mother worked as a secretary.

00:50:37Sophie grew up in the West Kent village of Brentley and attended Kent College for Girls,

00:50:42before going on to attend West Kent College, Tunbridge.

00:50:46Following her schooling, she went to work as a secretary at a London public relations

00:50:50firm, and set out on the career path that led her to meet Edward.

00:50:54Although Princess Catherine was also a commoner before marriage, she enjoyed a reasonably

00:50:58wealthy upbringing.

00:51:00Her parents, Michael and Carol Middleton, were able to send their children to prestigious

00:51:04private schools, such as St. Andrew's Prep School and Marlborough, a private boarding

00:51:09school.

00:51:10Middleton worked for the family company as well as Jigsaw, a clothing retailer, before

00:51:14marrying William.

00:51:16Sophie and Catherine have likely bonded over the early days of their relationships, in

00:51:20which they were both hounded by the British press.

00:51:23Both women were eventually spared by interference from their future husbands.

00:51:27In an open letter in 1993, Prince Edward implored the press to give his relationship privacy,

00:51:33citing the destructive effect of press attention on the marriages of his relatives.

00:51:37Notably, the previous year had seen the official dissolution of his sister Princess Anne's

00:51:42marriage to Captain Mark Phillips, as well as his two brothers' separation from their

00:51:46respective spouses.

00:51:48You probably know how all that went down.

00:51:49Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

00:51:54Edward wrote,

00:51:55"...I am very conscious that other members of my immediate family have been subjected

00:51:59to similar attention, and it has not been at all beneficial to their relationships.

00:52:04Therefore, please will you call an end to your harassment of both Sophie and me, and

00:52:08allow us to try to carry on our lives as normal."

00:52:11In 2007, William made a similar move on Catherine's behalf.

00:52:15The statement issued by the then-Duke of Cambridge read, in part,

00:52:19"...Prince William is very unhappy at the paparazzi harassment of his girlfriend.

00:52:23He wants more than anything for it to stop."

00:52:26It helps to have shared interests when forming a bond, and Sophie and Catherine both enjoy

00:52:30a number of similar hobbies.

00:52:33Daniel Stacey, royal correspondent for Hello!

00:52:35Magazine, explains,

00:52:36"...the royal ladies have similar interests and passions, including their love of sport

00:52:41and fashion.

00:52:42They also share common causes within their royal work, with both Kate and Sophie championing

00:52:47the work of children and young people's charities."

00:52:50When it comes to sports, Catherine is noted as a royal patron of institutions such as

00:52:54SportsAid, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the Lawn Tennis Association,

00:53:00and the 1851 Trust.

00:53:02The Duchess of Edinburgh serves as a patron for England Hockey, the British Cycling Foundation,

00:53:07the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, and the U.K. Armed Forces Winter Sports Association.

00:53:13Both women have also been known to enjoy sailing.

00:53:17One particular way in which Sophie and Catherine have bonded over the years is through their

00:53:21shared love of fashion.

00:53:23Both women are known for their exquisite taste when it comes to apparel and accessories,

00:53:27and their fashion choices during public outings are often complimented by the media.

00:53:31That is so fetch!

00:53:34In fact, their parallel tastes have even led to instances in which Sophie has acted as

00:53:38a kind of secret shopper for Catherine.

00:53:41Designer Dana Ida revealed to the Daily Mail in 2019 that Sophie purchased a jumpsuit from

00:53:46her brand, and specifically asked to get one for Catherine as well.

00:53:50She told the outlet,

00:53:51"...my friend, a stylist, is best friends with Sophie Wessex, and Sophie buys from us.

00:53:57She got our black Sadie jumpsuit for herself and then asked for one for Kate.

00:54:00She said,

00:54:01"'Kate wants one.

00:54:02Can I get one as well?'

00:54:03Catherine has also been credited for influencing Sophie's style, with styling director Rosie

00:54:08Hartman telling the Express in 2022 that there were echoes of Kate's style in newer items

00:54:13in Sophie's wardrobe.

00:54:15Hartman added that Sophie's close relationship with Catherine has likely influenced many

00:54:19of her fashion choices.

00:54:21Another trait shared by Sophie and Catherine is their desire to be more hands-on as parents.

00:54:27This extends to giving their children as normal lives as they can possibly be given, considering

00:54:31their royal status.

00:54:33Sophie's children are Lady Louise, Mountbatten-Windsor, and James, Earl of Wessex.

00:54:38Sophie herself has stated that she and Prince Edward always plan to raise them as normally

00:54:41as possible.

00:54:43Louise and James weren't given HRH titles at birth, which will allow them to decide

00:54:47on their own paths later in life.

00:54:50In 2020, Sophie told The Times,

00:54:52We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work

00:54:56for a living.

00:54:57Hence, we made the decision not to use HRH titles.

00:55:00They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but it's highly unlikely."

00:55:05Despite the fact that she is raising a future king, Catherine reportedly also feels strongly

00:55:09about giving her children as normal of a life as possible.

00:55:13In 2019, a friend told People magazine that Catherine desperately wants normality for

00:55:17her own kids, and wishes them to have a youth similar to her own.

00:55:23The friend added,

00:55:24She wants to emulate her upbringing, living in the countryside with a close-knit family.

00:55:28When it comes to their patronages, Catherine and Sophie hold a shared passion for important

00:55:32causes related to health and wellness.

00:55:35While each woman tends to focus on different areas within the wide spectrum of health issues,

00:55:39they are similar in how much time they spend raising awareness about them.

00:55:43In addition to focusing on children's causes, Catherine is also an advocate for mental health

00:55:48and awareness.

00:55:49She is well known for having helped form Heads Together with Prince William and Prince Harry,

00:55:54which helps shine a spotlight on various mental health initiatives through the Royal Foundation.

00:55:59Sophie is also a major advocate for health.

00:56:01She places her focus on causes that help to eliminate avoidable blindness, support women's

00:56:06health, tackle sexual violence, and explore menopause in the workplace.

00:56:11In a 2021 virtual chat for Wellbeing of Women, she explicitly called for there to be a more

00:56:16public discussion about women's health, arguing that too much of the dialogue is kept shrouded

00:56:21in secrecy.

00:56:22Sophie said,

00:56:23We all talk about having babies, but nobody talks about the periods, nobody talks about

00:56:28the menopause.

00:56:29Why not?"

00:56:30Sophie went on to highlight the fact that these issues are incredibly normal, and suggested

00:56:34that something needs to change.

00:56:36It's something that's incredibly normal, but it's something that is very hidden.

00:56:41And I think it's time to say enough."

00:56:44Regardless of the similarities or differences between the two women, it seems to be the

00:56:48case that both Sophie and Catherine genuinely have a great relationship, and that they both

00:56:52enjoy spending time together.

00:56:54They are frequently photographed smiling and laughing together at public engagements and

00:56:58royal events.

00:56:59Meanwhile, the two women are known to be supportive when out in public together.

00:57:03They're even capable of sharing a laugh when things go wrong.

00:57:07In 2017, for example, Catherine managed to save Sophie during a potentially embarrassing

00:57:12incident at the Royal Ascot.

00:57:14As Sophie entered a carriage that she, Prince Edward, Catherine, and Prince William were

00:57:18riding in, she stumbled and started to fall forward toward the princess.

00:57:23Catherine quickly caught her and helped steady her so she could take her seat, and the pair

00:57:26were seen laughing about it right after.

00:57:29A similar incident occurred in 2018, as the royals gathered outside Princess Eugenie's

00:57:33wedding to jack Brooksbank.

00:57:35The wind started to cause the hem of Catherine's pink dress to fly up, but with the help of

00:57:40Sophie, she managed to keep herself from embarrassment.

00:57:43Once again, Sophie and Catherine were seen smiling right afterwards, proving that, no

00:57:48matter how embarrassing a situation, they're quite capable of helping each other out.

00:57:53Turns out, even royals can have each other's backs.

00:57:56Two royals whose relationship isn't always talked about are Princess Anne and Kate Middleton.

00:58:01Do these royal family members get along?

00:58:04There's no denying that the media coverage of Kate Middleton has been extensive.

00:58:08Ever since she came onto the scene, back when she and Prince William were dating as

00:58:11college students, there has been immense interest in her, so much so that at times she was criticized

00:58:16for simply living her life, as noted by BuzzFeed News.

00:58:21After Kate got married to William, things calmed down a little bit, but revved back

00:58:24up as royal tensions bubbled to the surface.

00:58:28Princess Anne, who also came of age in a spotlighted position, shared her thoughts on the scrutiny

00:58:33and attention that Kate has been exposed to.

00:58:35In the documentary, Anne, The Princess Royal at 70, Anne said,

00:58:39"...the pressure that is applied to the younger members of the family, it's always worse."

00:58:44The Princess Royal went on to say that the media attention that Kate is exposed to is

00:58:48challenging and pointed to the fact that social media has made things that much more challenging,

00:58:53saying,

00:58:54"...the pressure that is applied to the younger members of the family is hard sometimes to

00:58:59deal with."

00:59:00There was no social media in my day, and it's probably made it more difficult.

00:59:05The world always watches the royals when it comes to paying tribute to their family members.

00:59:09For instance, it was very obvious that things were dicey when Prince William and Kate Middleton

00:59:14didn't publicly wish Prince Harry and Meghan Markle well on their third wedding anniversary.

00:59:19So needless to say, when Kate issues a public message, the world takes notice.

00:59:24This was especially true when she wished Princess Anne a happy 70th birthday on social media.

00:59:29The caption on the post read,

00:59:31Wishing a very happy 70th birthday to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

00:59:36The post had more than 500,000 likes.

00:59:40The world was understandably shaken when Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband, died in

00:59:452021.

00:59:46While he was getting on in years, his presence within the royal family and his importance

00:59:50to the queen cannot be understated.

00:59:53As such, when Philip died, Kate Middleton and Princess Anne reportedly joined ranks

00:59:58and devised a plan to address the queen's needs moving forward.

01:00:02According to Express, Kate and Anne were joined by Camilla Parker-Bowles and Sophie.

01:00:06The royal women apparently developed a plan to ensure that the queen was not left by herself

01:00:12while on the job.

01:00:13A source close to the palace told The Mirror,

01:00:15"[The Queen will not be alone.

01:00:17She will have others who care about her deeply and want to be there to support her in her

01:00:21most pressing hour."

01:00:23Given that Anne is Elizabeth's only daughter, and that Kate has been on the royal scene

01:00:28for more than a decade, it makes sense that they joined together to address such a trying

01:00:32time for their family and for the monarch.

01:00:36After proving her worth and dedication to the royal family, just as Princess Anne did,

01:00:40Kate Middleton was given a very prestigious title by Queen Elizabeth, and now shares it

01:00:44with Anne, as well as Prince Philip and Camilla Parker-Bowles.

01:00:48As noted by Express, the queen named Kate a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian

01:00:55And the new title coincided with her eighth wedding anniversary to Prince William.

01:00:59The title is the highest rank in a form of chivalry personally granted by the sovereign

01:01:04to recognize one's service.

01:01:06And given that service is extremely important to Anne, the distinction and shared title

01:01:11between her and Kate is highly notable.

01:01:14Express further noted that Anne was bestowed the very same title in 2007, and she also

01:01:19holds the role of Grand Master.

01:01:22Maintaining the image of the crown has been very crucial to both Anne and Kate, and as

01:01:28of 2018, their titles bond them.

01:01:31The Olympics

01:01:32Just the two words alone spark a certain amount of home country pride and competition, but

01:01:38that's nothing compared to the feelings of dedication and patriotism that arise when

01:01:42it's your own country that's hosting.

01:01:44The Olympics were held in London in 2012, and the royals were front and center in the

01:01:49stands.

01:01:50Kate Middleton and Princess Anne were spotted together at the Games on a number of occasions.

01:01:54The pair were seen chatting in the stands with each other, discussing what we can only

01:01:58assume were the riveting events that were playing out in front of them.

01:02:02Of course, the 2012 Olympics were a huge deal for Anne, as her daughter, Zara Tindall, won

01:02:08a silver medal in the equestrian team event.

01:02:12When Kate Middleton and Prince William's first child, Prince George, was born, it seemed

01:02:16like the whole world celebrated with them.

01:02:19That is, except for Princess Anne, it appeared.

01:02:22As noted by Express, the Princess Royal is said to have dropped an interesting comment

01:02:26about the new addition to the family, and it supposedly ruffled some feathers.

01:02:30So what exactly happened?

01:02:32Before George was born, Anne was asked if she was looking forward to having a new little

01:02:37bundle of joy in the royal family.

01:02:39She reportedly responded to the question by saying,

01:02:42"'Nothing to do with me, but it's very good news.

01:02:45If you think the answer is a little odd, you're not the only one.

01:02:48People took to social media to call out Anne for her comment, with some people calling

01:02:52her quote, "'miserable.'"

01:02:53It remains unclear just how much Anne's comment impacted her relationship with Kate, but we

01:02:58can't imagine it went over extremely well.

01:03:01If you're confused about royal protocols, you're not alone.

01:03:05There are a lot of rules to follow, so much so that who Kate Middleton curtsies to changes

01:03:10depending on who she is with at the time.

01:03:12As noted by Cheat Sheet, Kate has to curtsy to Princess Anne, but only when she is not

01:03:18accompanied by her husband, Prince William.

01:03:20When alone, Kate also has to curtsy to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as she is not

01:03:26of royal blood.

01:03:28But all of that changes when William is around.

01:03:30If he is, Anne then has to curtsy to Kate.

01:03:34Even though Kate did not inherit her royal title by birth, she is still poised to take

01:03:38on one of the highest-ranked positions in the royal family.

01:03:42When William becomes king, Kate will become queen consort.

01:03:46When that happens, everyone, including Anne, will have to bow or curtsy to her, except

01:03:50for her husband.

01:03:52Princess Anne is by and large known as the hardest-working royal.

01:03:56She has outperformed her family members in terms of attending events, and has not been

01:04:00shy when sharing what she thinks about the approach of younger royals, namely Kate Middleton

01:04:05and Prince William.

01:04:06In a sit-down interview with Vanity Fair, Anne said that even though she may look like

01:04:11the, quote, boring old fuddy-duddy, she's always gone about her royal duties in the

01:04:16same way, and she knows what it takes to be a successful member of the royal family.

01:04:21Anne told the publication,

01:04:22"...I don't think this younger generation probably understands what I was doing in the

01:04:27past.

01:04:28Nowadays, they're much more looking for, oh, let's do it a new way, and I'm already at

01:04:33the stage.

01:04:34Please do not reinvent that particular wheel.

01:04:36Some of these things don't work."

01:04:38Anne continued by saying that the younger royals need, quote, to go back to basics when

01:04:42it comes to their approach to royal life.

01:04:46Kate Middleton always looks good.

01:04:48She's put together, classy, and always the picture of sophistication.

01:04:52But eagle-eyed fans have started to notice that Kate may be taking fashion inspiration

01:04:56from none other than Princess Anne, who started many fashion trends during the 1970s.

01:05:02As noted by Express, Kate was spotted in a green dress that featured long sleeves and

01:05:07a high neckline.

01:05:08The entire ensemble was very indicative of Anne's go-to silhouette.

01:05:12The dress in question hasn't been the only time that Kate has echoed the fashion choices

01:05:16of the princess royal.

01:05:18Express reported that after Kate returned to royal duty following the birth of her youngest

01:05:22child, Prince Louis, she was seen in a number of 1970s-inspired looks that featured high

01:05:28necklines and bell-shaped sleeves, all silhouettes that were rocked by Anne years prior.

01:05:34Kate may also be looking to Anne for inspiration when it comes to her royal duties.

01:05:38As aforementioned, Anne is one of the most prominent, hard-working members of the royal

01:05:43family.

01:05:44It makes sense that, given Kate's direct line to the throne, she would be emulating the

01:05:48royal example that Anne has set forth.

01:05:52Does King Charles III have grandpa envy?

01:05:55And how did he really feel when he first met Kate?

01:05:59Catherine Middleton, Princess of Wales, has been open about the importance of family in

01:06:02her life, revealing that spending quality time with her loved ones is something she

01:06:06doesn't take for granted.

01:06:08"...and family's very important to you."

01:06:10"...yeah, it is very important."

01:06:12Of course, Kate also belongs to one of the most famous families in the world.

01:06:17After marrying William, the current Prince of Wales, she took her place within the royal

01:06:20family as the future queen and the daughter-in-law of the man now known as King Charles III.

01:06:26After welcoming her first son, George, she also likely became the mother of the future

01:06:31king.

01:06:32Although Kate doesn't have royal blood herself, Kate is said to have made her own mark within

01:06:36the monarchy and even shares special bonds with the family, including her father-in-law,

01:06:40Charles.

01:06:41According to The Mirror, once the two began seriously dating, William brought Kate home

01:06:45to meet his father, and it seems that she made a good impression on her future father-in-law.

01:06:51After the couple made it official and got engaged, Charles was said to welcome Kate

01:06:55into the royal family with open arms, and she said he was very, very welcoming and very

01:07:00friendly toward her, adding that it couldn't have gone easier.

01:07:04Charles' affection for Kate only seemed to grow as her royal wedding to William approached,

01:07:09and the king was said to have given a very emotional toast at the couple's wedding reception

01:07:14at Buckingham Palace.

01:07:15Hello!

01:07:16Magazine notes Charles described Kate as the daughter he never had, and added that the

01:07:20family was lucky to have her in their lives.

01:07:23He also wished the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness as they embarked on their new journey

01:07:27together.

01:07:28According to Express, it's clear that Kate holds a great deal of affection for the new

01:07:32king.

01:07:33Royal expert Judy James previously told the outlet that not only does she have a great

01:07:37rapport with Charles, but Kate's love for her father-in-law also seems to help her bond

01:07:42with his wife, Camilla, the queen consort.

01:07:45James said,

01:07:46"...the affection Kate clearly feels for her father-in-law could be one big thing she has

01:07:50in common with Camilla."

01:07:52In the years since she joined the royal family, Catherine and Charles have been seen looking

01:07:56happy and comfortable with each other during public events.

01:07:59The pair have been photographed in many sweet moments together, such as embracing in Belgium

01:08:03in 2017 and making arts and crafts together in 2012.

01:08:08Catherine and her father-in-law have also been photographed laughing and joking together

01:08:11on several occasions, both with and without William at their side, seemingly offering

01:08:16proof that they have a sweet bond that's all their own.

01:08:19So how does Charles feel about Will and Kate's celebrity status?

01:08:23That's a very good question.

01:08:25Royal biographer Tom Bower claimed that Charles once felt overshadowed by William and Kate's

01:08:30popularity.

01:08:31In addition, the king was said to feel a bit left out and saddened that Kate's parents

01:08:36appeared to be the favorite grandparents among the Prince and Princess of Wales' children.

01:08:42But King Charles is said to have a real soft spot for his daughter-in-law.

01:08:46The monarch reportedly believes that Catherine has been a rock for the royal family during

01:08:50the recent scandals and tragedies they've endured.

01:08:53A source told Woman's World in 2021,

01:08:55"...to his surprise, this series of unfortunate events has brought him closer to Kate, who's

01:09:01been a real rock for not just William, but Charles as well.

01:09:04Kate is truly the daughter he never had, and he's grateful for her calming presence in

01:09:09such stressful times."

01:09:11It seems clear that Kate and Charles have a deep, mutual love and respect for one another,

01:09:16which likely helps to create a solid support system and backbone for Prince William as

01:09:21he steps up as the next in line to the throne.

01:09:26What about Kate's relationship with the Duchess of Cornwall?

01:09:29Here's what you need to know about the relationship between them.

01:09:33Kate Middleton met Prince William in 2001, when they were both students at the University

01:09:37of St. Andrews in Scotland.

01:09:39They started off as friends, and by 2004, they were officially dating.

01:09:43A couple of years after that, Kate was attending high-profile events as William's girlfriend,

01:09:49including the wedding of Camilla Parker-Bowles' daughter, Laura, in 2006.

01:09:54Camilla might not have been quite as smitten as William, however.

01:09:57In the book Game of Crowns, author Christopher Anderson alleged that Camilla referred to

01:10:02Kate as, quote,

01:10:03"...pretty but dim," and deemed her too low in status to become a royal.

01:10:07Kate's parents, Michael and Carol Middleton, were considered commoners, as they weren't

01:10:11members of the aristocracy.

01:10:13Camilla, on the other hand, was a member of the aristocracy even before she married Prince

01:10:17Charles, but there may have been more at play than just snobbery.

01:10:21According to Anderson, Camilla was jealous of Kate's public popularity, as he wrote,

01:10:26"...young, gracious, smart, and stunning.

01:10:29The White Queen, known familiarly as Just Plain Kate, captured the world's imagination

01:10:34even before she could officially lay claim to her royal lover's heart."

01:10:39As things between Kate Middleton and Prince William grew more serious, it seems Camilla

01:10:44brushed aside any hard feelings that may have existed.

01:10:48She apparently even went so far as to give the future Duchess of Cambridge advice on

01:10:52how to hold onto her man amid all the pressures of royal duty.

01:10:56After all, before her current relationship with Prince Charles, Camilla had originally

01:11:00dated the prince decades before, only to see it end when Charles was sent overseas to serve

01:11:06in the Royal Navy.

01:11:07After William and Kate graduated from college, the prince was expected to assume more official

01:11:12royal duties.

01:11:13At the same time he was training to be a helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, Robert Lacey

01:11:18wrote in his book, Battle of Brothers, William, Harry, and the Inside Story of a Family in

01:11:23Tumult.

01:11:24After St. Andrew's University, William's timetable was proving rather unfit roundable marriage

01:11:30had not been included in that schedule.

01:11:33Camilla urged Kate to be patient and told the future duchess, per Lacey,

01:11:37"...fit your timetable, well, basically your whole life, around his."

01:11:42Prince William eventually proposed in 2010.

01:11:46Kate Middleton's 2011 royal wedding to Prince William at Westminster Abbey was always going

01:11:51to be a massive event.

01:11:53While such a ceremony requires a team of planners, Camilla Parker Bowles had some important tips

01:11:57to share.

01:11:58While her marriage to Prince Charles was grand, her 1973 wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles had

01:12:04been declared, according to the Express, the Society Wedding of the Year.

01:12:09In the weeks before Kate's wedding, the two women were seen enjoying a long lunch at the

01:12:13Berkeley Hotel in London.

01:12:15Joined by Kate's sister, Pippa, and Camilla's daughter, Laura, the ladies reportedly chatted

01:12:19about everything from meal options to music choices.

01:12:23As another restaurant-goer told the Daily Mail,

01:12:25"...I did hear talk of trumpets and someone said, we can't have trumpets, the ceiling

01:12:29is too high.

01:12:31I heard chipolatas, sausages on sticks and mini pizzas, but I don't know whether it was

01:12:36ironic or not."

01:12:37Kate Middleton is usually the picture of poise, but even the best of us slip up every now

01:12:42and again.

01:12:43She's been called out at least twice for perceived slights against Camilla Parker Bowles, whether

01:12:48they were intentional or not.

01:12:50The first time was in 2018, when Camilla was on the receiving end of Kate's famous expressive

01:12:56eyes during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel.

01:13:00The two women were seated beside each other, and at one point, Kate appeared to shoot some

01:13:04side-eye in Camilla's direction.

01:13:07A year later, Kate and Camilla attended the Order of the Garter along with other royals.

01:13:11At one point, Kate was having a lively conversation with Queen Letizia of Spain, while Camilla

01:13:17stood nearby with her back turned to them.

01:13:20Then, when Camilla turned around and tried to join in the conversation, she was left

01:13:24hanging for a few moments as the two younger royals appeared to ignore her.

01:13:30No matter what may be going on in private, Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles have

01:13:34displayed a fondness for their relationship in public.

01:13:36When Camilla's brother died unexpectedly in 2014, Kate and William were touring New

01:13:42Zealand and Australia.

01:13:43But despite a hectic schedule, the couple made sure to express their condolences, issuing

01:13:47a statement that read,

01:13:49"...the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were saddened to learn this morning of the tragic

01:13:53death of Mark Shand.

01:13:54Their thoughts are with the Duchess of Cornwall and her family at this time."

01:13:58And while the royals are famously tight-lipped about each other, Camilla did share a rave

01:14:03review of Kate prior to her marrying Prince William.

01:14:06CBS reported that Camilla said during an event at the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers,

01:14:11"...Kate's a lovely girl.

01:14:13We're very lucky."

01:14:15When you attend hundreds of public events a year, something is bound to go wrong.

01:14:20Fortunately, both Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles are able to laugh at life's

01:14:24mishaps.

01:14:25One such moment occurred at Trooping the Colour in 2019, when Prince Louis, Kate's youngest

01:14:30son, who was just over a year old at the time, got a little too excited waving his

01:14:34arms about and nearly knocked Camilla's hat off.

01:14:37But there was no need to panic, as both mom and grandma found it funny.

01:14:41At a previous fly-past in 2018, this time to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal

01:14:46Air Force, Prince Charles had a wardrobe malfunction involving his jacket.

01:14:51Charles, Kate, and William had a good laugh about it as Camilla managed to sort the issue.

01:14:56Both women are known to be quite funny in private as well, and at least one royal observer

01:15:00said the ability to see the lighter side of life helped strengthen their relationship

01:15:04with each other.

01:15:05Penny Junor, an expert on the royal family, told McLean's,

01:15:09"...they are two very normal people.

01:15:12Camilla is so easy to get on with, so unstuck-up.

01:15:15And Kate is young and friendly."

01:15:17Camilla Parker Bowles and Kate Middleton enjoy making desserts and are unapologetic about

01:15:22having a sweet tooth.

01:15:23On the TV special, A Berry Royal Christmas, Kate told host Mary Berry that she always

01:15:28makes her children's birthday cakes and explained,

01:15:31"...I love making the cake.

01:15:33It's become a bit of a tradition that I stay up till midnight with ridiculous amounts of

01:15:37cake mix and icing."

01:15:38And Camilla has serious skills of her own.

01:15:41While serving at the Royal Voluntary Service Lunch Club, she decorated trifles with whipped

01:15:46toppings and raspberries.

01:15:47She also shared a favorite chocolate biscuit cake recipe for people to try during lockdown.

01:15:53Of course, getting to enjoy dessert without having to make it is even more fun, and Kate

01:15:57and Camilla couldn't stop themselves from sampling an array of sweets during a visit

01:16:02to the decadent Fordham & Mason store with Queen Elizabeth.

01:16:06Public service is an important part of royal life.

01:16:09Both Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles support several charities, using their fame

01:16:13to raise attention for worthy causes.

01:16:16Camilla is the patron or president of more than 90 charities, many of which focus on

01:16:21assisting the elderly, abused women, and the arts.

01:16:25Kate has far less, with 21 patronages, but that's understandable given that she is also

01:16:29raising three young kids.

01:16:31And it was children that brought Kate and Camilla together when they participated in

01:16:35a Zoom call in support of Children's Hospice Week in 2020.

01:16:39Both royals talked about how heartening they found the work done at children's hospices,

01:16:44which provide support for families facing a terminal illness.

01:16:48Camilla said of one of her early visits,

01:16:50When I arrived, I was totally amazed by what I found, the feeling of warmth and laughter

01:16:55and happiness."

01:16:56Kate followed up by saying,

01:16:57"...it's a credit to the staff.

01:16:59It's really inspiring."

01:17:01Kate and Camilla also displayed their close relationship by working side-by-side, along

01:17:05with the queen, at a party promoting the Big Lunch program and its involvement with the

01:17:10Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

01:17:12The festivities included a large cake, so we're betting Kate and Camilla enjoyed a slice

01:17:16or two together.

01:17:19Royal honors and freaky choppers never got between them.

01:17:22Did the queen have a favorite granddaughter-in-law?

01:17:26Two years after Kate Middleton and Prince William got married, they moved from Anmer

01:17:30Hall in Norfolk to Kensington Palace.

01:17:33Due to the fact that Kensington Palace is within walking distance of Queen Elizabeth's

01:17:37residence, Buckingham Palace, the pair was able to meet with one another often.

01:17:41A royal family insider told Us Weekly that Queen Elizabeth and Middleton would often

01:17:46enjoy afternoon tea together.

01:17:48However, these meetings were also business-minded, as Queen Elizabeth was aware that Middleton

01:17:53will likely become Queen of England in the future.

01:17:55The insider told Us Weekly,

01:17:57"...other times, they'll have more formal meetings, where the queen will give intense

01:18:01one-on-one training about taking on the crown."

01:18:04Royal duties aside, Middleton has often spoken about the queen's adoration of her great-grandchildren.

01:18:10Back in 2016, Middleton revealed that her eldest son, Prince George, called his great-grandmother

01:18:15Gan-Gan.

01:18:17It's also been clear over the years that Middleton borrowed from the queen's style.

01:18:20Her majesty was known for wearing bright colors on public outings, and Middleton followed

01:18:25suit, even borrowing some of the queen's jewels on occasion, according to People.

01:18:30Many admire Kate Middleton and Prince William's relationship, and even Queen Elizabeth approved.

01:18:35Middleton and William started dating while attending university, and their romance withstood

01:18:39the test of time, despite the doubts of some royal family members.

01:18:43I did the talking bit, she's gonna do the thumbs up."

01:18:45Stepping into the royal family can't exactly be easy, but according to royal biographer

01:18:50Andrew Morton, the couple's relationship had the queen's stamp of approval because she

01:18:54realized Middleton wasn't in it for the fame or the status.

01:18:57Morton told OK!

01:18:59The thing about Kate is, the queen was impressed she adored and loved William for himself,

01:19:04not for his title.

01:19:05She spends a lot more time supporting and nurturing the relationship between William

01:19:09and Catherine than she did with Charles and Diana.

01:19:12He added that the queen very much saw Middleton and William as the future of the monarchy.

01:19:17In his book, The Queen, Morton recalls how excited Her Majesty was on the day of Middleton

01:19:22and William's wedding.

01:19:23He wrote,

01:19:24"[The Queen was positively playful on the day of her grandson's nuptials, practically

01:19:29skipping, according to one observer, absolutely thrilled at the way the public had reacted

01:19:33to the royal newlyweds."

01:19:36Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton had a very special relationship, and the two clearly

01:19:40enjoyed spending time in each other's company.

01:19:42After marrying Prince William in 2011, Middleton was spotted accompanying the queen on her

01:19:47Diamond Jubilee Tour in 2012.

01:19:50Not only did the tour serve as a means to officially introduce Middleton as one of the

01:19:54royal family members, but it also revealed the special bond she shared with the queen,

01:19:59with various photographs showing the two of them laughing while in conversation.

01:20:02Her Majesty and the duchess continued to grow closer, and in 2019, they went to visit King's

01:20:08College London, and were photographed sharing a blanket in the back of the car.

01:20:12More proof of their close friendship, Middleton also apparently had a very sweet nickname

01:20:16for the queen.

01:20:17The editor of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward, revealed that Middleton reportedly called

01:20:22the queen, Mama.

01:20:23And I think as soon as we came back here to Kensington, she was one of our first visitors."

01:20:28Another source told Us Weekly that Middleton frequently asked the queen's advice when she

01:20:32was working on speeches, or wanted to know more about royal protocols.

01:20:37Even though Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth shared an amazing bond, they didn't always

01:20:41see eye-to-eye on everything.

01:20:43Middleton and Prince William failed to follow royal protocol when they went on a trip in

01:20:47the summer of 2022, traveling together in a helicopter with their children in tow.

01:20:52While Middleton and William likely didn't feel like they were taking a major risk, the

01:20:56queen definitely didn't agree.

01:20:57In fact, The Sun reported that a close source to the royal family revealed that the queen

01:21:01was terrified of something going wrong in the air.

01:21:04She also didn't see helicopters as the safest mode of transport.

01:21:08The source explained,

01:21:09"...it keeps the queen awake at night, and she is understandably very worried.

01:21:13She knows William is a capable pilot, but does not think it is worth the risk.

01:21:17It would spark a constitutional crisis."

01:21:19Middleton and William likely got a very stern talking-to after their trip.

01:21:24There's no doubt that Queen Elizabeth was fond of Kate Middleton, and she showed her

01:21:28affection by gifting Middleton with the royal family order, a rare honor that is bestowed

01:21:33solely on the female members of the royal family.

01:21:35And it's not awarded to just anyone.

01:21:37Majesty magazine editor Joe Little told the Royally Us podcast,

01:21:42"...it's something that is only given to the female members of the royal family, who have

01:21:46been around for quite some time and are deemed to be of great support to the queen.

01:21:50So not every member, not every female member of the royal family has got it, but Kate now

01:21:56has."

01:21:57Little added that the queen honoring Middleton in this way meant that she had,

01:22:00"...great trust in her."

01:22:03Middleton has since proven that she is deserving of this rare honor multiple times.

01:22:06An inside source told Us Weekly that the queen knew she could rely on Middleton and Prince

01:22:10William no matter what, and that Middleton was a great comfort to Her Majesty when the

01:22:15pandemic hit in 2020.

01:22:17On September 8, 2022, the royal family headed to Balmoral Castle after doctors informed

01:22:23them that Queen Elizabeth's health was rapidly declining, but many noticed that Kate Middleton

01:22:28didn't join the rest of her family.

01:22:30While it seemed odd at first, People reports that Middleton likely stayed behind so she

01:22:34could be there for her kids, who had just started attending their new school.

01:22:38It's natural that Middleton wanted to be there for them as they start this new journey.

01:22:42However, the duchess did recently spend time with the queen when her family visited her

01:22:46during the summer at Balmoral.

01:22:48Although she did not get to say goodbye at the end, Middleton and William took to their

01:22:52official Instagram account to announce the queen's death.

01:22:56Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and England's longest-ever royal consort, died

01:23:01on Friday, April 9, 2021.

01:23:04Philip was known for being close to his family, and he and Prince William's wife Kate Middleton

01:23:08reportedly had a close bond that surprised some.

01:23:11In 2018, body language expert Judy James told the Daily Express that she believed the Duchess

01:23:16of Cambridge and Prince Philip had a relationship built on a shared sense of what's fun.

01:23:21Commenting on photos of the two from the 2017 Trooping the Colour ceremony, James said,

01:23:27"...these delightful poses suggest unexpectedly rich bonds between Kate and Prince Philip

01:23:32based on not just affection but also a shared sense of humour and fun."

01:23:36James went on to add that Kate and the duke's body language suggested that Kate was quite

01:23:40the fan of Philip's jokes.

01:23:42Her dimpled smile and softened eye expression show genuine affection, but her fully open-mouthed

01:23:46laugh suggests she's finding Philip's comments genuinely hilarious.

01:23:51Like Prince Philip before her, Kate Middleton will also assume the role of consort once

01:23:55Prince William becomes king.

01:23:57Royal author Andrew Morton explained to the Daily Express that Kate sees her role in William's

01:24:01life very similarly to how Philip saw his role in Queen Elizabeth's.

01:24:05She sees her role as supporting her husband, just as Prince Philip saw his role supporting

01:24:09the queen — two couples who supported each other through the vicissitudes of royal life.

01:24:15Royal author Robert Lacey also told the publication that Prince William seemed to believe he needed

01:24:19to audition his future wife for the role of consort, which is an idea that fellow

01:24:23author Ian Lloyd believes speaks to the gravity of both Kate Middleton and Prince Philip's

01:24:28duties as consort.

01:24:29In his book, The Duke, A Hundred Chapters in the Life of Prince Philip, Lloyd wrote,

01:24:33"...the marvellous thing, of course, is that the queen can trust him a hundred percent."

01:24:38I am sure she can also trust some of her courtiers, but you never quite know what's going to get

01:24:42out.

01:24:43While Prince William and Kate Middleton don't offer a lot of personal details into their

01:24:47lives, it's clear to many that Middleton definitely takes her role as future consort very seriously.

01:24:52Much like Prince Philip, she's demonstrated an understanding of the expectations placed

01:24:56on her time and time again.

01:24:58Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth, the Queen, and the Crown, explained to People

01:25:02that while William and Kate enjoy a modern marriage, it's clear that there's a little

01:25:06bit of tradition there, too.

01:25:07In one sense, hers and William's was a modern royal marriage, in that it was a love match.

01:25:12But in another, it has been old-fashioned.

01:25:14She mostly appears as a supportive figure to her husband.

01:25:17Penny Junor, who has written numerous books about the members of the royal family, echoed

01:25:21this thought to People, noting that Kate is focused on being her husband's biggest supporter.

01:25:26She's never trying to outshine him in any way.

01:25:28I think that Kate is a bit like Prince Philip supporting the queen.

01:25:31She doesn't outshine William, but still has a lot to say herself.

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