A special relationship. Duchess KateWhen Queen Elizabeth II became a member the royal family, she formed a close bond with her and has looked up to the monarch for inspiration throughout the years.
Kate was the Duchess Of Cambridge after she married Prince William in April 2011, but her introduction to the queen came three years prior at William’s cousin Peter Phillips’ wedding to now-ex-wife Autumn Kelly. At the time, the monarch was “very friendly” toward the now-duchess.
“She was very welcoming,” the Duke of Cambridge said during a post-engagement interview alongside his soon-to-be bride. “She knew it was a big day and everything was going on with Peter and Autumn, [but]She had been wanting to meet Kate for some time, so it was a pleasure for her to visit and say hello. We had a little chat and got on very well.”
Kate became more comfortable in her senior role as a royal and was a positive presence for her grandmother. “More than anything, knowing she can rely on Kate and [William] to handle matters in her absence is the greatest comfort she could ask for,” a source told Us Weekly exclusively in August 2020, noting that Kate was a “rock” for the queen throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“Her Majesty sees the Cambridges as the future of the monarchy and trusts Kate and William’s judgment implicitly,” the source explained at the time. “Kate asks for advice about speeches she’s due to make, whom she can depend on most within the palace and protocol dos and don’ts. The queen’s more than happy to impart her wisdom — she’s proud to be Catherine’s go-to adviser about royal life.”
While the Duchess of Cambridge admired Elizabeth’s continued poise throughout her decades-long reign, she won’t be afraid to mix things up when she and William eventually find their places on the throne.
“Kate has flourished into a queen in waiting in front of everyone’s eyes,” a second insider revealed in November 2020. “Kate may change some of the outdated royal rules when she becomes queen [consort].”
Elizabeth was a trusted advisor to William and Kate until her death in September 2022 at the age of 95. She was also a loving great grandmother to their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Despite appearing serious, the queen is actually a playful person. This was evident by Kate’s January 2019 visit to Islington, London.
When a youngster asked the duchess if the queen enjoys eating pizza, Kate replied, “You know, that’s such a good question. I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe next time I see her, shall I ask?”
Keep scrolling for a look back at Kate’s sweetest moments with the queen:
