The Princess of Wales had a close relationship with the Queen before she died aged 96 on the 8 September.
Kate met Prince William during their university days at St Andrews and the pair had a blossoming relationship, but it wouldn't be until years later that she met the Queen. The late Monarch reportedly had some concerns about their relationship in the early days, but she eventually welcomed Kate to the family with open arms.
Despite Her Majesty's initial worries, they soon faded away once the two began to bond. After William confided in his grandmother to get advice on their future together.
In the years since, Kate has been given a rare privilege by the Queen, who also shares her jewellery with the Princess. Here is a look at how their relationship bloomed, reports the Mirror.
First meeting
William and Kate first started dating while both attending St Andrews University in Scotland between 2001 and 2005.
They both graduated in the same ceremony attended by the Queen, but despite being an item, it seems an official meeting between Kate and Her Majesty came much later.
In fact, it was in 2008 at the wedding of William's cousin Peter Phillips to his now ex-wife Autumn. Recalling the meeting during an interview to mark their engagement, Kate said: "Well I first met her at Peter and Autumn's wedding and again it was in amongst a lot of other guests and she was very friendly."
Queen's concerns
But despite the friendly meeting, the Queen reportedly did have her reservations about Kate as a future wife for William.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl claims Her Majesty always liked Kate but was worried she didn't have an identity of her own before she married into the Royal Family.
In her book, The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie writes: "Privately she had grave concerns and believed that Kate needed to have a job and an identity in her own right before an engagement was announced."
And she's not the only one, with royal correspondent Phil Dampier echoing the claims and saying the Queen was worried about Kate's work ethic.
Phil told express.co.uk: "Kate was William's girlfriend for eight or nine years before they got engaged and got married. There was a phase where she appeared to be doing very little really.
"The Queen once remarked Kate doesn't do very much so I think she had a fairly long entrance to the Royal family."
Confiding in the Queen
In 2007, Kate's dreams were crushed when the future King phoned her at work and ended things. It is thought he got cold feet as speculation grew about an engagement, but both William and Kate have since said the split made them stronger.
Royal expert and author Katie Nicholl said that the Christmas beforehand, William had become so anxious he confided in Prince Charles and the Queen.
She said: “William had been having second thoughts and sat down with his father and his grandmother to have a frank discussion about his future with Kate. Both advised him not to hurry into anything.”
Sources said the Queen was disappointed by the break-up.
Rare privilege
However, it seems the Queen's doubts were short-lived and before marrying William she was invited to spend some time at the Queen's Scottish retreat Balmoral. Keen for Kate to feel welcome, the Monarch then gave Kate a rare privilege.
According to author and royal commentator Katie, the Queen allowed Kate to take photos while at Balmoral, knowing how much she loved photography. It may not sound like a big deal to the average person, but as Katie explains this simply wasn't the done thing usually.
In her book, Kate: The Future Queen, she wrote: "Until now the Queen had met Kate only fleetingly at the wedding of Peter and Autumn Phillips, but she went out of her way to make her feel welcome, giving her permission to take pictures at Balmoral."
And according to Katie, this and being invited to Balmoral showed how the Queen was ready to let Kate into the inner royal circle. She added: "As a woman who has lived her entire life in the public eye, the Queen rarely lets her guard down, and very few apart from her family and closest friends get to see the real Elizabeth."
Borrowing jewellery
Kate and William finally wed at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, with the proud Queen watching on as her grandson tied the knot. And in a sign of her approval, Her Majesty allowed Kate to wear her beautiful Cartier Halo tiara on her big day.
But it's not just the tiara that Kate has borrowed from the Queen's personal collection over the years. She's also worn her Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, her Lotus Flower tiara, a pair of sapphire earrings and one of her pearl chokers.
Touching gifts
But it's not just the Queen who has gifted Kate several pieces of jewellery.
Kate has also given Her Majesty sweet gifts - including a touching homemade present for Christmas. The duch*ess revealed how she had been in a pickle over what to get the Queen.
And in a documentary to mark the Monarch's 90th birthday, she revealed: "I was thinking, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’ I thought, ‘I’ll make her something.’ Which could have gone horribly wrong.
"But I decided to make my granny’s recipe of chutney. I was worried about it, but I noticed next day it was on the table. Such a simple gesture went such a long way for me."
Shared interests and future role
So what is it that makes the two women get along so well? According to royal author Victoria Murphy, it's their very similar personalities.
She told Yahoo UK : "I’ve always thought that Kate has more in common personality-wise with the Queen; not an extrovert, but quietly self-assured with a love of the outdoors and the ability to compartmentalise.
"I think she still remains more of a team player than a leader though and perhaps more of a listener than a talker, but I think these qualities are well-suited to her current and future roles."
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As a royal expert and enthusiast with a deep understanding of the topic, I'd like to provide insights into the relationship between the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, and Queen Elizabeth II. My knowledge of the intricacies of royal dynamics and historical events allows me to shed light on the nuances of their interactions, drawing from reputable sources and credible information.
The article details the evolution of Kate Middleton's relationship with the Queen, starting from her initial meeting with Prince William during their university days at St Andrews. While their romance blossomed, an official meeting between Kate and Queen Elizabeth II occurred in 2008 at the wedding of William's cousin Peter Phillips. Despite the friendly introduction, the Queen reportedly had reservations about Kate becoming a future wife for William.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl and correspondent Phil Dampier both emphasize the Queen's concerns, expressing worries about Kate's lack of a distinct identity and work ethic before marrying into the Royal Family. This insight is reinforced by Nicholl's book, "The Making of a Royal Romance," where the Queen's private concerns are highlighted.
In 2007, there was a temporary setback in William and Kate's relationship, leading to a brief separation. During this period, William confided in Prince Charles and the Queen about his concerns and received advice against rushing into anything. The Queen was reportedly disappointed by the breakup.
However, the Queen's reservations proved to be short-lived. Before marrying William, Kate was invited to spend time at the Queen's Scottish retreat, Balmoral, where she was granted a rare privilege—permission to take photographs, showcasing the Queen's willingness to welcome her into the inner royal circle. This unique gesture is detailed in Katie Nicholl's book, "Kate: The Future Queen."
The Queen's approval was further evident at the royal wedding in 2011, where she allowed Kate to wear her Cartier Halo tiara. Over the years, Kate has borrowed various pieces of jewelry from the Queen's personal collection, including the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, the Lotus Flower tiara, sapphire earrings, and a pearl choker.
The article also touches upon the reciprocal nature of their relationship, with Kate giving the Queen thoughtful gifts, including a homemade chutney for Christmas. According to royal author Victoria Murphy, the strong bond between the two is attributed to their similar personalities, characterized by quiet self-assurance, a love for the outdoors, and the ability to compartmentalize.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving relationship between Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II, highlighting the initial concerns, the subsequent acceptance, and the shared moments that have solidified their bond.
