The Royal Family are preparing to honour and remember the late Queen on the 100th anniversary of her birth – and one member of the Firm who learned a lot from the former monarch is the Princess of Wales
As the royal family prepares to mark what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday next week, attention once again turns to the incredible legacy of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
Among those honouring her memory will be the Princess of Wales, who shared a close bond with the late monarch. Over the years, Kate earned her grandmother-in-law’s trust and admiration, quietly learning from the ultimate royal role model. From her sense of duty to her calm, measured approach to public life, Kate has drawn lasting inspiration from the powerhouse who defined the modern monarchy. “The princess is now very much her own woman, and she carries out her engagements in her own way,” former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells the Mirror.
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“But she learned a good deal from the Queen about the dignity of the role, the duty that comes with her status and — perhaps most important of all — to smile and engage with thousands of strangers, for whom this brief meeting is something they will always remember.
“The centenary of Queen Elizabeth’s birth will be a poignant day for William and Catherine. Even though they are the face of modern royalty and William has said he’s going to embrace change, they know the late Queen was admired around the world, and hers is a tough act for anyone to follow.”
It may be a tough act, but Elizabeth II would be immensely proud of the way Kate has handled the challenges thrown at her. Throughout her cancer battle, she has remained unwavering in her support for the monarchy and her children, George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, who turns eight next week. With a young family, a growing portfolio of causes and an increasingly prominent public role, she’s come a long way from her days as the shy St Andrews student who met William, 43, back in 2001.
“It must be the most extraordinary, nerve-racking experience to be dating the Queen’s grandson, a future King,” says Jennie. “Catherine was William’s girlfriend for the best part of seven years before she was formally introduced to his granny, and I can only imagine how odd that was.
“They had even been at the same event two years earlier — William’s passing out parade at Sandhurst — but they hadn’t formally met. I think it can be said that the Queen’s approach to her grandson’s potential future wife was distinctly cautious. However, once she was confident that this was a serious relationship, Queen Elizabeth grew to like and admire Catherine.”
The duo quickly developed a mutual respect, no doubt partly borne of their shared appreciation for the simple things in life. Like the late Queen, who famously found peace in the gardens and landscapes around Balmoral, Kate has increasingly championed the benefits of the great outdoors.
Whether she’s taking her children on a muddy adventure or tending the family veggie patch, the Princess of Wales is a huge believer in the healing powers of nature. “Nature has been my sanctuary,” she said last May. “Connecting to nature helps us to experience a deeper sense of ourselves, the world around us, and each other.”
Both women also valued moments away from the spotlight, finding comfort in country life and traditional family games. “You would expect a lot of grandeur and a lot of fuss, but actually what really resonates with me is her love for the simple things,” said Kate, 44.
“I think that’s a special quality to have.” Recalling the time she gifted William’s grandmother a jar of homemade chutney for Christmas, she said, “I noticed the next day that it was on the table. Such a simple gesture went such a long way for me.”
As Kate became immersed in public life, the late monarch became something of a mentor, giving her “gentle guidance”. And over the years, a grandmotherly affection developed between the pair. “Elizabeth offered her advice, including on how to handle ‘headstrong husbands’,” says Jennie. “She had a lot of experience in that department with Prince Philip.
On their 50th wedding anniversary [he] paid tribute to his wife saying that tolerance was the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage. And the Queen, he said, ‘Has the quality of tolerance in abundance.’ So that was perhaps the advice she gave Catherine.”
Whatever the advice was, it worked. As her confidence grew, Kate often supported Elizabeth by attending official engagements, royal tours and taking on her prestigious patronages, including the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis And Croquet Club and the National Portrait Gallery. These roles have allowed Kate to carve out her own path, while honouring traditions the monarch held dear.
And just as Elizabeth was known for her quiet sense of humour, the princess is credited with having a “wicked” sense of humour. She also isn’t afraid to show it, whether she’s cheekily patting William on the bottom at the Baftas, pulling pints alongside him or taking him on in a game of curling.
The late royal’s influence can be seen not only in Kate’s confidence, but also in the subtle ways she honours Elizabeth’s legacy. From cherished heirlooms to carefully considered fashion choices, there are countless nods to the monarch who helped shape her royal journey.
In fact, Kate regularly pays tribute by wearing pieces that honour Elizabeth, like the diamond Cartier earrings she was given by her parents, when she wed Philip in 1947. Her love of pearls is also thought to be a tribute to the late monarch, who was rarely without her classic three-strand pearl necklace.
Like Elizabeth before her, Kate is a royal fashion icon, and she seemingly takes sartorial cues from her. In recent years, the princess has favoured monochromatic dressing — a look favoured by the late monarch, who famously wore single-colour outfits. And, like Elizabeth, Kate champions British fashion, regularly stepping out in heritage labels such as Barbour and Burberry, as well as classic tartan.
The late monarch famously joked, “I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am,” and Kate seems to have taken that mantra to heart. She certainly doesn’t shy away from colour, as she wore a scarlet suit when she welcomed the England women’s rugby squad to Windsor Castle.
It was the third time the princess had worn the Alexander McQueen two piece — like Elizabeth, she’s known for her thrifty approach, regularly recycling outfits for events.
Elizabeth was also famed for her soft diplomacy, and Kate often uses her fashion choices to signal unity and respect on the world stage. At last month’s state banquet celebrating the President of Nigeria’s visit to Britain, she wore a green gown matching the country’s national colours in an act of sartorial diplomacy.
But, of course, those diplomatic skills go way beyond the sartorial. Elizabeth epitomised the “keep calm and carry on” ethos and today we see that embodied in Kate, who is a pillar of strength to The Firm.
Despite her health issues and the fallout around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, Kate steadfastly focuses on charitable and public engagements. As royal biographer Hugo Vickers says, “If Catherine continues the way she’s going, she’ll be the perfect Queen Consort. She’s a star and key to the monarchy.”
