Considering that Kate Middleton and Prince William have been together on and off since college, she's been in the royal family's inner circle for a long time — and that includes Queen Elizabeth. That might be why Kate so seamlessly fit into the family when she and William got married and, at the same time, took on her role as Duchess of Cambridge. There's never been a doubt that the monarch approves of the union, and over the years, she and Kate have only seemed to grow closer.
Since The Firm is so tight-knit, it's no wonder that the Queen and Kate have had plenty of chances to get to know each other quite well. It certainly shows in their public interactions and appearances together.
Today, it's like Kate and the Queen have known each other for their entire lives, and they seem to have such a sweet relationship. Ready to see that close bond in action? Here are 18 photos of Kate and the Queen enjoying each other's company.
Laughing Together
The Queen might take her royal obligations seriously, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have a sense of humor. This moment captured between Kate and the monarch is too cute — they both look so happy, and it was a rare glimpse at the more playful side of the Queen's personality.
Sharing Secrets
There's no doubt that some of the events that the royals are required to attend get a little boring every now and then, so of course it must be nice to have a friendly face along to shoot the breeze with during downtime. These two look like the best of friends, happily chatting away together.
Cutting Cake
Yes, that is Queen Elizabeth cutting cake with a sword — or trying to, anyway. At this event, she was asked to slice with a regular knife but insisted on using a sword for that extra pizzazz, and it's easy to see that Kate and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, were pretty amused by it.
A Serious Conversation
Not all events are lighthearted. Sometimes, the royals have to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the military, which is what Remembrance Sunday is all about. Here, we see Kate consulting with her grandma-in-law about something while they stand on a balcony together.
A Garden Stroll
If we didn't know better, we'd think that these ladies were any grandmother and granddaughter spending time outside together — not the Queen of England and the future Queen Consort! They seem to be so casual around each other, which speaks volumes about their relationship.
Carpool Buddies
There's something so normal about seeing Prince William, Kate, and the Queen carpooling together! Even better is the fact that Kate sat in the back seat with Elizabeth. The two look deep in conversation, making us wonder what they were discussing back there during their ride.
A Christmas Gathering
This holiday photo was snapped in December 2020, when the family was unable to take part in their usual Sandringham Christmas traditions due the health crisis. Still, they managed to see one another from a distance in honor of the holiday, and it looks like the ladies were happy to reunite.
Meeting at Sandringham
Speaking of Christmases at Sandringham, here's one that saw the family together. In this photo, we get to glimpse Elizabeth and her daughter, Princess Anne, greeting Kate when she arrived for the holiday. Kate looks so happy to see the Queen!
A Great-Granddaughter's Christening
As a proud great-grandmother, there's no doubt that Elizabeth takes pride in seeing each of her great-grandchildren getting christened in the church. So it's no surprise to see her and Kate smiling at each other when they arrived for Princess Charlotte's big day.
A Moment With Charlotte
In another totally adorable (and more private) moment from Charlotte's christening, Kate and Elizabeth seem to be gushing over the Queen's great-granddaughter together. How adorable! That grin on Elizabeth's face really says it all, doesn't it?
The Diamond Jubilee
When Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, of course William and Kate were on hand to celebrate. Looking at all three of them out on the balcony together, it's sweet to see that Kate is happy to share that special moment with the Queen.
A Royal Engagement
It's not often that Kate and Elizabeth go out on royal engagements just the two of them, but when they do, it's lovely to see. Even though they're both just getting out of the car as they arrived at their destination, they're pleased to be there together (and they're both looking fab too).
Happy To See Each Other
Another occasion where both Kate and Elizabeth were looking sharp? On Easter in 2017. Here, they're seeing each other at church, as per tradition, and Kate looks absolutely delighted to greet the Queen (who really brought out the bright colors for the holiday).
Celebrating the Royal Air Force
Watching Royal Air Force flyovers from Buckingham Palace is something that happens more often than you might think, and of course the senior royals are invited to join the Queen in watching it. We love how she and Kate are leaning over everyone else to continue their conversation.
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Visiting Kate's Wedding Dress
Shortly after Kate and William tied the knot, Kate's wedding dress (like many royal dresses that came before and after her) went on display to the public. She and the Queen made a visit to see Kate's gorgeous gown as a pair, no William required.
Hanging With Louis
This is such a sweet moment from one of the royals' Trooping the Colour celebrations. The Queen and Kate are chatting as Kate holds (a very tiny) Prince Louis in her arms. We know Elizabeth must have really loved this quality time with her great-grandson.
Happily Chatting
William who? He might be Queen Elizabeth's grandson by blood, but these two have proven that they don't need him to have a good time. In fact, we're willing to bet that Kate and Elizabeth have a few more things to chat about these days than she and William do.
A Royal Reception
Pretty early on in Kate's marriage to William, she and Elizabeth were already attending events together. They might be two very different people, but over the years, it's been so much fun to watch their bond grow. We know Elizabeth has to be proud of how far Kate has come.
