Kate Middleton is now the third most popular royal, just behind Queen Elizabeth and Prince William. The Duchess of Cambridge won that position by being a team player, raising her voice when she needs to, and being relatable while also maintaining her privacy. Kate works quietly behind the scenes of the royal family to make an impact without drawing too much attention — and it's working wonderfully.
At the end of 2019, royal biographer Claudia Joseph raved about the Duchess of Cambridge's role in the family and how well she was leaning into it. "We are seeing Kate at her best," Claudia told Vanity Fair. "When we saw her on tour in Pakistan she seemed very confident. She’s been doing this job since 2011 and now she can be who she really is. She has earned her spurs and she feels she can be herself and doesn’t have to hide or be on her guard."
She added: "She's no longer the newcomer to the Royal Family. She used to be quite nervous and shy but I think now that she’s older, she’s more confident."
Then 2020 was an even bigger one for Kate as she rose to the occasion after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left, and Kate has made a big impact in these quiet ways.
Coming Into Her Own
It's easy to see that Kate Middleton feels more confident these days. She's been in the royal family for a decade, and she's really hit her stride. Now, she's comfortable taking on solo roles — or leading on a project — which is different than when she first married Prince William.
"There is no doubt that Kate has hugely grown in confidence since joining the royal family," royal author Victoria Murphy told Yahoo UK. "At the beginning she was very keen to learn the ropes and look to others for guidance over what she should be doing and you could sense that."
Kate is now shining on her own. She still does it without being too loud, but she's leaning into her voice.
Still Being a Team Player
Kate is also comfortable exerting her power from a position in the background. As royal author Angela Levin told Yahoo UK, she's a team player. "Kate's aim since she and William have been together has been to support him. She is not a 'me me me' person and joins in rather than push herself to the front," Angela noted. That's allowed Kate to have influence without overshadowing Prince William, or drawing too much attention to herself.
Early Childhood Survey
In early 2020, Kate concluded a massive survey on people's thoughts about early childhood. She gathered responses from Wales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland to better understand what today's children may need, and how their parents are providing it. This isn't typical work for a royal to do — this is research work that scientists and psychologists would spend months and years on. But the duchess used her influence and her social reach — even going on a podcast — to get hundreds of thousands of responses that will shape real data points in this important area of study.
Wearing Local Designers on Royal Tours
Kate knows that people are paying attention to every detail of her wardrobe, so she's put that attention to good use. Often, when she visits other countries, she'll wear items by local designers. As a result, she generates interest in those clothing items and helps boost the country's economy. It's a simple way for Kate to give back, but it's super effective.
Stepping Up Her Royal Presence
The Queen has a saying: She must be seen to be believed. In 2020, Kate Middleton really took that message to heart. Even during lockdown, she did as much charity work as she could via video message. The result is that she was the eighth hardest working royal by mid-2020 — compared to the 12th hardest working the year before. (That data is measured only by number of appearances. There's no doubt that Kate is hardworking. no matter how many engagements she does.)
Meaningful Hobbies
One thing that the Duchess of Cambridge really connects to is photography, so when our world was thrown into chaos in 2020, she found a photo-based way to help. Kate launched Hold Still, a photo project that encouraged people to send in pictures of "Helpers and Heroes, Your New Normal, and Acts of Kindness." She received hundreds of stunning images and began sharing them on social media to encourage her followers to stay strong through the tough time.
Photography Is Kate's 'Very Own Superpower'
Royal historian Lucy Worsley called photography the royal family's "superpower," because it's a great and easy way to get themselves out there. Kate is one of the most avid users of this power, often taking her family's own official portraits and posting them on her social media page. In that way, she controls the narrative from image to messaging.
Following in the Queen's Footsteps
One day, Kate will be queen herself, and she's preparing now. But part of what's made Queen Elizabeth such a strong leader is that she knows how to just put her head down and work. She's a steady force behind the scenes, and royal author Victoria Murphy thinks that Kate has similar traits to the Queen. Kate's "not an extrovert, but quietly self-assured with a love of the outdoors and the ability to compartmentalize," Murphy said.
That quiet self-assuredness runs strong in royals, like the Queen and also Kate, and it will likely serve her well.
Defending Herself
Royals don't generally respond to media reports about them, but Kensington Palace had enough when Tatler magazine alleged that Kate was overwhelmed with her post-Megxit workload. "This story contains a swathe of inaccuracies and false misrepresentations which were not put to Kensington Palace prior to publication," a spokesperson for the palace said.
Now, we can't know for sure if Kate instructed the palace to release a statement, but it sure seems like her exercising her control behind the scenes.
Snatching Up Harry & Meghan's Social Media Manager
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties, they left behind their Sussex Royal Instagram page and the person who was managing it. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge then hired the manager to run their own page, and the change has been drastic. (Kensington Royal posts memes now, for example.) It was a smooth move for Kate, because Harry and Meghan's page had been growing rapidly, and now, hers will benefit from the same expertise.
Staying Above the Fray
The best way to make a statement on a tricky situation may be to not make one at all. Kate has acted like Meghan and Harry never left royal life at all. She even wished Meghan a happy birthday not long after the scandalous Meghan and Harry tell-all book came out. Kate has just kept it classy, which, honestly, speaks volumes.
Getting Involved in Her Kids' School
In 2019, People magazine reported that Kate Middleton took part in a three-hour meeting at George and Charlotte's school about mental health. That's one of Kate's passion areas, and she likely wanted to be involved with any decisions the school made. Imagine being the school leadership on that call and then the future queen joins! They'd definitely listen to her.
Focusing on Select Causes
Instead of taking on everything that comes her way, Kate's found a small group of causes to focus on so that all of her energy and influence can just go to them. She "chooses more the cause than specific organizations, which means Kate will only ever have "a few dozen patronages, and some will be linked or quite similar," author Victoria Murphy said.
Without spreading herself too thin, the Duchess of Cambridge can focus her power in a few areas.
Breaking Protocol Without Getting in Trouble
The Duchess of Cambridge doesn't follow every rule the royal family has, but she does it in a way that doesn't seem disrespectful or rebellious. Instead, it's just Kate being a modern mom, or a fashionable woman who wants to try a trend — like an off-the-shoulder look. It's never because Kate just hates the Queen or anything — so she gets away with it.
Being Relatable … to an Extent
Kate is an incredibly private person, but it feels like we know her, because she knows what to share to make a connection with all of us. As royal historian Sally Bedell Smith told Vogue, "She also has a natural ability to blend accessibility and dignity with a royal mystique that shields her privacy — a tough line to navigate."
It's one of Kate's biggest powers that she can feel like one of the girls while also being a complete stranger.
Took Her Time Adjusting to Royal Life
Kate married William in 2011, and she's grown a lot since then. In the beginning, she was more of an accessory to William's royal work. She would attend events with him as she got her footing before she began her own royal engagements. This was reportedly all intentional to help her slowly step into royal life. "In the beginning she was very content to listen and learn," a former palace staff member told the Mirror. "She wanted to get the right grounding, the right feel for the job and the role. You could obviously tell she knew this was a job for life and that you definitely didn't need to hit the ground running with all the risks of you falling flat on your face."
As a result, she didn't fall on her face. She gradually rose to the top and is now one of the family's most important working royals.
Quiet Charity Work
The same Mirror article reported that as part of the duchess' dedication to helping mothers in those early years, she quietly persuaded 19 British brands to donate 10,000 new baby items to families in need. It was a months-long charity drive that she didn't throw in the media's face. She just got the work done behind the scenes. Not needing public recognition for her work is a huge part of what does make Kate so powerful. She'll work hard for the British public whether anyone knows about it or not.
Supporting William
Speaking of Harry, after he and Meghan left the royal family, Kate was seen as a source of strength for her husband. Body language expert Judi James watched Kate and Will's behavior in the couple of months following #Megxit and noticed that it seemed like she was "single-handedly" helping William through the struggle.
"I would say overall that all the dramas in the royal family and the split between the two brothers might have brought William and Kate even closer, with him appreciating the way she has shown her own strength and ability to take over, plus what has probably been her strong emotional support too," Judi James told The Daily Mail.
Especially When Will Was Sick
Like his father, Prince Charles, William fell ill in April 2020. He kept his diagnosis under wraps at the time, probably for fear of alarming the country. During his illness and recovery, Kate was literally by his side for his virtual engagements and she also did a lot of her own virtual work so her husband could rest and recuperate. She's definitely the kind of wife you want by your side when you're not feeling well. She always steps up.
Reportedly Encouraging Harry & William to Reconcile
Kate's being credited with helping William and Harry to move through their differences and potentially reconcile. Many noticed that the three were seen walking together following Prince Philip's funeral, and then Kate slowed down to allow to two brothers to walk ahead.
"They were very tense as they walked into that chapel," royal expert Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight. "As they came out of it, you could see some tension diffused. And I think that was largely down to the Duchess of Cambridge, who made a point of speaking to Harry and when she did that, you can see them visibly relax."
Showing Up for the Royals After Philip's Death
When the Duchess of Cambridge attended Prince Philip's funeral, she was undoubtedly a source of comfort for many of the royals. Not only did she chat with Harry and ease some tension there, but she was seen giving Prince Charles a sweet kiss on the cheek. She looked stoic in her mourning dress and like a real backbone of the family.
Raising Hardworking Royal Children
As a mother to the future king and two other future working royals, Kate has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. She has to make sure her kids are prepared for their royal lives, and she's gotten them started young. They often make public appearances and already do charity work so that helping others becomes part of their DNA.
How She Helps Them Behave in Public
We rarely see Kate publicly scold her children, and that's reportedly because she has secret code words to encourage good behavior. When they start to get fussy, she reportedly says the code phrase, "Let's take a break," and she encourages the children to gently calm down. She's not an authoritarian parent by any means, but she is firm. It's a good balance that she's able to strike.
Making Her Birthday About Others
When the Duchess of Cambridge turned 39 in January 2021, she thanked her fans for all their birthday wishes while stealthily turning the conversation towards appreciating the country's essential workers. "Birthdays have been very different in recent months, and our thoughts continue to be with all those working on the front line at this hugely challenging time."
She's so thoughtful, always.
She Has Strong Boundaries
As open as Kate is with many aspects of her life, she also has strict boundaries. She mostly keeps her private life and her children out of the spotlight. The most we can expect to see them is twice a year with a new birthday portrait and Christmas card photo. Occasionally, she and William will post more than that on social media, but it's rare. And for the most part, the press respects Kate's boundaries and leaves the children alone outside of official events. In this way, she has a relationship with the press that Harry and Meghan didn't have.
Doesn't Lean Into Drama
No matter what rumors are thrown Kate's way, she stays above the fray. She didn't engage with reports that she and Meghan were feuding. She ignored speculation about William allegedly cheating on her. And she hasn't made public statements about William and Harry's falling out either. It shows her strength that she perseveres through this drama and comes out usually unscathed on the other side.
Spinning the Meghan Narrative
While Kate didn't engage publicly with rumors about her feud with Meghan, she mitigated damages behind the scenes. After her argument with Meghan about flower girl dresses, Kate sent flowers to apologize to Meghan. And to fool the press into thinking the two were getting along fabulously, many believe that she may have helped stage their friendly Christmas photos where the two were seen chatting away like BFFs. Would that be a little calculated? Yes. But the royals have to be calculated sometimes.
Honoring Princess Diana
Princess Diana remains a widely beloved figure not just in the UK, but around the world. And Kate has won many of her fans over by being similar to the princess. Kate is fashionable, charitable, relatable, and hardworking, just like her late mother-in-law. And the Duchess of Cambridge also goes out of her way to honor Diana whenever she can, knowing how important she is to William and the public. For example, when she created a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show, Kate included Diana's favorite flowers — forget-me-nots.
Half of the Ultimate Power Couple
There's no denying that, as a unit, Kate and William have a ton of power. Maybe not political power, but definitely they have public sway. And in that power couple, Kate is one of the strongest forces. She may often let William take the lead, but even just looking at their anniversary photos, he's looking at her as she looks off into the distance. He likely relies on her and her opinions a lot in private, which probably influences how he approaches situations in public. Kate is an influential woman, and it wouldn't be surprising if William was often swayed by her as well.
Surviving & Thriving
Since she joined the royal family, Kate has been through a lot as a working royal. But she perseveres. A supposed royal insider told Tatler in 2020 that the Duchess of Cambridge thrives because she survives. "She has a ruthless survival streak," the source said. "It's why she is so well suited. I think she keeps her head down because the prize of being queen is so great. She appears to model herself on the Queen and now speaks like the Queen."
As Kate has been quietly modeling herself after Queen Elizabeth, she has appeared more queenly in recent years. By the time she's sitting next to William on the throne, it'll be like she's been there all her life.
