What Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II's Relationship Is Actually Like

Photo credit: Oli Scarff - Getty Images
Photo credit: Oli Scarff - Getty Images

From ELLE

Kate Middleton did her first solo event with Queen Elizabeth II in seven years last month. But while the Duchess of Cambridge's public interactions with the Queen are more limited, in private, the Queen has been a real mentor to her granddaughter-in-law, according to Us Weekly. Kate will be queen consort alongside her husband Prince William someday (after his father Prince Charles becomes king, and William succeeds him to the throne), and Queen Elizabeth II is already preparing Kate for this.

“She’s really taken Kate under her wing,” a source told the outlet. “The two of them will often spend hours discussing royal life and the future of the monarchy.” There has been some rigorous instruction, too. "The Queen will give intense one-on-one training [to Kate] about taking on the crown," an insider told the outlet.

Photo credit: Mark Cuthbert - Getty Images
Photo credit: Mark Cuthbert - Getty Images

When that time comes, Kate feels prepared, a second insider told Us. “It’s taken a long time for Kate to get to where she is today, but she’s ready.”

Right now though, Kate's primary focus is her family. William and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis mean everything to her, an insider said. "She’s determined to create a healthy balance between her personal life and her future role."

Some groundwork is already being laid for Kate's future increased role in the monarchy. As a royal source previously told ELLE.com, Kate and her sister-in-law Meghan Markle are slowly embarking on different paths because of their husbands' places in the royal family (William is in direct line for the throne; Prince Harry is not.) This divide can be most visibly seen with Meghan and Harry breaking off from Kensington Palace and getting their own staff and royal household, separate from William and Kate's.

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