How Kate Middleton’s Become Part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Inner Circle
Kate Middleton has Queen Elizabeth II’s trust. It’s taken the Duchess of Cambridge years to get to this point in her relationship with the queen. And, according to a royal commentator, it’s all because of the 39-year-old’s approach to her official duties and the British royal family.
Queen Elizabeth II demonstrated her trust in Kate Middleton in 2019
![Queen Elizabeth II smiles wearing a pink suit as Kate Middleton speaks to her](https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Kate-Middleton-and-Queen-Elizabeth-II-visit-Leicester-in-2012.jpg?strip=all&quality=89)
Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty Magazine, says the queen publicly demonstrated just how much she trusts Catherine in 2019. The Queen gave the Duchess of Cambridge “the royal family order,” which carries with it major significance.
As Little told UsWeekly in October 2021, the honor is “something that’s only given to the female members of the royal family who have been around for quite some time and are deemed to be of great support to the queen.”
Catherine received the special honor 10 years after her royal wedding to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge cementing her status as an integral member of the queen’s inner circle.
“The queen has great trust in Kate,” especially considering what’s happened in recent years “in terms of the fallouts,” Little added.
Kate Middleton’s a ‘team player’ in the royal family
So how exactly did Catherine win over the queen? How did she go from being William’s girlfriend-fiancée-wife to a trusted member of the queen’s inner circle? It started, according to Little, with the Duchess of Cambridge being a “team player.”
The Duchess of Cambridge spent the early days of her life as an official member of the royal family adjusting to her new role. And she did it not as the Duchess of Cambridge but more so as William’s wife.
“Kate was very gradual,” Little said. “She appeared occasionally, but for the first few years, it was really [as] William’s wife rather than a working member of the royal family.”
Kate Middleton’s carved out her own ‘niche’ in the royal family
![Kate Middleton walks behind Queen Elizabeth II](https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Queen-Elizabeth-II-and-Kate-Middleton-visit-Kings-College-London.jpg?strip=all&quality=89)
Over the years Catherine’s taken on more duties and projects. But not just any. The causes she gets involved with reflect her interests whether it’s early childhood development or photography. That, according to Little, has meant that the Duchess of Cambridge has her own “niche.”
“Kate has found her own niche within the royal family,” he said. “And she focuses on things that mean a great deal to her that she feels that she can give something to the charity … in a great way.”
This is just another example of how Catherine’s earned the queen’s trust.
Kate Middleton follows tradition just like Queen Elizabeth II
Tradition is a major part of royal life. The royal family has Christmas traditions, birthday traditions — chocolate biscuit cake, anyone? — and more. And, according to Little, the Duchess of Cambridge not only “adheres to tradition” but she also recognizes how “the modern royal family has to evolve.” So the mother of three — William and Catherine are parents to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — respects the traditions of the past while also understanding that the monarchy has to change.
Meanwhile, Catherine continues carrying out royal duties alongside William, the queen, and the rest of the royal family.