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Queen Elizabeth’s initial meeting with Kate Middleton was anything but smooth. Middleton started dating Prince William way back in 2003 but was not introduced to Her Majesty until 2008. Inside sources claim that Queen Elizabeth avoided meeting Middleton because she did not think their romance would last. When they finally did meet, Elizabeth reportedly had some “harsh” comments about Middleton’s workload.

Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth
Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth | Photo by Oli Scarff – WPA Pool / Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth blasts Kate Middleton

During the early years of their romance, inside sources claim that Queen Elizabeth did not think highly of Middleton. According to Her, the Queen felt as though Middleton did not work enough and had a light schedule.

If Middleton was serious about joining the ranks of the royal family, Her Majesty felt like she needed to increase her workload. She felt so strongly about Middleton’s schedule that she reportedly commented about it, which probably did not sit well with the future Duchess of Cambridge.

“There was a phase where she appeared to be doing very little really,” an insider dished. “The Queen once remarked Kate doesn’t do very much so I think she had a fairly long entrance to the royal family.”

It is unclear how Middleton reacted to Queen Elizabeth’s criticisms. The royal family has not commented on the rumors, though there is no doubt that it took a long time for William to commit to the relationship.

While Middleton met with Queen Elizabeth in 2008, William did not pop the big question until two years later. The couple tied the knot in 2011 and, thankfully, everything has been smooth sailing ever since.

Queen Elizabeth doubts William and Middleton’s romance

One reason why it took so long for Elizabeth to meet Middleton is that she never thought the relationship would last. Prior to their meeting in 2008, Middleton and William experienced quite a few ups and downs in their romance.

This includes a brief breakup in 2007, a year before Elizabeth finally agreed to meet Middleton. The pair only split for a few months before William asked Middleton back, but it was still a very trying time for the young lovers.

William has opened up about the breakup and admitted that they needed space. He also explained how the split benefited both of them and allowed them to grow up a little before making a bigger commitment. William would go on to propose in 2010 and the time apart proved to be a positive thing for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple recently welcomed their third child and have enjoyed strong years of marriage.

Are Middleton and Queen Elizabeth close?

Given how Queen Elizabeth originally greeted Middleton, royal watchers are interested to know if their relationship has improved over the years. Inside sources claim that Middleton and Elizabeth are on good terms but are not particularly close to each other.

One source claims that Elizabeth has great admiration for Middleton but does not share common interests with her daughter-in-law. This has led to a more formal relationship between the two, which is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, things could be a lot worse, especially considering their history.

While Middleton and Elizabeth are all about business, Her Majesty’s relationship with Meghan Markle is a different story. Insiders claim that Queen Elizabeth is very fond of Markle and has been impressed with how well she has integrated herself with the royal family.

Unlike Kate Middleton, Markle was accustomed to being in the spotlight when she met Harry and had a successful career in television at the time. Her experience in Hollywood helped Markle adjust to her new life and quickly endeared her to other members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

Queen Elizabeth is preparing Middleton for the throne

Although Middleton’s schedule was fairly light at one time in her life, that is no longer the case. The Duchess of Cambridge has significantly increased her workload over the past few years as she prepares for what it will be like once William takes the throne.

Elizabeth has reportedly been helping Middleton along the way and is doing her best to ensure she is prepared for the day when she becomes Queen Consort.

William is currently second in line to the throne, following his father, Prince Charles. Despite a litany of abdication rumors, Charles is expected to inherit the crown as soon as Queen Elizabeth is gone.

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