The year 2021 is going to be special for Kate Middleton as she will mark her 10th wedding anniversary with Prince William as well as her 10th year of being a working royal.
Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe told OK! Magazine that Queen Elizabeth will likely give Kate a surprise to commemorate these milestones since they have a "fantastic relationship." It's still unclear what this honor will be but royal observers know that it's well-deserved.
In the decade since she became a member of the royal family, Kate has proven herself to the Queen as someone who could fulfill her royal duties while raising children and maintaining a stable relationship with the rest of the royals.
An insider told Best Life that Her Majesty has always been pleased to see how much the Duchess of Cambridge has "rose to the occasion," especially during the pandemic lockdowns. Together with William, Kate has doubled up on her royal work since the Queen and Prince Charles had to isolate themselves from the virus.
In the middle of 2020, Queen Elizabeth endorsed Kate's Hold Still photography exhibit in collaboration with the National Gallery. The contest encouraged people to submit images to inspire others during a harrowing period and to reflect on the experiences of key workers helping out others in the pandemic. Queen Elizabeth was proud of the initiative since it also "captured the resilience of the British people."
In a way, Kate and the Queen share a lot of similarities in how they relate to people. Both are exceptional at small talks when the situation calls for it. Both also have a sense of humor and could dish out delightful jokes or anecdotes about themselves or their family.
Insiders said that Kate imbibes the same sincerity and warmth as Queen Elizabeth. As the years have passed, she believes in the importance of her duty to the Crown. While there's pressure for her and William as the future of the monarchy, the source also said that Kate has grown more confident because she learned by taking cues from Her Majesty.
Royal author Ingrid Seward said that Kate and Queen Elizabeth's close relationship allowed her to pick up significant lessons that would prepare her for her future role as Queen Consort to William. Seward said that the Duchess of Cambridge has taken a lot of notes from Her Majesty and never required formal lessons on how to do her work as senior royal.
