Kate Middleton has been regarded as "the glue" that's holding the royal family together just like Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away at the age of 99 in April.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl said, in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, that the Duchess of Cambridge has been stepping it up amid the criticisms about their royal life from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Nicholl said that like Philip, Kate Middleton has been helping maintain the peace despite the tension and conflict between Harry and his relatives. It's been well-regarded that the queen's husband was also the person who tried to appease the royals when there have been rifts and problems within the family.
During Philip's funeral, Middleton ensured that Harry and Prince William reconnected. She opened a conversation with Harry and then conveniently stepped aside when William joined them. Nicholl believes that the royal family has realized the importance of Middleton's role in the family, especially during a difficult year, thus she's now placed into the center stage and taking on more responsibilities. The Duchess of Cambridge has been slowly blossoming into her role after 10 years of being a working royal.
Nicholl also acknowledged that Middleton and William could become popular than Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who would rule Britain and the Commonwealth before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The royal expert said that the Middleton and William are simply "perfect for good PR" because they are real, relatable and reliable.
Meanwhile, Middleton and William have been impressing the people of Scotland as they complete their week-long royal tour in the highlands this May. Witnesses described that the Earl and Countess of Strathearn, Middleton and William's official names in Scotland, are such "lovely people" who are well-tuned to the issues faced by the organizations they support.
Sources also said that the Earl and Countess of Strathearn were very relaxed and personable during their royal engagements. Their visit to different Scottish organizations has given the staff and the volunteers a "real lift" especially during this trying time with the pandemic.
Kate Middleton and her husband will be in Scotland until Thursday, May 27. Before they leave, however, the couple will visit St. Andrew's University, the school where they first met in 2001. The Earl and Countess of Strathearn will be speaking with the current students on how they are coping with the new normal and the pandemic lockdowns that have resulted in online classes.
