To the nation, according to polls, she’s now our favourite royal, but the Princess of Wales could also prove our most vital for the years to come. While Meghan Markle has proved ‘prickly’ (even on her own Netflix TV show), anyone who has spent time in Catherine’s company describes a polar-opposite personality.
She’s steely but compassionate, dedicated to the UK, the monarchy and supporting Prince William – but also a doting mother expertly navigating the choppy waters of raising a future king while ring-fencing Prince George his childhood. Diana touched our hearts but is gone, as is the Queen who attracted devotion across the globe.
One-time Falklands War hero Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor defines the phrase ‘fall from grace’ while Prince Harry, who once bathed in the glow of our affections for his down-to-earth playfulness, did a moonlight flit across the Atlantic.
Charles and Camilla have endured, as have Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie and Edward, while Prince William has been seen as the steady royal rock.
But Catherine has bloomed and been cherished. She battled cancer then laid herself open and spoke honestly about it, securing our admiration even further.
Having fought cancer myself I know it’s not a simple thing to open up and talk about it, your fears, your worries for your family – but with the world watching she sat on that bench and filmed herself explaining it all.
That must have been gruelling. It was not a ‘brand’ opportunity, a way to monetise your misery. She didn’t have to but she felt it would help others so she did it.
Since then she has fought on to leave even the captivated President Trump near speechless (no mean feat) on his September state visit.
He sat next to her at the lavish state banquet and hailed Catherine as “radiant” and “healthy”.
On her first ever podcast appearance in 2020 – with author Giovanna Fletcher for an episode of Happy Mum, Happy Baby – she shared deeply personal revelations including her “mum guilt”.
Afterwards, I’m A Celebrity star Giovanna described the Princess as “full of heart” who will be a “queen who really listens, who leans in, who’s very aware of what’s going on”.
Giovanna added: “When you talk to Catherine, you know what she means to the country, what influence she will have on life going forward.”
As William’s rock she will make a formidable Queen Consort.
But maybe her most crucial role will be one Diana began for William all those years ago – giving a future king time to grow up as a normal child, have friends and embrace what’s carefree while he can.
As Prince George turns 13 this year he is currently at Lambrook prep school in Bracknell, Berks, near the family’s Windsor home.
She does the school runs herself, rather than delegating pick-ups and drop-offs to nanny Maria Borrallo, to give that ‘mum continuity’.
Catherine told Giovanna in that podcast that she struggles with mum guilt, adding: “Yes, absolutely – and anyone who doesn’t as a mother is actually lying!”
On that 2020 podcast she also reflected on what sort of childhood she would like for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
She emphasised the “quality of relationships”, having a “safe” and “happy home”, as well as time spent outdoors, as parenting non-negotiables.
“I remember from my childhood the simple things, like going for a walk together – I try to do this with my children,” Catherine added. To that end, George has been spotted running errands with Catherine’s parents.
But walking the tightrope of being a ‘normal child’ and a ‘future king’, the Waleses are also dipping George’s little toes into some gentle public duties.
Weeks before his 12th birthday, George accompanied William and Catherine to a Buckingham Palace tea party for World War II veterans to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day this year.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward says William is willing to give George a “taste” of his future life, “but not the full meal” yet.
So over Christmas, Prince George joined his dad on a festive visit to the same homelessness shelter Diana took William to at a similar age.
The pair donned ‘The Passage’ charity’s aprons as William poured Brussels sprouts onto an oven dish while his son laid Yorkshire puddings out onto a tray ahead of cooking. Not the “full meal” but giving him a taste.
So happy birthday Catherine. Your future legacy could be to have raised what modern Britain needs – a ‘normal’ king. It’s a role you were born to do.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
