Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is reportedly “stepping up” her role within the monarchy, as she and Prince William prepare to take the throne.
Just over a year after returning to public life, following her cancer diagnosis and treatment, Kate Middleton has been effortlessly showing the world that she’s ready to become Queen. From giving her first public speech in over two years on early childhood to leading her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, it’s also been speculated that Kate has played a major role in the future of certain royals.
For context, both William and Kate have been open about their vision for a modern monarchy, with the Prince telling actor Eugene Levy that he wants to “create a world in which [their] son is proud of what we do.” A source recently told Heat that this means prioritising matters and members, therefore “streamlining” The Crown is non-negotiable.
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The source said: “William is very focused on accountability and Kate is very much of the same mind. She believes every senior royal ought to show exactly what they are doing, why it matters, and how it helps the public. She wants to streamline their workload to what could really help. If an engagement does not support real charitable impact, it gets cut.”
This has recently been seen through the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor‘s (formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York) titles, due to his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault. While King Charles initiated the formal process, royal experts believed it was a “family decision,” which had Kate and William’s full support.
A source told People: “There would have been a push from Camilla and Catherine, and there was pressure from William, who would not want to inherit the headache. It was a family decision.”
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As for Andrew’s children, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, their titles are reportedly safe. This is because they are granddaughters of a monarch (Queen Elizabeth II), and their ‘Princess’ titles are protected by King George V’s Letters Patent of 1917.
However, Heat revealed that while the titles will stay, the Prince and Princess of Wales are “planning significant changes to how the monarchy functions.” Specifically in terms of cutting back. “That’s going to mean letting people go and shaving off certain expenses or benefits that various family members get,” the insider said.
The source then stated that “making those changes without creating serious rifts is going to require a level of sensitivity,” which is where Kate is “uniquely gifted.”
“She has this gentle, peaceful public image, but she’s nobody’s pushover. She’s incredibly savvy and she’s not afraid to make firm decisions when needed,” they added. “She understands that leadership requires a certain ruthlessness, not unkindness, but clarity. She doesn’t shy away from that; she sees it as her duty to stay strong for the monarchy.”
The source concluded: “Everyone can see she was born to be Queen.”
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Sophie Williams is a Freelance Journalist and Copywriter, covering everything from Fashion to Entertainment to music, Lifestyle and Features. She has interviewed a range of musical artists and authors including Alyssa Edwards, Courtney Barnett, Confidence Man, The Vaccines, Loyle Carner, Gabrielle, and John Niven, and has written for publications like Metro, Reader’s Digest, ITV’s Woo! and Vice’s NBGA. She is also working on a book for HarperCollins about Taylor Swift, due to be published in 2024. Â