Among those honouring her memory will be the Princess of Wales<\/a>, who shared a close bond with the late monarch. Over the years, Kate earned her grandmother-in-law\u2019s trust and admiration, quietly learning from the ultimate royal role model. From her sense of duty to her calm, measured approach to public life, Kate has drawn lasting inspiration from the powerhouse who defined the modern monarchy. \u201cThe princess is now very much her own woman, and she carries out her engagements in her own way,\u201d former BBC<\/a> royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells the Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n READ MORE: ‘Prince William and Kate’s show of unity ignores scandal despite surprising move’<\/a>READ MORE: Inside Kate and William’s plan for Prince Louis after Harry ‘Spare’ criticism<\/a> The Princess of Wales with the late Queen in Nottingham in 2012(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n \u201cBut she learned a good deal from the Queen about the dignity of the role, the duty that comes with her status and \u2014 perhaps most important of all \u2014 to smile and engage with thousands of strangers, for whom this brief meeting is something they will always remember.<\/p>\n \u201cThe centenary of Queen Elizabeth\u2019s birth will be a poignant day for William and Catherine. Even though they are the face of modern royalty and William has said he\u2019s going to embrace change, they know the late Queen was admired around the world<\/a>, and hers is a tough act for anyone to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n It may be a tough act, but Elizabeth II would be immensely proud of the way Kate has handled the challenges thrown at her. Throughout her cancer battle, she has remained unwavering in her support for the monarchy and her children, George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, who turns eight next week. With a young family, a growing portfolio of causes and an increasingly prominent public role, she\u2019s come a long way from her days as the shy St Andrews student who met William, 43, back in 2001.<\/p>\n \u201cIt must be the most extraordinary, nerve-racking experience to be dating the Queen\u2019s grandson, a future King,\u201d says Jennie. \u201cCatherine was William\u2019s girlfriend for the best part of seven years before she was formally introduced to his granny, and I can only imagine how odd that was.<\/p>\n The Princess of Wales shared a close bond with the late monarch(Image: PA)<\/p>\n “They had even been at the same event two years earlier \u2014 William\u2019s passing out parade at Sandhurst \u2014 but they hadn\u2019t formally met. I think it can be said that the Queen\u2019s approach to her grandson\u2019s potential future wife was distinctly cautious. However, once she was confident that this was a serious relationship, Queen Elizabeth grew to like and admire Catherine.\u201d<\/p>\n The duo quickly developed a mutual respect, no doubt partly borne of their shared appreciation for the simple things in life. Like the late Queen, who famously found peace in the gardens and landscapes around Balmoral, Kate has increasingly championed the benefits of the great outdoors.<\/p>\n Whether she\u2019s taking her children on a muddy adventure or tending the family veggie patch, the Princess of Wales is a huge believer in the healing powers of nature. \u201cNature has been my sanctuary,\u201d she said last May. \u201cConnecting to nature helps us to experience a deeper sense of ourselves, the world around us, and each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Both women also valued moments away from the spotlight, finding comfort in country life and traditional family games. \u201cYou would expect a lot of grandeur and a lot of fuss, but actually what really resonates with me is her love for the simple things,\u201d said Kate, 44.<\/p>\n Kate with the late Queen, Prince Louis and the now-King at Trooping the Colour in 2022(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s a special quality to have.\u201d Recalling the time she gifted William\u2019s grandmother a jar of homemade chutney for Christmas<\/a>, she said, \u201cI noticed the next day that it was on the table. Such a simple gesture went such a long way for me.\u201d<\/p>\n As Kate became immersed in public life, the late monarch became something of a mentor, giving her \u201cgentle guidance\u201d. And over the years, a grandmotherly affection developed between the pair. \u201cElizabeth offered her advice, including on how to handle \u2018headstrong husbands\u2019,\u201d says Jennie. \u201cShe had a lot of experience in that department with Prince Philip<\/a>.<\/p>\n On their 50th wedding anniversary [he] paid tribute to his wife saying that tolerance was the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage. And the Queen, he said, \u2018Has the quality of tolerance in abundance.\u2019 So that was perhaps the advice she gave Catherine.\u201d<\/p>\n Whatever the advice was, it worked. As her confidence grew, Kate often supported Elizabeth by attending official engagements, royal tours and taking on her prestigious patronages, including the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis And Croquet Club and the National Portrait Gallery. These roles have allowed Kate to carve out her own path, while honouring traditions the monarch held dear.<\/p>\n Kate shows the late Queen around the ‘Back to Nature Garden’ that she designed at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show(Image: POOL\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n And just as Elizabeth was known for her quiet sense of humour, the princess is credited with having a \u201cwicked\u201d sense of humour. She also isn\u2019t afraid to show it, whether she\u2019s cheekily patting William on the bottom at the Baftas, pulling pints alongside him or taking him on in a game of curling.<\/p>\n The late royal\u2019s influence can be seen not only in Kate\u2019s confidence, but also in the subtle ways she honours Elizabeth\u2019s legacy. From cherished heirlooms to carefully considered fashion choices, there are countless nods to the monarch who helped shape her royal journey.<\/p>\n In fact, Kate regularly pays tribute by wearing pieces that honour Elizabeth, like the diamond Cartier earrings she was given by her parents, when she wed Philip in 1947. Her love of pearls is also thought to be a tribute to the late monarch, who was rarely without her classic three-strand pearl necklace.<\/p>\n The two women share a joke during a trip to Leicester back in 2012(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n Like Elizabeth before her, Kate is a royal fashion icon, and she seemingly takes sartorial cues from her. In recent years, the princess has favoured monochromatic dressing \u2014 a look favoured by the late monarch, who famously wore single-colour outfits. And, like Elizabeth, Kate champions British fashion, regularly stepping out in heritage labels such as Barbour and Burberry, as well as classic tartan.<\/p>\n The late monarch famously joked, \u201cI can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am,\u201d and Kate seems to have taken that mantra to heart. She certainly doesn\u2019t shy away from colour, as she wore a scarlet suit when she welcomed the England women\u2019s rugby squad to Windsor Castle.<\/p>\n It was the third time the princess had worn the Alexander McQueen two piece \u2014 like Elizabeth, she\u2019s known for her thrifty approach, regularly recycling outfits for events.<\/p>\n Elizabeth was also famed for her soft diplomacy, and Kate often uses her fashion choices to signal unity and respect on the world stage. At last month\u2019s state banquet celebrating the President of Nigeria\u2019s visit to Britain, she wore a green gown matching the country\u2019s national colours in an act of sartorial diplomacy.<\/p>\n But, of course, those diplomatic skills go way beyond the sartorial. Elizabeth epitomised the \u201ckeep calm and carry on\u201d ethos and today we see that embodied in Kate, who is a pillar of strength to The Firm.<\/p>\n Despite her health issues and the fallout around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s arrest, Kate steadfastly focuses on charitable and public engagements. As royal biographer Hugo Vickers says, \u201cIf Catherine continues the way she\u2019s going, she\u2019ll be the perfect Queen Consort. She\u2019s a star and key to the monarchy.\u201d<\/p>\n Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal<\/p>\n WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here.<\/a><\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Queen-Elizabeth-II-and-The-Duke-And-Duchess-Of-Cambridge-Visit-The-East-Midlands.jpg\")
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