The Duchess has become one of the most popular and relatable of the Royal Family, having effortlessly grown into her role. Yet, incredibly Kate was not always as confident in herself, as present appearances suggest. The Duchess was riddled with insecurities about her looks, even when she was dating Prince William at St Andrews University.
A friend told the royal biographer, Katie Nicholl: “Even though she had secured the most sought-after boy at St. Andrews, she never gloated.
“She was actually quite insecure about her looks and never considered herself pretty.
“She was very sweet and very shy.”
William’s grandmother is a big “fan” of the Duchess of Cambridge’s calm and unflappable nature, as her reputation continues to rise within the Royal Family.
Her Majesty particularly admires the way Kate is able to balance her royal commitments with a busy family life.
The monarch was reportedly delighted when William announced he was going to marry Kate, because she was convinced that Kate’s stable family upbringing would help her to cope with the demands of life in the royal family.
And although the Queen and Kate do not enjoy an “intimate relationship”, the monarch’s admiration and respect for her daughter-in-law has only grown with time.
A royal source told Vanity Fair: “The Queen is a fan. Kate is unflappable.
“Her mantra is very like the Queen’s keep calm and carry on approach in life, and she has the added benefit of making the Royal Family seem almost normal and in touch.”
In a sign of her deep appreciation for Kate, the Queen awarded her in 2018 with the Royal Family Order, the highest honour the monarch can bestow on a female member of the family.
Overall, Kate has enjoyed a successful year in 2019, as she looks to be enjoying life as one of the most popular royals.
Her biographer Claudia Joseph told Vanity Fair: “It feels very much like this has been Kate’s year.”
“She looks happy, in control and there’s a new confidence about her.”
She added: “I think Kate seems much happier than a year ago.
“She has three lovely children, has been honoured by the Queen for her hard work and is really well-liked not just here but around the world.”
It is precisely the Duchess’s down-to-earth nature and ”girl next door” persona that makes her so well liked by the public.
Ms Joseph explained: “She’s very much the girl next door, from how she dresses to how she behaves and interacts with people on engagements.
“She is likeable and relatable and that has made her very popular.”
Kate tries to lead as normal a life as possible, and to spend as much time as she can with her children.
She still shops on the High Street, drives the children to school and cooks for all family.
She also finds time to socialise with parents of children who attend the same school as Prince George and Princess Charlotte, often joining them for a drink at the Hollywood Arms pub.