Kate Middleton Has Become the Palace's 'Shining Star' After a Rough Royal Year
The royal family would probably rather forget 2023 because King Charles III’s first year on the throne wasn’t a rousing success. The palace kicked off the year with the revelations from Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, and they ended the year with the looming threat of Prince Andrew’s alleged misdeeds from his association with Jeffrey Epstein. However, one family member stepped up to the plate and started to shine brighter than everyone else.
In her new role as the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton tried to rise above the noise and rumors to become the person at the palace that everyone wanted to see. If she can weather through rough waters of 2023, she can handle anything. “Last year, her birthday coincided with all the publicity about Harry’s book, which was about to be published. This year, things are looking much smoother for Catherine and her family,” royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! magazine. Even the “storm” that Omid Scobie’s book, Endgame, didn’t deter her, so 2024 should be an even better year for Kate, who “has embraced her 40s and is now more comfortable in her skin and in her role than ever before.”
Bond believes it is the Princess of Wales’ “composure, dignity, and a wonderful common touch” that has made her such a crowd pleaser. “She has nailed being royal and yet still relatable. She is the shining star of a modern monarchy, and it’s no surprise that King Charles refers to her as his ‘beloved daughter-in-law,'” she added. Even though she and Prince William are being called the “jewels in the crown,” there is something to be said for having the white-hot royal spotlight — something Princess Diana and Meghan Markle know all too well.
It’s almost as if the palace doesn’t want the women to become too popular because that also makes them very powerful. Kate has seen Kensington Palace retreat from offering information about her wardrobe because King Charles thought it drew attention away from him. And that jealousy isn’t just restricted to her father-in-law, her husband has reportedly been guilty of falling prey to this behavior too. Sometimes he will make a “dismissive comment” or “rush her along” when her conversation is running long, according to an In Touch source.
As the Princess of Wales, Kate already has big shoes to fill with Diana’s beloved legacy, so she doesn’t need the pressure to pile on from her close family members. It’s a tricky road to navigate, but there’s no denying that Kate is the draw in the royal family.