The Queen ‘stung’ Kate Middleton for ‘swanning off on five-star holidays like Mustique’, royal author claims

Kate Middleton was “stung” when the Queen said she “needed a proper job” before getting engaged to Prince William, according to a royal author.

The 93-year-old monarch reportedly believed that “swanning from one five-star holiday resort to another” was “not the prerequisite for a young woman possibly destined to be Queen”.

In her 2010 biography William and Harry, author Katie Nicholl claimed that, by 2008, Kate‘s “love of exotic holidays” had caught the Queen’s attention.

She wrote: “If she was not with William at Balmoral then the couple were skiing or holidaying on Mustique.

“Kate was there so often the press dubbed her ‘Queen of Mustique’, a title that had previously belonged to Princess Margaret.

“Britain was now in a recession and such frivolous displays of wealth were unpalatable to the Queen.”

Katie continued: “[The Queen] is one of the hardest-working royals, despite her age, and that a future member of the family was without a full-time job was unacceptable to her.

“While the rest of the world speculated that an engagement was on the horizon for William and Kate, the Queen believed an announcement should be postponed until Kate was settled in a career.”

A source told the author: “It is Her Majesty’s opinion that if Kate is one day going to be William’s consort, then she needs a proper job.

“Swanning from one five-star holiday resort to another is not the prerequisite for a young woman possibly destined to be Queen.”

According to Katie, Kate – who’d previously worked as an accessories buyer and for her family’s business – was “stung” by the Queen’s criticism.

“Although they had met several times at formal occasions the Queen knew little of the girl who has enchanted her grandson, and [at that time] had never had a one-to-one meeting.”

Mustique is said to have become a favourite with the Middletons thanks to its “old-fashioned charm” and its privacy.

The Caribbean island – which is part of the Grenadines – is owned by a private company and serviced by a private airline.

Of course, William did propose to Kate – and since their wedding in 2011, the 37-year-old has taken on a role as a senior royal.

And the family are still thought to be fans of Mustique.

Last month, we reported that Cambridges are to jet back off to the luxury destination for a second summer in a row.

A royal source told Fabulous Digital: “They are going to Mustique again.

“It is incredibly private and incredibly discreet but not remote.

“They know and trust the staff who work there and they are creatures of habit. Kate used to go there, the Middletons used to go there. The family love it.”

In more royal news, Zara Tindall gives baby Lena a kiss and cuddle as she’s spotted taking her first steps in public.

Meghan Markle’s Vogue issue is being sold for FIVE times the price – just hours after it hit shelves.

And the Duchess of Sussex has shared her “personal favourite” poem encouraging women to not “give a f**k” about what they look like in a swimming costume.