One Royal Expert Says This Time Before Kate Middleton’s Royal Life Officially Began Was ‘Invaluable’

It’s no secret that Kate Middleton has really grown into her role as a senior member of the British royal family over the course of the last decade. The Princess of Wales has taken on new responsibilities, worked on her own ventures, and raised her three children alongside her husband. But one royal commentator says a particular time before Kate officially joined the royal family taught her some of the most important lessons about leading a public life.

“Kate has demonstrated that she’s the real deal and William constantly shows that he’s hugely proud of her,” royal expert Jennie Bond said, according to The Mirror via Marie Claire. Indeed, of every member of the House of Windsor, Prince William is the one who had a front-row seat to Kate’s ability to rise to the occasion over the years, especially when it comes to life under the scrutiny of the spotlight.

Kate Middleton is being praised for her leadership skills behind palace walls. https://t.co/nxbVJidCAE

— SheKnows (@SheKnows) December 26, 2023

“Kate’s strength is drawn from the fact that she was given such a long apprenticeship—those nine or 10 years [that they were together before marriage] that she was allowed to see a little bit of what life would be like in the royal court were completely invaluable,” Bond said, per The Mirror. Of course, Kate learned about far more than just the etiquette and expectations of a royal court. She also experienced the type of scrutiny she’d endure as a member of the royal family.

While Kate and William were dating, Kate was followed by paparazzi. In fact, Tina Brown’s 2022 tell-all The Palace Papers alleges that Kate faced harassment comparable to the kind Princess Diana endured. “Kate was relentlessly pursued in London. She was hounded when she left her Chelsea apartment in ways reminiscent of the harassment of the young Lady Di,” Brown writes in an excerpt, previously covered by SheKnows. Brown went on to describe the frenzy as “nineties paparazzi excess all over again.”

For nearly a decade, Kate was fully immersed. Paparazzi, scrutiny, rumors and more plagued the future Princess of Wales for years. But she’s seemingly taken it in stride, presenting a polished public presence that seems undeterred.

Before you go, click here to see more photos of Prince William & Kate Middleton through the years.