Kate Middleton is one of the most famous members of the British royal family. According to a royal historian, she's so successful in the role because she shares some of Queen Elizabeth's characteristics, making her a very effective member of the royal family.
© Getty ImagesIn an interview with Marie Claire, Catherine Mayer, the author of "Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles," said one of the reasons Kate has been so successful as a member of the royal family has been her choice to follow the Queen's model while also adapting it to her personality and needs.
“There is some truth to the idea that Kate follows a model quite close to Elizabeth’s in terms of letting images do the talking rather than expressing herself more verbally and freely,” Mayer said. “That melds more easily with an institution that is meant to stay out of party politics and unite the populations it represents across 15 realms, rather than being divisive.”
© Chris Jackson“But it doesn’t mean that other models are automatically wrong,” she said.
Mayer said that following Queen Elizabeth was challenging, especially since she served as the queen for 70 years. “With Elizabeth Windsor, it is even more tempting to believe that we know her,” Mayer continued. “Most of us grew up with her as a familiar, if distant, figure, and there are any number of films and TV series that appear to bring her to life.”
“By the end of her reign, she was hailed as the perfect monarch."
© BettmannMayer continued by saying that Kate faces some modern challenges, with many projecting an image of perfection onto her that must weigh on her, something that a lot of famous women also experience. “And that scrutiny is worse for royal women, because it is their job to be seen.”
She continued by saying that this scrutiny that members of the royal family face is worse for women than it is for men.
Kate's incredible impact on the royal family
© ANDREW MILLIGANEver since Kate Middleton married into the royal family, she's been adopted as one of the most prominent figures, becoming a beloved icon in England and the rest of the world. From her fashion to her work with the community, Kate's influence and reach can't be overstated. It's a phenomenon that's been noted by royal biographers of all sorts.
“What many people don’t realize, even for those of us who follow the royals closely, is what an integral part of the institution Catherine is,” said royal biographer Russell Myers to Vanity Fair. “I found it fascinating just how much [Prince] William relies on [Catherine]. Both professionally, personally, and emotionally.”
© Kensington Palace
