‘Clever’ Palace is bringing Kate Middleton ‘into the forefront’ as a ‘Queen-in-waiting’

The Duchess of Cambridge is being brought ‘into the forefront’ as a clear ‘Queen-in-waiting’ by Palace aides because they ‘realise the power Kate and Prince William have as a young, glamorous, dynamic duo’, a royal expert has claimed.

Kate, 38, who is currently staying with her family at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, is taking on more duties and creating a bigger public profile ‘than ever before’, according to royal commentator Katie Nicholl.

Speaking to True Royalty’s Kate: The Making of a Modern Queen, she suggested the Palace is being ‘clever’ and using the Duchess of Cambridge’s popularity to their advantage.

She said: ‘We are seeing a Queen-in-waiting. We are seeing the Duchess take on more duties, more royal engagements, more of a public profile than ever before.’

Katie added that the mother-of-three is taking on more patronages from both the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh as a sign that she is stepping up her royal duties. 

‘This is all very deliberate,’ said the royal expert. ‘It’s very much part of the Palace machine bringing her from the shadows of Anmer and into the forefront, into the spotlight, because they are very clever.  

‘They realise the power of Kate and the potential of Kate and William as this young, glamorous, dynamic duo who actually do have the ability to reshape and project the monarchy into the future.’ 

Kate (pictured with Prince William earlier this month), 38, who is currently staying with her family at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, is taking on more duties and creating a bigger public profile ‘than ever before’, according to royal commentator Katie Nicholl

The remarks follow claims that Meghan Markle was ‘disappointed’ that Kate didn’t offer a ‘stronger shoulder of support’, according to royal correspondent Omid Scobie.

He said Prince Harry, 35, and Prince William’s fractious relationship also prevented the two women from having a ‘close bond’, with the pair instead enjoying just a ‘surface level’ of friendship.

Speaking on The Heirpod podcast, the co-author of Harry and Meghan’s bombshell biography Finding Freedom, claimed the Duchess of Sussex, 39, and the Duchess of Cambridge were ‘never at war’ – but their relationship lacked any ‘depth’.

He said that while the pair both enjoyed fashion and tennis – having even appeared together at Wimbledon – it didn’t lead to a long-lasting friendship.

The remarks follow claims that Meghan Markle was ‘disappointed’ that Kate (pictured together in 2018) didn’t offer a ‘stronger shoulder of support’, according to royal correspondent Omid Scobie 

‘They were never at war and never the duelling duchesses. They were just two women who had this very surface level friendship,’ he said on his podcast. 

‘They were able to connect and bond to trips to Wimbledon – we saw them there a couple of times. But certainly where more depth was required or perhaps a stronger shoulder of support from the Duchess of Cambridge’s side, we saw that that didn’t happen, over and over again.’

He continued: ‘And it was one of the things that really left Meghan a bit disappointed in that friendship… as there were times that she really would’ve appreciated that extra support internally.’  

Prince Harry, Prince William, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge leave the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London in March 2020

The author suggested that the Duchess of Cambridge might’ve been too busy to help the Duchess of Sussex.

‘People have asked why Kate may have not been there in that situation and I really don’t know but it’s clear at the time her priorities weren’t there,’ Omid said.

‘We do see her as an incredibly dedicated wife, mother and member of the Royal family and maybe that’s a lot for one person to juggle.’

The lack of a close relationship between the two mothers is also suggested to have been a result of the ‘fractured’ bond between Harry and William, 39.

‘The fractures that exited with Harry and William almost prevented the two women from having that close bond,’ Omid added.