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Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth II during her reign. When Kate began dating Prince William in 2003, she knew that gaining the Queen's approval and acceptance would be important. Over the past two decades, Kate has proven herself to be a dedicated, charitable member of the Royal Family who puts her duty to Queen and country above all else. This helped foster a bond of understanding and respect between herself and the late monarch.
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In the early days of her courtship with William, Kate was mindful of royal protocol and traditions. She strived to make a good impression on the Queen by respecting the institution of the monarchy. Some of Kate's first solo engagements as William's girlfriend included attending church services with the Royal Family at Sandringham over Christmas. These low-key appearances allowed her to get to know the Queen in a relaxed setting. Kate was reported to have made an excellent first impression with her charming demeanor and commitment to serving the Crown.
As their relationship became more serious, Kate supported William in his royal duties and began attending more official events herself. In 2010, following their engagement announcement, the Queen appointed Kate as a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victoria Order. This honor placed Kate on the same level as other female royals and signified the Queen's approval of her as a future member of the family. Kate undertook her first solo engagement with the Queen in 2011 when they visited Trumpington Park in Cambridgeshire together. Photographs from the outing showed the two women smiling and chatting easily in one another's company.
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Throughout her marriage to William and the early years raising their three children, Kate continued proving herself a dedicated daughter-in-law to the Queen. She took her royal duties very seriously and was fastidious about following protocol to make the Queen proud. A telling sign of their bond was the special gifts they exchanged over the decade, such as the Queen gifting Kate a pair of chandelier earrings and a pair of matching bracelets. Kate was also one of the few the Queen allowed to take her photograph casually, another sign of great trust between them.
Kate accompanied the Queen on many public engagements over the years, demonstrating their solid working relationship. Together they visited charities, attended ceremonies, and undertook overseas tours to Commonwealth countries. Of particular note were their 2015 trip to Malta and 2018 rail tour of Scotland, where the two women bonded over their shared commitment to public service. Photos from these outings always showed the pair laughing together warmly. By this point, many observers noted the close rapport Kate had developed with the monarch, who had become like a grandmother figure to her.
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In her later years on the throne, the Queen increasingly relied on Kate to stand in for her at public events she could no longer attend due to advanced age and declining health. This showed the great responsibility the Queen saw in Kate as a senior working royal who could capably represent the Crown. Some of the engagements Kate undertook solo on the Queen's behalf included attending the Chelsea Flower Show, opening an ambulance station, unveiling a statue of Princess Diana, and traveling overseas to Denmark. The Queen's trust in passing on these duties to Kate was a testament to their affectionate bond and professional partnership.
Their close relationship was perhaps most evident in the Queen's final years when she made her home mostly at Windsor Castle. Kate and William had relocated their family to a cottage on the grounds, allowing them frequent private visits with the monarch. Photos released after her passing revealed Kate and the Queen poring over family photo albums together, enjoying each other's company during quiet moments in the Queen's private sitting room. Until the very end, Kate was devoted to providing Geat-Grandmother Elizabeth with warmth, comfort, and cherished family time - demonstrating the loving bond they shared.
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Kate now continues upholding her duties to serve King Charles III and the monarchy with the same dedication, commitment to service, and insistence on protocol that the Queen instilled in her. She will forever treasure the close relationship she was able to develop with Queen Elizabeth II over the past decade, a bond strengthened through their shared love of family, country, and royal duty. Kate is certain to pass the wisdom, tradition, and example of leadership the late Queen demonstrated onto the next generation of royals. In this way, the close partnership between these two formidable women will influence the monarchy for years to come.
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