Prince William and Kate Middleton are known for their down-to-earth approach to royal engagements, and the Princess of Wales has a particular way of connecting with people
Daniel Windham Assistant Editor
14:34, 04 Oct 2025Updated 14:35, 04 Oct 2025
The Princess of Wales, Patron of Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice, has her hand painted by nine-year-old Lottie
Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, are widely lauded for their grounded approach to royal duties. However, insiders reveal that Catherine has a particularly remarkable way of connecting with people, often leaving her security team scrambling to keep pace.
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, who has encountered the Princess of Wales numerous times in her capacity as joint president of the Scout Association, offered a glimpse into Catherine’s unique approach during royal visits.
Speaking to Richard Eden of the Daily Mail at the Employee Network Awards held at the London Hilton on Park Lane, Fields shared how Catherine instantly makes people feel comfortable.
“I wonder if her security has an easy job trying to mind her,” Fields mused. “As soon as she arrives, she makes everyone feel comfortable. She’ll get down on the ground… to their level… physically their level.”
The Princess of Wales meets youngsters at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire(Image: James Glossop/The Times/PA Wire)
He went on to say: “If they’re sat down on the floor, reading maps or drawing or doing art or being creative, she’s going to sit on the floor as well,” reports the Mirror.
Fields noted that this small yet considerate gesture helps those around her feel immediately at ease, underscoring Catherine’s innate warmth and empathy.
This approach isn’t merely theoretical. The Princess of Wales and her husband, Prince William, showcased it firsthand during a 2016 visit to a children’s shelter in Delhi, India.
The Prince and Princess of Wales(Image: PA)
Despite the apprehensions of their security team about potential chaos, the couple decided to leave some of their protection officers behind to engage more openly with the children.
Sanjoy Roy, co-founder of the Salaam Baalak Trust, revealed: “When William and Catherine came to see this project, [representatives] called saying, ‘They’re happy to come without security.’ I tried to dissuade them, saying, ‘No can do – it’s too dangerous. Just don’t come.’ But Will and Kate said, ‘No, we really want to.’ They were so wonderfully respectful,” Roy added. “It was quiet, calm, and meaningful. No drama – just genuine care.”
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge visit Pan Bari (Image: Getty Images)
The couple interacted with children at the railway station shelter, many of whom had survived trafficking, violence, and gang exploitation.
In May, the Duke of Sussex lost his appeal against the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which determined he should receive a different level of protection when in the UK.
The challenge arose after Harry and Meghan left the UK and initially moved to Canada, then California, following their announcement to step back as senior royals.
Following the ruling, Prince Harry, 40, stated he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK.”