When Kate Middleton wed Prince William in 2011, she joined the globe’s most renowned family, eventually becoming a beloved member of the Firm.
Coming from more modest roots, Kate naturally required guidance on handling the worldwide scrutiny she would face after becoming a princess. The ideal mentor for this challenge was Prince Philip, who had abandoned his Greek Royal title to become Britain’s longest-serving consort.
Philip dedicated decades to Royal service and the monarchy, earning recognition as the Queen’s devoted companion who consistently prioritized the Firm’s interests while serving as patron, president or member of over 780 organizations. This follows reports about William and Kate Middleton’s concerns regarding relocating with their children amid Royal Family “bad blood.”
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His lifelong commitment positioned him perfectly to counsel Kate on navigating life under intense public attention, reports the Mirror. When Kate joined the Firm at 29, Philip was allegedly “relieved” that his grandson, Prince William, had discovered “such a level-headed girl.”
Royal author Gyles Brandreth, who befriended Prince Philip through his National Playing Fields Association involvement, revealed that Philip shared crucial wisdom with Kate – lessons he had previously attempted to teach the late Princess Diana. Brandreth revealed in his biography Philip The Final Portrait, “One of the things that saddened – and worried – the Queen and Prince Philip about Diana, Princess of Wales, was not that she was popular, but that she allowed her popularity to go to her head.
“Once upon a time Philip and Elizabeth were seen as characters from a fairytale. The difference between them and Princess Diana, I think, is that they did not take it personally.”
He documented that Philip declared, “If you believe the attention is for you personally, you’re going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you’re supporting. It isn’t for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That’s all.
“Don’t look at the camera. The Queen never looks at the camera. Never. Look at who you are talking to. Look at who you’ve come to see. Diana looked at the camera.”
Brandreth shared from his personal observations that Kate has consistently followed Prince Philip’s guidance, noting, “I have been on walkabout with the Duchess of Cambridge. She never looks at the camera.”
The counsel Philip offered Kate resulted in the duo developing an “unexpected” bond, as the two frequently sat alongside each other at Royal occasions and even shared a comparable sense of humor. In his heartfelt tribute to the Duke who passed away in 2021, Prince William shared thoughts on the bond between Kate and Philip, stating, “I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her.”