Royal Experts Agree Prince William Is Happy When Kate Middleton Takes The Spotlight

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Marriages in the royal family are under intense scrutiny and public interest, and not all of them last. But when it comes to William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, the two have proved themselves to be the perfect pairing. While each of them can and do go on official outings as individuals, it appears to royal experts that William is particularly happy when Kate is by his side or even front and center at public events.

"William is very happy for Catherine to take the spotlight ... They are clearly a double act," Simon Vigar, a longtime royal correspondent, told Hello!.

Having Kate with him allows William to relax a bit since it's not all eyes on him all the time. Vigar thinks that their partnership will continue to thrive, and Kate may continue to take center stage during some occasions. "It's very hard to do [William's] job on your own, and I think we'll see an even stronger double act when the time comes, when William becomes king," Vigar explained. Kate is "obviously very, very important to him personally and publicly."

So far, it looks like William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have been able to avoid the marital conflict that plagued King Charles' first marriage — jealousy from Charles over Diana's popularity. William being comfortable with Kate in the spotlight shows his confidence and security within himself as well as his love for his wife, even while his marriage in some way mirrors that of his father and mother. "William and Catherine definitely have the wow factor that Diana had — and which spawned Di-mania," Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent, told the Mirror. "People today are equally mesmerized by the new Princess of Wales, so tall, so elegant and so chatty, but William just seems to purr with pride that his wife is such a star."

Thriving in each other's public company also highlights the overall strength of William and Kate's marriage. It shows how they'll literally stand next to each other through whatever comes. Russell Myers, author of the book "William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story," wrote that the reason their marriage works so well is because of their "support for one another throughout their roles as working royals and as parents to their three young children," according to InStyle.

William has made it clear that he misses Kate when she's not with him at public outings, at least in certain circumstances where he knows she'd shine. During a visit to Wales in March 2026, William was trying to make a pasty — a traditional, handheld pie filled with beef and potatoes. As he struggled with the technique, he said (via the Daily Mail), "This is where I need my wife." Clearly, William and Kate are the perfect pairing.