The Real Reason Prince Edward Is Concerned About Kate Middleton
Before Kate Middleton became a member of the royal family, she was a regular member of the public like Meghan Markle (via Insider). However, it would seem that her ties to royalty go way back to the Tudor period. According to The Spectator, Middleton is related to Mary and Anne Boleyn through being a relative to Sir Thomas Leighton and his wife Elizabeth Knollys. And, as Romper points out, through this ancestor Middleton and her husband Prince William are very distantly related as 12th cousins.
Even though the Middleton family has had royal ties over generations, the modern Middleton's were far removed from the royal circle before the future Duchess of Cambridge married into the royal family. According to The Seattle Times, Middleton was a "considered a commoner in the British tradition of class distinction." As such, some members of the British royal family were concerned as to how Middleton would fare as the future Queen consort — including Prince Edward.
The royal family adores Kate Middleton, according to Prince Edward
Shortly after Kate Middleton undertook her first rounds of royal engagements in February 2011 (via Town & Country), Prince Edward spoke of his family's fondness of the Duchess of Cambridge and how proud they were of her. "She has taken to royal life like a duck to water. She's very gracious and the family is very proud of her," Edward said (via The Express).
"It was never going to be easy for Catherine as the whole world is watching her every move. She's dealt with it very well, though," he continued. "I think Catherine can only grow in confidence now her first official engagements are out of the way." He also revealed that Queen Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip were "very protective" of Middleton, citing that Prince William grew up in the public eye while she hadn't.
But, as Edward noted, Middleton has dealt "with it very well and the family supports her as much as we can." He added, "I think William and Harry, as well as my brother, have tried their best to make her transition into public life as gentle as possible." Edward also described Middleton as "absolutely lovely, very charming indeed, and a perfect companion for William."
Kate Middleton didn't always find adapting to royal life easy
However, it wasn't always easy for the Duchess of Cambridge. According to Princess Diana's biographer, Andrew Morton, there was a period when Middleton wasn't entirely comfortable with being in the spotlight as Prince William's girlfriend, fiancé, wife, and her future as a Queen Consort. Talking about Meghan Markle's admission that she wasn't told about the national anthem or any "formal training" in general (via Insider), Morton said that despite Middleton would have been aware of the royal family and how it works, nothing could have prepared her "for the level of intensity and the level of interest in you."
Despite Middleton making her transition from public to royal life look seamless, Morton says that it took her "quite a long time" to find balance and be "in control and in command of what she's doing." Morton added that it took Princess Diana years to fit into the royal fold, and she was already "an aristocrat."
The Duchess of Cambridge has been compared to the late Prince Philip
Kate Middleton has certainly found her footing as a member of the royal family, with some even comparing her to Prince Philip in terms of how she supports her husband on his royal duties. As royal biographer Penny Junor told People, Middleton is "never trying to outshine [William] in any way", adding that she "still has a lot to say herself." This sentiment is echoed by a "close source" to the royals, who described Middleton as "the sort of woman who will take on whatever she needs to," and that "if she needs to step up to the plate, she does it — and she always has."
Describing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a "formidable team," it certainly matches with what Prince William has said about his wife. "Me and Catherine, particularly, we support each other and we go through those moments together and we kind of evolve and learn together," the Duke of Cambridge said in the 2020 BBC documentary "Football, Prince William and our Mental Health." If that wasn't enough, many have praised the Duchess of Cambridge on how she's raising her three children. "She is an adoring mother, and she is contributing publicly the way we would want her to," a royal source told W Magazine. "You see it more and more. The young student has turned into our future Queen."