Now that summer is over, the royals are back from Balmoral, and Princess Charlotte has started school, Kate Middleton has resumed her public duties. This week, she attended an opening for a garden she helped design in Wisley, where she walked with Mary Berry and even rode a tractor. It’s part of her project to promote childhood learning and outdoor experiences, and she gave a speech outlining her hopes for the garden. In a tweet that shared the speech, The Sun’s Emily Andrews pointed out that Kate has come a long way as a public speaker in the years since she wed Prince William in 2011.
It’s obvious to the people who actually know her, too. For this week’s cover story, People magazine spoke to royal insiders, biographers, and friends about Kate's increasing comfort with her role as the future queen. “She is now more open with what she wants to say, and funnily enough, she is more relaxed as well,” said a family friend.
The magazine cites her work with a task force focused on childhood mental health and early intervention as proof that she is taking her role seriously. Her engagement with the experts was genuine, said one participant. “She is finding her voice,” added a palace source.
Becoming a parent has definitely affected Kate’s public demeanor. She and William often talk about their children when talking to well-wishers at public engagements. “She is an adoring mother, and she is contributing publicly in the way we would want her to,” a royal insider said . “You see it more and more. The young student has turned into our future Queen.”
Back when Kate and William got to know each other as first-year students at St. Andrew’s University in 2001, Kate had a reputation for being a bit shy. Of course, there were early signs that it wasn’t entirely the case, like the time she boldly walked in a charity fashion show in a very sheer dress. Since she officially joined the royal family in 2011, she’s been in a role where she’s had to meet strangers and make small talk daily. Though she’s spoken about that shyness as recently as 2017, her easy manner with onlookers—especially with children—makes it clear that she has become more, well, regal over the last few years.
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