Kate Middleton Wields More Power Than Most Royal Family Members

When Princess Catherine started dating Prince William, few thought the college romance would end in marriage. Now, she’s the queen-in-waiting and raising the future king of England. Catherine went from being a middle-class woman to one of the most renowned royals in the world, and as the years wore on, her influence within the British monarchy — and the world — only grew.

There are whispers that few understand the profound impact the Princess of Wales has on the British royal family. In Robert Jobson’s 2024 royal biography “Catherine, The Princess of Wales,” the future queen’s influence is discussed thoroughly. If insiders who spoke to Jobson are to be believed, Catherine is the reason Prince William’s relationship with King Charles III hasn’t gone the same route as Prince Harry’s. “[Catherine has] smoothed the way for William and his father to have a better relationship than they had in the past,” Jobson wrote. Apparently, William has held somewhat of a grudge against his father for favoring his work over his family in the past, but Catherine, ever the diplomat, has managed to get William to see things through his father’s eyes. “[She] is somebody who always tries to see both sides of any dispute,” an insider told Jobson.

Her cool head and emotional maturity have made Catherine a pillar of strength within the royal family, and if you’re curious just how much influence she has within the firm, you, dear reader, are in the right place.

While most would be happy to join a family of royals, Princess Catherine didn’t go into it completely blind. In 2015, while pregnant with Princess Charlotte, she set out some ground rules. Realizing how easily royal life could consume her, she sought a balance between her roles.

In “Catherine, The Princess of Wales,” Robert Jobson writes that Catherine wanted more time to balance motherhood with royal duties. She presented some of her ground rules to Queen Elizabeth II and then-Prince Charles. “She wouldn’t be pigeon-holed into carrying out particular duties and insisted on eventually having her full quota of maternity leave, away from the glare of the media and public,” Jobson wrote. Catherine wanted her life to include both royal duties and personal time for her family. Furthermore, she requested that the causes she supports align with her core values.

Being a mother is tough on the best of days, but Princess Catherine has the added pressure of knowing she’s raising Prince George to become king. According to royal biographer Angela Levin, the Princess of Wales is all too aware of this big responsibility. “Kate’s a very confident mother. But even so, she’s acutely aware of the pressure of raising George as the future monarch. It’s a very heavy burden to carry,” she told OK!

Royal expert Camilla Tominey explained that, thanks to her son’s position within the royal family, Catherine is, by all counts, the most powerful member of the firm. What she teaches young George will shape him into the adult he’ll one day become and influence the decisions he’ll make once he’s king.

Catherine and Prince William told George about his destiny when he turned seven, Robert Lacey claimed in his book “Battle of Brothers: William and Harry — the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult.” William and Catherine are trying not to make this knowledge too burdensome on George, actively ensuring he has as normal a childhood as possible. Catherine is known for spending a lot of quality time with her kids. Initially, she didn’t even want to hire a nanny for George but later realized juggling everything was unrealistic.

It doesn’t take an expert to know that having a great relationship with the media gives you incredible power, and the Princess of Wales understands this better than anyone. Since her entrance into royal life, Princess Catherine has nurtured her relationship with the British press, giving them just enough rope to keep them off her back, leading to favorable coverage. For instance, she’s provided the media with pictures of her children on their birthdays, and in turn, the paparazzi leaves them alone when the family is spending time in public.

Catherine managed the rare feat of killing the market for paparazzi shots by providing the press with candid snaps of her own. In a Channel 5 documentary, journalist Afua Hagan praised Catherine’s ability to control the press narrative. Hagan said that Catherine understands the interest in her family and that it won’t ever go away, so she sought ways to ensure the type of coverage they receive is mostly favorable.

This stands in stark contrast to how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle handled their own media coverage. In trying to keep the press off their backs by being scrupulously private, they only created more interest, which gave the paparazzi more power. Catherine, on the other hand, has managed to maintain the upper hand with some compromise, and so far, it’s worked really well.

As Queen Elizabeth II’s health problems increased, Princess Catherine’s influence within the royal family became more apparent. The public noticed it when Catherine took Her Majesty’s place on the balcony during the 2021 Remembrance Sunday service.

Queen Elizabeth II was set to attend the event, which would have been her first public appearance after hospitalization, but the monarch sprained her back and was unable to attend. What was significant was that Catherine took the queen’s usual spot at the center of the balcony, with Camilla, Queen Consort, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, on either side of her.

This trend has continued after the queen’s death, despite Camilla being the current queen. “She [Catherine] is a very strong character who has transitioned from being a young bride to being a key player within the royal family,” True Royalty TV co-founder Nick Bullen told Fox News Digital. “If you look at all the photographs now, she’s always front and center.”

Bullen explained that Catherine has fully transitioned into her role as the Princess of Wales and that she has managed to embody her role as the future queen. “This hasn’t happened by accident. She is a clever, smart, determined woman. And I’m told by people who work at the various palaces that she is quite literally the power behind the throne,” Bullen said.

True Royalty TV co-founder Nick Bullen has dubbed Princess Catherine a “branding superpower,” and indeed, pundits have been obsessed with her style ever since she entered the royal fold. Catherine’s chic, effortless, and relatable style has been dubbed the “Kate Effect,” and Bullen told Fox News Digital it all started when she showed up in a blue wrap dress for engagement photographs. Now, when Catherine wears something, the item sells out instantly.

Catherine’s influence has grown past everyday people’s fashion choices over the years. “Our audience is now as interested in hearing what she has to say as what she’s wearing,” Grazia editor Hattie Brett told The Guardian, adding that Catherine’s choice to re-wear some of her favorite pieces makes her seem in touch with reality and the public’s environmental concerns. Royal commentator and host of the “Art of History Podcast,” Amanda Matta, agrees. “I definitely believe that Kate’s public popularity gives her some soft power within the royal family,” Matta told The List exclusively. “Whenever she lends her image or her voice to a cause, there is sure to be increased public interest.”

Catherine has also been pretty open about her experiences as a mother and has championed causes that help parents make the best decisions for their children. Blogger Carly Whitewood even said that Catherine had been a great parenting example, telling The Guardian, “I’d say it’s influenced how I parent.”