A place to call home: WHY WILLS NEEDS KATE

The next five years are crucial as William makes some big promises

- Judy Kean

When she married Prince William 12 years ago, Kate Middleton had a good idea what she was getting in to.

She knew that ahead of her lay a life of service, of being a public figure, of supporting good causes and shaking hundreds of thousands of hands.

But what the now Princess of Wales is unlikely to have bargained on is how much her role would change in a relatively short space of time after her wedding. Rather than merely being a smiling figurehead, she is having to join her husband in his crusade to tackle some very tough issues, like homelessness and the UK’s treatment of immigrants.

The easy-going student Kate met at St Andrew’s University many years ago has matured into a man who is determined to use his position of privilege to make a difference to people’s lives. He’s throwing himself wholeheartedly into some initiatives that may have in the past been considered beyond the remit of the royal family. And everyone expects his wife to support him.

While the evolution of their roles may not be quite what Kate, 41, imagined life would be like, she has embraced the changes and is backing William 100 percent. She is also pressing on with causes close to her heart, such as early childhood development and helping youngsters get the best possible start in life.