Crown & Glory - The Queen's Gift To Kate

The duchess has proven to be worthy

When Prince William first fell in love with Kate Middleton as fresh-faced university students, critics wondered how the young “commoner” would cope with the pressures and demands of marrying the second-in-line to the throne.

But the future Duchess of Cambridge set about proving her doubters wrong, and now, after almost a decade of flawless royal duty, Woman’s Day can reveal she’s been summoned to begin her training to be Queen. And the person in charge of preparing Kate for the crown? The monarch herself.

“Kate’s been secretly meeting with the Queen and her most senior aides for the last three months,” reveals our palace source. “There’s a feeling of importance and urgency, with the Queen determined to pass on all she can so that Kate is prepared for what’s to come.”