KATE'S SECRET MEETINGS with the Queen

As Queen Elizabeth II enters the final chapter of her life, she's quietly guiding Kate Middleton to follow in her footsteps

Queen Elizabeth II Q typically throws a series of garden parties at two of her royal residences each spring and summer, welcoming thousands from all walks of life to soak in the splendor of her estates. But in the wake of the monarch's declining health, she's had to rely on help from family members - like granddaughter-in-law Kate Middleton. On May 18, all eyes were on the Duchess of Cambridge as she confidently stepped onto the lawn at Buckingham Palace in a coral Emilia Wickstead dress and smart Jane Taylor hat and played host to Her Majesty's guests alongside a handful of other relatives. From her cool demeanor and regal posture to her friendly smile and the diamonds dangling from her ears, "Kate looked every inch a future queen," says an observer.

It's no wonder, as she's learning from the best: Elizabeth herself. "Kate and the queen share a deep bond that few know about," explains a royals source, who says the women have "grown even closer" following the death of the monarch's husband, Prince Philip, last year. While the queen, 96, has had to take a step back from her duties in recent months amid ongoing mobility issues, Kate's workload has steadily increased. "People don't realize it, but she works 50 hours a week because, these days, she has so much responsibility," says the source. "Kate still always finds time to see Elizabeth, though. She's even been making trips to Windsor Castle [where the queen is now based] for secret meetings."

THE INNER CIRCLE