At Home With Kate Monarch In Waiting

Polished and prepared, the duchess is gearing up to be the next queen

She was a vision to behold. While commemorating Remembrance Sunday, Duchess Kate looked elegant in a flawlessly fitted, military-inspired jacket designed by one of Princess Diana’s favourite couturiers.

Between her refined posture, solemn gaze and the chic pearl-and-diamond earrings borrowed from the Queen herself, Kate appeared undeniably regal – and it’s no accident. Over the past several years, as Her Majesty prepares to step down from the throne, the 38-year-old royal has been gradually shifting her mindset to that of a monarch.

“Kate has flourished into a queen-in-waiting in front of everyone's eyes,” a palace insider tells Woman’s Day, “and the royal family could not be more pleased.”

As rumours heat up that the Queen is officially set to hand over her crown at age 94, after an historic 67-year reign, we hear that while she plans to name Prince Charles, 72, as king, she will not grant the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, the title of queen.

“The intention is for Camilla to be known as princess consort when the prince accedes to the throne,” a spokesperson for the royal couple confirms. “This was announced at the time of the marriage and there has been absolutely no change at all.”

When Prince William, 38, takes over from his father, his wife Kate will become our next queen, with Her Majesty reportedly deciding it to be the appropriate title because “she’s William’s first and only wife, so she has all the appropriate qualifications from both a popular and practical perspective”, tells our insider.