When Kate Middleton wed Prince William, she took on one of the monarchy’s most heavily scrutinized roles. According to a source, the Princess of Wales found it complicated to take on Princess Diana’s former title. The weight of the constant comparisons that followed made navigating it even more difficult.
Kate Middleton wanted to respect Princess Diana’s legacy while carving out a distinct royal identity, sources claim
Princess Catherine’s public image has reportedly been carefully shaped to distinguish her from the late Princess Diana. Royal expert Richard Kay noted that the future Queen Consort “is not Diana, she doesn’t want to be that sort of star, and I think on one level she’s highly flattered by” the comparisons.
On Channel 5’s documentary Kate: Our New Diana?, the expert explored how the two royals’ lives and public roles both aligned and differed. In contrast to Princess Diana, the documentary noted that Middleton “never sought the limelight, she fell in love with a Prince and therefore took on the role.”
“Diana was an international star and still is. On the front page of magazines, she still sells magazines,” noted Kay. Royal expert Simon Vigar chimed in, calling Diana a remarkable member of the Royal Family. He believed she was one of a kind, and that no one has ever matched her fame.
“Kate has acknowledged herself what a force for change Diana was, and I think William and Kate are trying to follow in his mother’s footsteps and then take that change on and keep it going,” Vigar added, per The Daily Mirror.
Richard Kay pointed to a major difference in how Princess Catherine and Princess Diana began their relationships with the Royals. Having had a multi-year relationship with Prince William before their wedding, Kate Middleton was able to gradually adapt to public scrutiny. Diana and King Charles, however, became engaged after just half a year of dating.
Additionally, the late Princess negotiated with the press for privacy and offered posed photos in return. Catherine, in contrast, exerts much more authority over photos of her children. Publishing them online herself immediately reduces what paparazzi images are worth.
