While Her Majesty may bemoan the things going wrong for the royal family in recent years, she is said to be “incredibly proud” of one of the few things going right.
Specifically, the Duchess of Cambridge’s spectacular ascension to future queen.
Woman’s Day understands the monarch has confided in her closest aides that she feels “her work with Catherine is done, and she’s all set to one day be Queen Consort to the future King William – she could do it now, if she had to”.
Her Majesty is said to be very proud of the Duchess of Cambridge.
(Getty)Palace insiders tell us that the Queen has “poured everything into preparing Catherine for the road that lies ahead for her – and she’s proved to be an A-plus student”.
This comes after the duchess, 39, wowed at last week’s Earthshot Prize, a climate initiative that is the brainchild of Prince William, where she made her own flawless speech and dazzled in an Alexander McQueen gown recycled from a 2011 appearance in Los Angeles.
“Her Majesty thought Catherine was magnificent, and has been quite simply a wonderful addition and asset to the royal family ever since she married Wills,” says a source.
Kate’s climb to the top of royal popularity polls – and the Queen’s affections – has been a slow, and at times fraught, journey.
“Before she and William were engaged, Kate copped a barrage of toxicity from within and outside of the monarchy,” says a source.
“There were the sneers that she was a lazy layabout who was waiting for a ring, and the fact that she stayed silent and held her head up high earned her a lot of respect from the Queen, which has only grown over the years.
“As soon as Wills and Kate made things official, the Queen took Kate under her wing and slowly but surely taught her everything she knew about the job.
“Kate proved an excellent pupil, and the Queen’s instinct that she was born to rule has proven right several times over since then.”
