Kate Middleton Has 'Come a Long Way' in This Aspect of Royal Life She Once Found 'Nerve-Racking'

Yahoo

19-03-2025

Kate Middleton may be a future queen—and, let's face it, pretty darn talented at most hobbies and pursuits she tries—but there's one aspect of royal life she initially wasn't drawn to: public speaking.
The Princess of Wales, then the Duchess of Cambridge, gave her first public speech as a working royal 13 years ago today on March 19, 2012, 11 months after she married into the royal family on April 29, 2011. The speech was in support of one of her first patronages, East Anglia Children's Hospices, and on that day in 2012 Kate was opening a children's hospice and 'slightly nervous' as she gave a speech at the occasion, according to The Daily Express.
Speaking of husband Prince William, Kate said in her remarks, 'A view of his that I share is that through teamwork, so much can be achieved.'
Though she was nervous about that first speech—after making it, Kate relatably told someone present, 'I find doing speeches nerve-racking'—in the past 13 years, Kate has now conducted hundreds of engagements, sometimes with public speaking components, and has stepped out as a forefront expert in early years development and children's mental health.
'Catherine's public speaking style has come a long way from her early attempts,' royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Daily Express. 'Her speeches now reflect her natural charm and enthusiasm.'
'It is no mean feat to acclimatize oneself to the demands of one of the most pressurized public roles in the world, that of the future queen of England,' he continued.
As The Daily Express put it, Kate 'began her royal journey in William's shadow, and was shy at times in the early days.' That was a long time ago, though, and now 'her confidence has grown,' the outlet reported, and she often undertakes solo engagements, like Monday's outing to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Irish Guards.
'Catherine reportedly initially confided that she found public speaking 'nerve-wracking' and was clearly nervous in her early speeches, such as that given at the East Anglia Children's Hospice,' Fitzwilliams said. 'However, she now speaks in public with conviction and poise—her confidence comes both from experience and also from mastering her brief and also believing in it.'
After a difficult 2024 that saw Kate undergo major abdominal surgery, face a cancer diagnosis, and be away from public life for the majority of the year, the Princess of Wales' gradual return to royal duty continues. So far in 2025 she has made 11 public appearances, and 'the pressures of ill health, from which she has recently suffered so traumatically, mean that she is slowly working towards a normal schedule of engagements,' Fitzwilliams said.
Kate's role in the monarchy continues to grow and expand, and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK that 'She has learned the craft of being a royal over a number of years and earned her place as a senior member of the family. Gradually, she has also earned the respect of the public and, I believe, of the rest of the family.'
'We look at her now not just as William's wife, but as our future queen,' Bond added.
Read the original article on InStyle