Kate Middletonrevealed for the first time an unknown detail about her adaptation to the British royal family. During an interview, she confessed that her own in-laws used to make fun of her for a habit that, over time, she learned to change.
Despite her popularity —she led polls with a 72% approval rating— and being considered a charismatic, warm, and committed figure, not everything was easy in her early days within the monarchy.
A well-intentioned behavior that did not fit in
The conflict arose from a custom Kate had maintained since she was young: talking for too long with people. Something that, far from being frowned upon in her family environment, was considered inappropriate within the strict framework of royal etiquette.
During the so-called “walkabouts” —informal strolls where members of the royal family greet the public— conversations are expected to be brief in order to interact with as many people as possible.
It was after her first event without Prince William, during a visit to Leicester, when Kate realized the “problem.” She admitted that her family laughed at her because she spent too much time on each conversation. That observation was not minor: "I think I still have a bit more to learn… it is definitely an art," she said in that interview for Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday.
Kate Middleton y la reina Isabel.
Elizabeth II's guidance and the new rules
Queen Elizabeth was key in Kate's adaptation process. She would invite her for tea to patiently teach her the particularities of protocol: how to sit, accept gifts, curtsy, and even how to interact with the public.
The tradition of “walkabouts” was born in the 1970s during a royal tour in Australia and New Zealand. Since then, it has become an opportunity for royals to get closer to the people, although under unwritten but very clear rules.
Although there are no fixed rules, public appearances are expected to be brief, dynamic, and kept within a reasonable time. However, on more than one occasion, Kate was seen losing track of time in the middle of lively conversations.
A recent example occurred at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Al Hussein and Princess Rajwa in Jordan, in 2023. While guests lined up to greet the newlyweds, William had to signal to his wife to end her conversation.
Kate, true to her empathetic nature and her ability to connect with people of all ages, recognized the need to adjust her behavior. She also recalled her years as a boarding student at Marlborough College, where she went from being a shy young woman to winning everyone's affection for her good heart and warmth.
Today, although she continues to cultivate that natural charm that connects her with people, she has learned to manage it. As in her boarding school days, she knew how to adapt to a new environment, this time, the most protocol-driven and demanding of all: the British royal family.
