Kate Middleton's clever trick for avoiding personal questions revealed

Kate Middleton uses a simple technique to divert questions about her private life at public engagements

Kate Middleton
(Image credit: Chris Jackson / Staff / Getty Images)

Kate Middleton’s genius trick for deflecting questions about her private life has finally been revealed—and we think we might borrow it ourselves. 


Kate Middleton’s clever tactic for fending off awkward questions has been revealed after she used it on an unassuming celebrity actor at an awards ceremony. 

As a senior member of the Royal Family, the Duchess of Cambridge is expected to represent the British monarchy from the moment she leaves her home at Kensington Palace—and that often means repressing much of her individual identity. 

It’s been said that Kate Middleton copies Princess Diana’s behavior when speaking with commoners, preferring to adopt a listening position rather than divulging information about herself. However, when this strategy doesn’t work, she often whips out a secret weapon—and it's so discreet you mightn’t even notice it. 

Kate Middleton. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the "No Time To Die" World Premiere at Royal Albert Hall on September 28, 2021 in London, England.

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the No Time to Die premiere on September 28, 2021 in London 

(Image credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images)

Rami Malek experienced Kate’s genius trick for protecting her privacy when he met the Duchess at the BAFTAs in 2019, after asking her a question she didn’t seem to want to answer. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, the No Time to Die star admitted he caught her “off guard” with a sweet but undeniably personal query. 

“I just looked at Princess Kate at one point and I said, ‘This must be exhausting.’ And she said, ‘Why?’ [I replied] ‘You just had a baby, right?’ I think she was taken aback,” he said. Kate had indeed just welcomed her third child, Prince Louis, with husband Prince William the previous year—but the subject of babies appeared off-limits for the glamorous royal. 

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall during Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, on June 08, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Kate Middleton with Prince Louis in 2019 

(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Rami recalled that the Duchess quickly deflected the question, turning the focus back to him by asking about his wellbeing. 

“[I’m like] “No, how are you?’ And in the most regal, elegant way, she gave me a look. But you can tell. Imagine, you’re dressed to the nines, have to talk to all these actors,” he added. 

“They’re so careful. But it was so cool. I think I caught her off guard for a second.”

While the Duchess traditionally steers clear of conversations about her family life, she has shared a number of brief updates and fun facts about her children in the past. Kate revealed Princess Charlotte’s favorite snack at a royal engagement in 2021, as well as Prince George’s penchant for beetroot during a TV appearance on Mary Berry’s Christmas special in 2019. She has also joked that her children have grown tired of her constantly taking photos, another clever trick she uses to protect her family from the paparazzi

“Everyone's like, 'Mummy, please stop taking photographs!'" she said during a recorded phone call with one of the winners of her Hold Still competition. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.