The Queen had concerns over Kate Middleton's work ethic before marrying Prince William, a royal source has revealed.
- The Queen had fears over Kate Middleton's suitability to marry Prince William, a royal source has revealed.
- Her Majesty reportedly worried that the Duchess of Cambridge did not have enough experience, especially in the workplace, to fulfil the high-pressure role of a full-time working royal.
- In other royal news, Princess Diana's bridesmaid marries partner at age 54 in 'intimate' wedding.
The Queen had 'grave concerns' over Kate Middleton's suitability as Prince William's wife, according to a royal source.
While it's no secret that the Duchess of Cambridge holds a lofty position within the Royal Family today, not everyone was always so sure that she could fulfill the relentless duties of a future royal consort.
Her Majesty reportedly fretted that Kate, who hails from an upper-middle-class background in Berkshire, lacked the life experience needed to take on the high-pressure role.
"Privately she had grave concerns and believed that Kate needed to have a job and an identity in her own right before an engagement was announced," Kate Nicholl writes in her new book, The Making of a Royal Romance.
At the time of her engagement to Prince William in 2010, the 29-year-old hadn't exactly built herself a strong professional resumeé. After graduating from St. Andrew's University in 2004, Kate worked for her family's party supplies company, Party Pieces, and held down a part-time job as an accessories buyer for British retailer Jigsaw. However, other than these two stints, she had relatively few career credentials when she accepted the Duke's proposal.
"There was a phase where she appeared to be doing very little really," royal expert Phil Dampier added. "The Queen once remarked Kate doesn't do very much so I think she had a fairly long entrance to the Royal Family."
It's also been said that the Queen feared Kate Middleton's lavish lifestyle prior to marrying Prince William would negatively affect the reputation of the Royal Family. The Reading native, whose family are self-made millionaires, enjoyed a cushy existence even as a commoner—with sun-soaked vacations to Caribbean islands and skiing trips to the Swiss Alps a regular occurrence in her calendar.
According to Nicholl, Her Majesty disapproved of these "frivolous displays of wealth" and ordered Kate to scale back the opulence once she became a royal—especially in light of the 2008 economic downturn.
Since then, the Duchess has fully embraced the industrious duties of her position and is often considered one of the hardest-working royals in the iconic institution.
As well as being the proud mother of Prince George, Prince Charlotte, and Prince Louis, she also observes a jam-packed schedule of public engagements in both the UK and overseas. Many of her commitments revolve around her philanthropy, with early childhood development and mental health often regarded as two of the Duchess's most famous patronages.
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