On 9th January 2021, HRH Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, celebrated her 40th birthday. The occasion seems an appropriate time to reflect upon the Duchess's role within the Royal Family, and celebrate her commitment to her role.
Upon marrying Prince William on 29th April 2011, Catherine Middleton entered a new life. But the Duchess has both adapted to her new position and job, and remained her pre-royal self. Throughout her time as a royal, the Duchess has, I think, been careful to be genuine, but also kept her private life private. Yet many feel they know her, know her well, and don't feel she is hiding away. I can't quite put my finger on how she does it, but perhaps it is in the photographs she takes herself of her family and releases on special occasions, her playing the piano at her the carol concert she organised, or the passing comments about her children, her own childhood memories, or pets that give a glimpse into her private life without revealing the whole.
The Duchess does not rush into things, instead she operates out of self-assurance and with her head screwed on. She took time to accumulate her charitable causes when she first began her role, undertaking research to do things well rather than rush into something as a PR stunt.
The Duchess keeps quiet about anything controversial, so has become someone we feel safe around. During the Sussex situation, and when photos of her sunbathing topless were released a few years ago, the Duchess just carried on with her duties. Catherine never plays to the press, but she knows how to use them well to the family's advantage. She doesn't need them or public attention to feel good about herself. Instead that comes from her own family and self-confidence.
Increasingly the Duchess has shown indepence and confidence to initiate things are carve out her own role, as other royal spouses have done before her. Her projects around early years, mental health, and her recent carol concert held to encourage those who have given much to and been hardest hit by the covid-19 pandemic.
One thing I love about the Duchess that I think serves her well is her versatility and ability to move between different situations and circumstances. Perhaps it is down to her middle class upbringing, or growing up living in different places from Jordan to boarding school, or just who she is. But Catherine moves effortlessly between state dinners, to cooking on a campfire with a Scouts group, to taking part in sporting activities, to playing the diplomat on tours abroad.
Always impeccably dressed for whatever the occasion throws at her, she always takes care with her dress, sporting high street brands that the average person can afford, but also designs by leading fashion designers. When abroad, the Duchess wears outfits by designers from the country she is visiting.
For her 40th birthday, three official portraits of the Duchess were released, taken in November 2021 by photographer Paolo Roversi, at Kew Gardens. The Duchess wears dresses by Alexander McQueen, the fashion house that also designed her wedding dress, and earrings that belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and others loaned by the Queen. Even here the Duchess straddles many fences, including so much in three birthday pictures; her own choices, a throw back to her wedding, her late mother-in-law, and the Queen. Or shows her sensitivity, cleverness, and diplomatic nature. She knows a picture is worth a thousand words.
In her three portraits I see who the Duchess is. They say, "this is me," but also fit the royal mould. They seem personal, and the Duchess's self-assurance in who she is shines through (the quality which I think makes her as amazing at her role as she is, and that will stand her in good stead for the future). They also show her sense of fun, her elegance, and her inner strength and rod of steel that some may not notice at first. She is telling us so much, yet also keeping so much private. She wears her clothes rather than her clothes wearing her. It is her friendly warmth that shines through, not the fancy dresses or jewellery. She is clearly a sophisticated and elegant princess, but she is also a human who wants to help others.
So I say, "Happy Birthday Your Royal Highness." I look forward to seeing the Duchess keep on keeping on, as she knows is the slow but guaranteed path to a job well done and a role fulfilled.
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