How Kate Middleton won over the British people?
The Princess of Wales has followed the example of Queen Elizabeth II by showing a traditional image and a sense of responsibility in her public appearances.
Kate Middleton (42 years old) has appeared on thousands of covers and front pages with negative criticism and comments before becoming a public figure supported and admired. On March 22 (local time), when Kate announced that she had cancer and was in the “early stages of chemotherapy” through a video, not only the media but also individuals on social networks, who had made fun of her health for the past two months, were shocked.
Before she became famous around the world as the Duchess of Cambridge and then Princess of Wales, and even before she was known as the wife of the heir to the throne, Prince William, Kate climbed Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, with her father, Michael Middleton. She comes from a family of sports-minded people who never shied away from a challenge, which has shaped her strong spirit and determination.
“We have climbed many mountains together over the years. As a family, we will climb this one with you,” Kate’s younger brother, James William Middleton, wrote on Instagram on Friday, alongside an old photo of him and Kate as children smiling in the wild.
From an unloved Kate…
Soon after news of Kate’s relationship with Prince William broke, the British tabloid press accused her of being a “social climber”. Kate and her sister, Pippa, were dubbed the “Wisteria sisters.” This was a play on words, comparing them to wisteria, a common flower on the facades of residential buildings in London, known for their beauty, fragrance and ability to climb quickly. In that sense, Kate and Pippa were seen by the media as using their relationship with William to elevate their social status.
Kate was also dubbed “Waity Katie” by the media to mock the young girl who was desperately waiting for Prince William to propose. She was also seen as a “commoner”, criticized for appearing nervous in public, having a shrill voice or wearing plain clothes. In the time of Princess Diana, who was considered a modern and glamorous figure, such conservative and traditional things were not favored. However, these are exactly the characteristics that were most admired in the late Elizabeth II era.
Even the Netflix series “The Crown” is based on the theory that Carole Middleton, Princess Kate’s mother, carefully arranged her daughter’s path to the top of society. She decided to withdraw Kate from Edinburgh University after she had studied there for a year and transferred her to St. Andrews, where Prince William studied. This decision set the stage for Kate and William’s romantic relationship and eventually their marriage.
…until the perfect Kate
On April 29, 2011, the wedding of Princess Kate and Prince William took place at Westminster Abbey. Since then, Kate has not made any mistakes or caused any controversy, at least in the eyes of a part of traditional and conservative British society that values the monarchy and its standards. She is a devoted mother to her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, and an unconditionally supportive wife. She was once devoted to Queen Elizabeth II and is now supportive of her father-in-law, King Charles III. When appearing in public or at events, Kate always behaves properly. In other words, she has all the qualities a future queen should have.
Some critics have suggested that Kate’s behavior is more calculated than natural. Hilary Mantel, a writer known to many British people for the film “The Tudors” (Vietnamese title: The Tudor Dynasty), said that Kate was “perfectly created” without any flaws, “very different from Diana, who was clumsy and lacked emotional control through her every gesture”. However, those who closely followed her every move