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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sophie Goodall

How Kate Middleton went from 'Royal plus one' to 'calling the shots' within the family

Kate Middleton has been said to have displayed her growing influence within the royal family during the Coronation of King Charles.

And now one royal expert is claiming the Princess of Wales now “calls the shots”, after she was initially referred to as a ‘WAG’ for a stretch of her relationship with Prince William.

Kate was seen to play a key role in the proceedings throughout the historic ceremony last weekend, as she walked with her husband and future king, the Prince of Wales, as the Express reported.

According to royal expert, Camilla Tominey, Kate was initially treated as a "plus one" during the start of her relationship with William, often being referred to as a WAG.

Kate played a key role at the coronation (PA)

However, the Princess of Wales supposedly now has more leverage within the royal family and has been said to have the power to “call the shots”.

Camilla said that Kate’s is now seen as having the status of ‘Queen-in-waiting', which comes with more influence over key events within the royal family.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Ms Tominey said Kate, who "was once seen by some as a mere WAG”, had “demonstrated her growing power and influence at the Coronation of King Charles III".

At the Coronation, her parents Michael and Carole Middleton and siblings Pippa and James were seated just six rows behind the royals, which Ms Tominey said "left little doubt over the Princess of Wales’s growing influence".

The Princess had influence over the guest list for the historic event (PA)

A number of people did not get an invite to the historic event as Charles hoped to keep the guest list down.

But Kate's family took prime position in Westminster Abbey on Saturday, and the Telegraph reported that Kate had asked for extra invitations for her team.

Organisers reportedly granted her the extra invitations, allowing her to have more of a say about who attended the event.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also arrived late to the event, forcing the King and Queen Consort to wait in their carriage before they could enter the Abbey.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived late to the event (PA)

Royal biographer Omid Scobie, one of the authors behind Finding Freedom, believes the delay may have been down to the Wales' children.

He wrote in Harper's Bazaar: "The room for error was nil. And thankfully, due to the weeks of rehearsals that the royals took part in ahead of the Coronation, the day went ahead smoothly.

"In fact, apart from Prince William and Princess Kate joining the procession late (children were to blame, a source tells me)."

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