- As the Prince and Princess of Wales appear to scale up their duties, royal experts have weighed in on the future Queen's popularity.
- "I think that the fact that Princess Kate is doing more is very important, because she's so popular, both of the Waleses are," explained royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams.
- As a result, Princess Kate is expected to be "a standout member of the Firm and a key to the family in 2026."
The Prince and Princess of Wales have emerged as the leaders of the royal family. And from their recent house move to Forest Lodge to major changes to their official roles in 2026, the royal couple has been front and centre.
The future King and Queen have taken on more responsibilities already this year, with Princess Kate noticeably scaling up her public appearances.
In fact, she has joined Mind Over Mountains for a guided walk in the Peak District, supported the Rugby Football League at Wakefield Trinity RLFC and visited Family Action's Children's Trauma Therapy Service in Bradford in the last week alone. Not to mention, the Prince and Princess' recent visit to Scotland where the future Queen took centre stage.
This, according to royal experts, is no coincidence, with Princess Kate playing a key role in the success of the monarchy in 2026.
"I think that the fact that Princess Kate is doing more, I think that's very important, because she's so popular, both of the Waleses are," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explained to The People’s Channel.
"She also has significant influence over fashion," he added. "She is an icon helping produce and launch brands.
"With the continued improvement of her condition, she will be a standout member of the Firm and a key to the family in 2026."
In this Sunday Times bestseller, royal author correspondent Robert Jobson takes a look at the popular royal's journey from university undergraduate to the Princess of Wales.
Author and former Vanity Fair editor, Tina Brown, offers insight into how the biggest moments in recent royal history unfolded - from Camilla's royal ascension, to Harry and Meghan's departure.
Published in 2022 ahead of his 40th birthday, royal author Robert Jobson's account on the life of William, the Prince of Wales and future King.
This is not the first time royal insiders have weighed in on the 'Kate effect', with experts previously referring to her as "a real asset" to the royal family. And when asked last year whether Princess Kate was the royal family's "secret weapon", expert Ingrid Seward responded: "She is the weapon, [but] not a secret one."
Well, that's that.
