Kate Middleton ‘wasn’t always comfortable’ with royal duties: expert

Kate Middleton has earned a reputation for being gracious during her public engagements since she married Prince William in 2011.

However, the Duchess of Cambridge, 41, “wasn’t always comfortable” undertaking royal engagements, expert Rebecca English recently claimed.

English — who is the Daily Mail’s royal editor — appeared in the publication’s Palace Confidential series and gave her take on Middleton’s journey to the crown.

“I’ve always said about the Princess of Wales that I don’t think she’s always been the strongest communicator,” English explained.

She added: “It’s been a learning curve for her. I don’t think she’s necessarily always been comfortable with that.”

The journalist then touched upon Middleton’s visit to Maidenhead Rugby Club in England on Wednesday, noting how the mother of three was participating in a sports game as part of her Shaping Us campaign.

English dissected a moment when Middleton was involved in a discussion with a group of men about fatherhood.

The expert remarked: “But she sat there as the only woman among this table of very successful sportsmen and she really held the floor [by] asking the right questions, directing them to different people, listening to their answers.”

The princess seemed “very comfortable” talking about her areas of expertise, with English revealing: “I could really see her come into her own. I was really impressed with her.”

Middleton also made a big splash earlier this month when she attended Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif’s royal wedding in Jordan.

She shined in a rose gold, sequined Jenny Packham dress and glittering royal jewels for the posh event.

She even rocked Princess Diana’s Lover’s Knot Tiara when she joined William, 40, to meet the newlyweds following the ceremony.

On June 1, Middleton made an unexpected appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show where she stole the attention.

However, some people feared she overshadowed King Charles with her surprise stopover. But the monarch, 74, was actually fine with it.

“Whilst it is Charles’ head that wears the Crown, it is [Prince] William, Catherine and their children that will steal the limelight,” royal expert Robert Jobson wrote in an article for the Daily Mail at the time.

He went on: “They are bound to. And it is right. This time, it will be with Charles’ blessing — for he knows for monarchy to survive it must be relevant to the younger generation.”