Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth shared a special relationship with each other. When the Queen was still alive, she regularly hung out with Middleton, Prince William, and their kids.
Kate Middleton's Photos From Her First Meeting With Queen Elizabeth Were Never Leaked
But it was during Kate Middleton's visit to Balmoral for the first time that she managed to prove to Queen Elizabeth and the entire royal family that she was trustworthy. In return, the then-monarch gave the mom of three a rare perk.
According to royal author Katie Nicholl, the Queen allowed Middleton to bring her personal camera along with her when she visited Balmoral years ago. This perk wasn't afforded to other royal newcomers because there were always fears that photos would be leaked to the press.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Won't Celebrate Christmas With the Royal Family? Sussexes Allegedly Snubbed King Charles' Invitation Even Though It's Their First Holiday Without Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth Reportedly Broke Protocol For Kate Middleton
But the pictures that Middleton took back then were never leaked to the public, and this proved that she is very trustworthy.
"On Catherine's first visit to Balmoral, Her Late Majesty the Queen broke protocol and let her bring her camera as she knew Catherine loved photography. Till today, no pictures ever leaked from her or her circle. That's why she is respected. Catherine is trustworthy, loyal to the UK, her family, the Royal Family, and the Crown," a source said (via Express).
In her book Kate: The Future Queen, Nicholl shared some details from Middleton and the Queen's first meeting, which took place two years before the Prince and Princess of Wales tied the knot.
"Until now the Queen had met Kate only fleetingly at the wedding of Peter and Autumn Phillips, but she went out of her way to make her feel welcome, giving her permission to take pictures at Balmoral. As a woman who has lived her entire life in the public eye, the Queen rarely lets her guard down, and very few apart from her family and closest friends get to see the real Elizabeth," she wrote.
Queen Elizabeth Was Impressed With Kate Middleton, Royal Biographer Claimed
According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, the Queen was also impressed with Middleton for loving Prince William for who he is and not for his title.
"The thing about Kate is the Queen was impressed she adored and loved William for himself, not for his title. She spends a lot more time supporting and nurturing the relationship between William and Catherine than she did with Charles and Diana. It's pretty clear she wasn't going to make that mistake again," he told OK! Magazine.
Morton also said that everything that happened in Prince William and Middleton's relationship was quite strategic and thought through.
"In the beginning, nobody in the royal household expected for a second that the university romance with Catherine and William would continue for any time after they graduated, like most college romances which disintegrate under the intense scrutiny of jobs and geography," he said (via Vanity Fair).
Check back for more stories and updates about Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth here at EpicStream!