The Princess of Wales is widely regarded as one of the most popular members of the royal family. Insiders and experts often remark on what makes Princess Kate so relatable to the British public, whether it's her refreshing approach to parenting, her ability to show 'real leadership' within the Palace or the fact that she has consistently ripped up the royal rulebook in a bid to modernise the monarchy.
But it seems that she had one particularly important and impactful mentor within the royal fold: the late Prince Philip. In a 2021 biography about the late royal titled Philip: The Final Portrait, author and journalist Gyles Brandreth wrote about the one piece of advice he gave to Princess Kate, his 'golden rule' for navigating life in the royal spotlight. During her early years in the family, Prince Philip reportedly told Kate: "If you think the attention is on you personally, you’ll end up in trouble... The focus is on your role, what you do, what you support. It’s not focused on you as an individual. You’re not a celebrity. You represent the royal family."
