Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

William is 'proud' of Kate Middleton's solo trip and may have put secret note in bag - expert

The Duchess of Cambridge is in the middle of her eagerly anticipated two-day working visit to Denmark.

She is spending two days by herself in Copenhagen on a working visit with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to learn how the country has become a world leader in its approach to early childhood development.

Kate also received an official welcome from Danish Queen Margrethe in honour of the long-standing relationship between the two royal families and met with Crown Princess Mary.

And even though Kate may have found arriving in Denmark without her husband Prince William, royal expert and author Ingrid Seward says the duchess will have taken it in her "well-shod stride" - and back home in the UK, William will be "very proud".

Kate on the first day of her trip to Copenhagen yesterday (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Kate waves to those greeting her in Copenhagen (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

She told the Mirror: "The 40-year-old Duchess of Cambridge has started what looks like her toughest working year yet with a solo trip to Denmark.

"Kate loves a challenge and arriving in Copenhagen on her own without the support of William might have been a little testing, but Kate will take it all in her well-shod stride.

"She is confident and she is also passionate about her subject and is determined to make a success of the opportunity to take the work of her childhood foundation international.

Kate Middleton and husband Prince William (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Love the royals? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter to get all the latest news on the Queen, Charles, Kate, Wills, Meghan, Harry and the rest of The Firm. Click here to sign up .

"No one has any doubts about Kate’s ability to manage whatever she wants to do with grace and aplomb, she is more than a safe pair of hands.

"She is totally reliable and a true professional at what she does as both the Queen and Prince William are well aware.

"Part of Kate’s magic is that she actually enjoys what she is doing. Whether it's talking to the professionals about the science behind infant child development or discussing more down to earth issues with their parents, she makes sure everyone feels included.

Kate is on a two-day solo trip to Copenhagen (REUTERS)

"Kate has no sense of entitlement or grandeur. She is what she is and just wants to get on with it.

"There are similarities to the way Princess Diana did things all those years ago.

"Diana’s first solo trip abroad was to Norway in early 1984. She has just discovered she was pregnant for the second time but no announcement had been made.

Kate beamed as she shot out of the end of the slide while visiting the Lego Foundation PlayLab (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)

"When Diana arrived in Norway, she found a note inside her suitcase written by her husband which read, ‘We were so proud of you’ and was signed ‘Willie wombat and I.’ (the nickname Charles and Diana gave to their son at the time.)

"Maybe Kate too will have a note from William. I am certain that he is very proud of her."

Today Kate met with the Danish Queen Margrethe and her daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mary at the Christian IX's Palace in Copenhagen.

And Ingrid, author of Prince Philip Revealed and editor in chief of Majesty magazine, says Kate and Mary have more in common than their dark hair and fashion sense.

She added: "They both have an interest in early childhood development and hope to unite their shared expertise.

"Both Catherine and Mary are experienced and Denmark is a world leader in this field.

"The Crown Princess has a warm relationship with her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe much as Catherine does with her grandmother in law the Queen."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.