Prince Philip’s Frank Verdict on Princess Kate: Relieved William Found a ‘Level-Headed Girl’
Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth has highlighted the late Prince Philip’s candid initial verdict on his granddaughter-in-law. According to Brandreth in Philip: The Final Portrait, the Duke of Edinburgh was quietly “relieved” that Prince William had chosen a “level-headed girl” to navigate the intense scrutiny of the monarchy.
The Golden Consort Rule: Never Look at the Camera
Having served as consort to Queen Elizabeth II for over six decades, Philip understood the psychological trap of conflating personal vanity with constitutional duty. He imparted a blunt operational rule to Kate early in her royal tenure:
“If you believe the attention is for you personally, you’re going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you’re supporting. It isn’t for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That’s all.”— Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Philip instructed her to follow Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong practice: avoid locking eyes directly with camera lenses, and instead maintain focus entirely on the people standing in front of her. Brandreth noted that Kate internalized the advice completely, observing that during walkabouts and media engagements, she consistently redirects conversations back to the cause or organization rather than herself.
A Connection Formed Long Before Marriage
The bond between Kate and her grandfather-in-law was underpinned by a shared tie that preceded her relationship with Prince William:
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Duke of Edinburgh Award: As a student at Marlborough College in the 1990s, Kate participated extensively in the youth development scheme Philip established in 1956.
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Gold Honor: She earned both her Bronze and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards during her sixth-form years, later calling the demanding outdoor and community program “one of the most memorable experiences from growing up.”
That shared practical sensibility—grounded in service, emotional discipline, and an aversion to celebrity culture—remains central to how the Princess of Wales approaches her modern public role fifteen years after entering the Royal Family.
