When Prince William proposed to Catherine Middleton in 2010, in the wilds of Kenya, he gave her his mother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Astonishingly, it fit her perfectly, without any adjustments at all. As she told a member of the crowd on one of her later walkabout: “It was the same size; it is very special.
What an honour to be able to wear it.” In marrying the elder son of Prince Charles, Catherine was aware she’d one day have to tread in her late mother-in-law’s footsteps —but the prospect of becoming the Princess of Wales held little appeal. She knew she’d inevitably be compared with Diana, whose untimely death had provoked such a tsunami of anger and grief.
And she was right. The similarities and differences between the two women were dissected ad infinitum and even discussed in the royal household. Kate found all such talk stressful.
Indeed, it got to the point where she felt she might follow Camilla (who opted to become Duchess of Cornwall) in refusing — when the time came — to be known as HRH Princess of Wales. In the end, however, she accepted her promotion with good grace, out of respect for her husband and the King. Enough time had passed to make the title more palatable, and Catherine had been on the world stage long enough to be appreciated for her own qualities.
The truth is that she is very different from Diana: better educated, far more stable and less concerned about making a splash as a glamorous icon. It matters less that the.