Inside the late Queen’s relationship with Kate Middleton: Royal experts reveal what the monarch really thought of Prince William’s wife and how she developed a ‘grandmotherly’ bond with the Princess of Wales

The late Queen began to really trust the Princess of Wales with the pair sharing a ‘grandmotherly bond’, experts have said in a new documentary.

The Princess of Wales, 42, who married Prince William in 2011, looked to her husband’s grandmother as a “guide” when she joined the royal family.

In Kate & The Queen: A Special Relationship, which airs on Channel 5 on Saturday, Daily Mail editor Richard Kay explained how the pair formed a special bond.

‘The Queen started to trust Kate. I don’t think she really trusted anyone on first impression, we’re all doing the same show, the show supports the Queen.

‘But with Kate and the Queen it went deeper than that, there was a real grandmotherly affection between the two.’

Ingrid Seward, royal expert and editor of Majesty magazine, echoed his comments, adding: ‘I think the Queen saw her strength and saw that she was a caring person with a great devotion to duty.

‘I think Kate would have really appreciated the kindness and attention the Queen had given her, and she knows better than anyone how busy the Queen is. She made time to make sure Kate felt valued.”

It is believed that Kate built a stronger bond with the Queen after welcoming her three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, and going to great lengths to keep Her Majesty involved in the lives of involve the children.

Speaking in the Queen at 90 documentary in 2016, Kate said: ‘It’s really special that we have a new little girl in the family. Very lucky that George has a sister. The Queen was very happy that it was a little girl, and I think as soon as we got back here to Kensington [Palace] she was one of our first visitors here.

‘I think she loves Charlotte, who always keeps an eye on what she’s up to. George is only two and a half and calls her ‘gan-gan’.” She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go to sleepovers and I think that just shows her love for her family.”

It was also said that the Queen was a guide to Kate after she married into the Firm.

“The Queen was fully aware of how intimidating it was for an outsider to join the royal family, so they would have had their techniques to get someone looking into the house,” added Simon Vigar, the royal correspondent of Channel 5, coming to it.

Royal expert Victoria Murphy added that Kate always called the Queen “a gentle accompaniment.”

Kate with The Queen on the balcony of Nottingham’s Council House during The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour of Britain, June 13, 2012

Kate with Prince Louis and the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, June 2019

‘From the start, Kate had much more in common with Elizabeth on a personal level.

“There’s something about them that has that inner poise and the ability to lead and command respect,” she added.

India McTaggart, royal correspondent at the Telegrpah, added: ‘Catherine has said that the Queen was very supportive as she made her first engagements without William. I think she influenced her by setting a good example.”

During a speech in 2016, Kate explained that the Queen was not “strong in her views.”

‘The most memorable engagement for me was a day out to Leicester and I went without William, so I was quite apprehensive about that. I think walkabouts are a real art, everyone in the family teases me about chatting for way too long, so I think I need to learn a bit more and pick up a few more tips I guess.

The couple are pictured during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour of Britain

“She was very supportive. The fact that she took the time to make sure I was happy and taken care of for that particular occasion, which is probably everything she does, is just a very small element that shows how caring she really is.”

Many observers believe that William and Kate are modeling themselves on the example of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who were married for 73 years until his death in April 2021.

In 2016, Kate spoke about her special bond with the Queen.

“You would expect a lot of grandeur and a lot of fuss, but what really appeals to me is her love for the simple things,” she said.

‘And I think that is a special quality. I remember being at Sandringham for the first time at Christmas and wondering what to give the Queen as a Christmas present.

“I thought, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’ I thought, “I’m going to make her something,” which could have gone horribly wrong, but I decided to make my grandmother’s chutney recipe. I noticed it was on the table the next day. Such a simple gesture has brought me so much.’

Kate & The Queen: A Special Relationship, Saturday, June 15 at 9 p.m Channel 5