Kate Middleton may not be somebody many associate with being ‘an open book’, so to speak – the royal family is known for its fairly rigid approach to sharing opinions (royals are expected to remain politically neutral, for example) – but the Princess of Wales has quietly let her actions speak for her on a number of occasions.
Of course, the future Queen of England has given plenty of important speeches during her royal life, championing worthwhile causes such as early years development, motherhood, mental health and addiction.
But official engagements aside, Kate has shown an even more authentic side of herself in more subtle, under-the-radar moments. Be it showing a more relatable side of her personality, or privately lending her support at times of great unease, here are the moments when Kate Middleton’s actions spoke even louder than her words.
Visit to the Sarah Everard vigil
In March 2021, women across the UK were reeling following the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, who had been walking home from a friend’s house on the evening of her attack. When a vigil dedicated to the memory of Sarah – which was officially cancelled due to covid restrictions – was held in Clapham Common, the Princess of Wales was among the the many people to attend and pay her respects.
Kate was spotted alone, with a bunch of daffodils, which she laid in memory of Sarah. She is also thought to have sent a private letter to Sarah’s family. As well as a mark of respect, her appearance was seen by many as a show of solidarity to highlight the importance of women’s safety.
Secret work experience
It emerged in 2019 that Kate had secretly spent time working at a London hospital, shadowing midwives at the Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in order to learn more about care for women and children.
The Princess managed to complete her work experience without any fuss, and no photographs were taken.
Private gestures
Kate kept a special promise to a grieving family she met in 2020 by planting a sunflower in memory of nine-year-old Fraser Delf during a visit to a hospice she supports. She had previously told parents Stuart and Carla that she would pay tribute to their son, and fulfilled her promise just days later at a Norfolk hospice.
WPA Pool
Showing she gets stage fright, and owning it
Kate has previously spoken about how nervous she gets with public speaking – and despite being a seasoned speech-giver these days, she was recently caught on camera taking some calming deep breaths before speaking at a military event, as she took over the role of Colonel of the Irish Guards.
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The clip circulated around social media, with many reacting positively to Kate’s ‘relatable Queen’ moment.
Off-camera conversations with the public
There are times when Kate has shown her human side by being her down-to-earth self with members of the public – and though they are not officially recorded, sometimes snippets of conversations are caught by onlookers.
In January 2023, she was approached by a man who asked her for a selfie during a public engagement, quickly telling her that he was “really nervous”. She was heard responding: “Please don’t worry, that’s okay. We all get nervous.”
Okay fine, that’s technically words as well actions, we suppose – but an insight into Kate’s personality all the same.