Kate Middleton’s Bond With The Queen Began Long Before You’d Expect

“I first met her at Peter [Phillips] and Autumn’s wedding. She was very friendly,” Catherine, Princess of Wales, told The Telegraph in 2010, recalling her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth in 2008. Due to a schedule conflict, Prince William was unable to attend his cousin’s wedding, so the Duchess of Cornwall had the daunting task of meeting the monarch on her own. “She had wanted to meet Kate for a while, so it was very nice for her to come over and say hello,” William added.

During her first Christmas with the family, Catherine decided to give the queen a homemade gift of chutney. Speaking as part of the ITV documentary “Our Queen at Ninety,” the Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge recalled the experience, saying, “I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table.” Catherine, who is known for promoting kindness, was impressed by the queen’s actions. “I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me and I’ve noticed since she’s done that on lots of occasions and I think it just shows her thoughtfulness, really, and her care in looking after everybody,” the Duchess of Cornwall said. 

Catherine also impressed the queen right from the beginning. “The queen was impressed [Kate] adored and loved William for himself, not for his title,” royal biographer Andrew Morton told OK! Magazine.