What Kate Middleton's Friends Have Said About Her

Now that King Charles III has acceded to the throne, his wife Camilla is called Camilla, Queen Consort. When Prince William becomes king, Princess Catherine will technically be titled Catherine, Queen Consort. However, many royal observers expect she will be styled Queen Catherine anyway.

Regardless of her exact title, it's clear that Princess Catherine will be an essential figure in the monarchy for decades. The crown is going through a transition period, considering the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the controversy surrounding Prince Harry's decision to step down. As a result, friends of the Princess of Wales want to reassure the public that Princess Catherine will someday make a great queen. A family friend told People, "She is ready to step into those shoes with ease and is perfect for the job." Another source close to the family added that Princess Catherine would take the job seriously. "She is a focused and professional woman," they said.

That being said, as Queen Consort, Princess Catherine's eventual role will be ceremonial. She won't be Queen Regnant, as Queen Elizabeth II was; she will instead be given the title Queen Consort because she will be the wife of the ruling monarch. Still, that doesn't mean she won't be important. Princess Diana's former chief of staff, Patrick Jephson, told Page Six, "Catherine is just what these troubled royal times need — it's no exaggeration that the Windsors' future lies in her hands."