By Marisa Laudadio
9:20am PST, Feb 24, 2026
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Ahead of her 2011 royal wedding,
Kate Middleton sat down one-on-one with
Queen Elizabeth II, who offered the future Princess of Wales some sage advice about marriage, a new book reveals.
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In the new book
William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, author
Russell Myers details how Kate Middleton was invited to sit down with Queen Elizabeth II for a "casual meeting" while planning her 2011 wedding to
Prince William. "Although billed as an informal catch-up, it was the first time Catherine had met the monarch on her own, and she was understandably nervous. Even though Catherine had by now met the queen on several occasions, she sought advice from aides on what to wear and say during the meeting," Myers writes.
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Kate Middleton was nervous as she made her way to her first private meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, author Russell Myers — who's also the royal editor for Britain's Daily Mirror — explains in his new book. "In the car on the way over to Buckingham Palace, [Middleton] adjusted her hair and touched up her makeup before being met by the queen's private secretary and taken to a room where afternoon tea had been laid out," Myers writes.
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As
William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story author Russell Myers shares in his new book, Queen Elizabeth II had asked to be kept up to date on
Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding preparations, but the monarch also wanted to use the moment to share some wisdom from her decades-long marriage to
Prince Philip with the bride-to-be. "During the light buffet of tea and finger sandwiches, the queen eschewed questions about the finer details of the production and instead looked to comfort the young woman she hoped would successfully shape the institution for the next generation," Myers writes.
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According to Russell Myers' new book, Queen Elizabeth II's advice to Kate Middleton included how to navigate married life with a strong-willed partner. "According to one former courtier, the queen offered words of encouragement to Catherine regarding her future role as a senior member of the family, as well as guidance in how to deal with 'head-strong' husbands," Myers writes. "William had a reputation among his staff and family for being down-to-earth and thoughtful, preferring to be addressed by his first name instead of 'His Royal Highness' or 'Sir,' but he could also be direct and plain-spoken when he wanted things done a particular way." Prince Philip, Myers adds, "was similarly forthright, and so she was well placed to advise Catherine; after all, her marriage had lasted more than 70 years, with a fair bit of compromise required as a foundation."
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Queen Elizabeth II offered Kate Middleton a piece of practical advice about royal weddings, too. "In a lighter moment, the queen also advised Catherine to not get too bogged down with the details of the guest list, telling her not to worry about how many people would be there," author Russell Myers writes. "There were many she wouldn't know and many she wouldn't see again."
