Personal Project

Kelly Rowland calls next album her most 'personal' yet, talks motherhood and marriage

Kelly Rowland fans, get ready to learn a lot more about the singer on her upcoming album.

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While chatting with Wonderwall.com on Aug. 23, the 37 year old revealed that she wants to be as "transparent as possible" on her next project — addressing her personal relationships, childhood and insecurities.

"I can't tell you everything," she joked while discussing the project. "I would definitely say [it's inspired by] my personal relationships in my life, growing pains — how it's shaped me into the woman I am today. I'm really honest about my flaws in this album. My upbringing, my relationship with my mother, my relationship with my father. I just want it to be as transparent as possible on this album."

Kelly shared that she had a wakeup moment while speaking with a friend about her music. Her pal told her that even though she's had 20 years in the business and several No. 1 albums, they still didn't feel like they knew her music on a personal level.

"I remember talking to someone and they said, 'How come you never talk about your background and your mom and your father?' and I just looked at them like, 'I don't know,'" she said. "They were like, 'No, you don't, like, not at all, like ever,' and I was like, 'Wow.' So I finally decided to share because it is one of the things in my life that a lot of people will be able to relate to — the way I have discussed it on the record."

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While Kelly's upcoming album sounds incredibly powerful, fans will have to wait just a little bit longer for the project. The Destiny's Child alum said that there is no release date in mind — in part because the album is so personal.

"Don't be mad at me! I will say because it is so personal, it makes it that much harder to put out because I'm like, 'Oh my God, am I going to say that? Oh my God, they're going to know that about me!' It's so vulnerable. So that is definitely the hard part — or the challenge — of releasing this record. But it's almost there," she said.

The album will be Kelly's first in more than five years. The "The Voice Australia" coach credits her husband, manager Tim Witherspoon, with helping her to overcome self-doubt and get back in the studio. So, what's it like to have such a supportive hubby?

"It's amazing. At times, it'll get on your nerves because — I know this sounds crazy — but in the moment that you're having a little bit of self-doubt and they're telling you how great you are and you're just looking at them like, 'You make me sick and I don't see it yet,'" she said with a laugh.

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Continued Kelly, "They make you sick in that moment, but when you start to understand why they did it, [you start] enjoying yourself. Like, I'm enjoying myself in the studio and I'm looking at him like, 'Nobody knows me better.' You know what I mean? It's a blessing to have because he's my biggest cheerleader. When we first started talking, he was like, 'I swear to you, I'm your biggest fan. I know I am.' He was like, 'Everything about you — from this to that and your voice,' but I was like, 'He's just trying to get in!' He is an incredible guy."

The happy couple married in May 2014 and welcomed their son, Titan Jewell, in November 2014. Kelly's adorable son, whom she calls "the apple of my eye," will be 4 years old soon — a birthday that is a little daunting to the singer.

"At times I wish I could rewind the clock and just take me back to four months — hell four weeks. Just how he was so tiny and now he's talking back to me. He definitely has his own personality these days," she dished. "I think that, as he gets older, I'm going to miss this age. This was the age where I actually watch his brain just grow right before my eyes."

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Some of her favorite moments with Titan include a cozy Christmas at home where he giddily spoke about his favorite animal, whales, or when he returned from school one day with "at least a pound of sand on him."

"When he started to take his clothes off for bath time, my whole bathroom floor could have been a sandbox from how much sand he brought home from school! I can't believe how it gets stuck in their shoes and pants and hair," she said.

Kelly's experiences taking her son to school, along with conversations she's had with teacher friends of hers, motivated the singer to partner with Clorox and DonorsChoose.org, an organization that provides resources to students and teachers across the U.S.

"I have girlfriends of mine back in Texas who work for the school systems out there," she said. "We have conversations where they talk about how they are helping some students in their class with certain things that they don't have for the school year — whether it's because they can't afford it or the school doesn't have it or the funding was cut. The back and forth of hearing that was so bad to me, and DonorsChoose actually comes in as the hero and they help the teachers and the students."

Visit CloroxForSchool.com for more information on how you can help support teachers and students across America.

Meghan's 'lack of boundaries' on full display in latest 'provocative' move

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Meghan Markle, who was recently featured in Harper's Bazaar, has been accused of copying Princess Diana for a photoshoot.

"[When I first heard about it] I thought, no way, surely she would never lean into that. Then I saw the photos, and it is undeniable," PR expert Renae Smith told Daily Express. "These are not gentle references or sweet tributes. They are copies. That cross-legged one on the floor? Stop it!"

"From a PR perspective, it is such a bad idea," Smith continued. "It is confusing, it is provocative in the wrong way, and it puts her straight back beneath the royal shadow she always bloody insists she wants to get away from."

Meghan, who has publicly criticized the royal family in the past, continues to use her title as the Duchess of Sussex in the U.S.

"It's not hard to avoid anything royal. But she can't go two weeks without doing something related to the royal family," Smith noted. "I guess Harry might love it. I would assume she checked with him first, and he probably told her it was lovely. It is his mother and his wife merged into one visual, so emotionally it might make sense for them."

"Strategically, it is terrible. It makes her look completely directionless. I genuinely do not know who is advising her or if they even have a plan," Smith continued.

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Some think Meghan, whose feature focused on her emerging lifestyle brand, As Ever, is not being upfront about her motives.

"For me, this is beyond a simple bad PR move. It shows a lack of boundaries both personally and professionally," Smith stated. "She keeps saying she wants distance from the royal world, yet she keeps inserting herself directly into the legacy of the most powerful royal symbol of all time and the mother of her husband. The contradiction is glaring, and the emotional implications are concerning."

Over the years, Meghan has been seen as trying to become "Diana 2.0," and Harry often compares his wife to his mother.

"So much of what Meghan is and how she is is so similar to my mom," Harry said in Harry & Meghan. "She has the same compassion. She has the same empathy. She has the same confidence. She has this warmth about her."

Andrew spends final days 'humiliated and angry'

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is entering his final days at Royal Lodge after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein cost him his titles and mansion.

"I'm sure he's feeling humiliated and, by all accounts, angry. You have to remember that he has consistently protested his innocence," royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror. "Therefore, he feels wronged. But the reality is he now has just a few weeks left before he has to leave Royal Lodge, which has been his home for more than 20 years."

"One thing he could do to show some remorse (for, at the very least, his bad judgment in befriending Epstein) is to cooperate with the Congressional committee and tell them what he saw and what he knows. At the moment, though, that seems unlikely," Bond continued.

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Mountbatten-Windsor stepped back from public duties when his association with the convicted abuser became public, and his reputation further deteriorated after Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre accused him of assault. Mountbatten-Windsor adamantly denied the claims, but Giuffre's posthumous memoir reignited the scandal. Following the book's release, King Charles III announced his brother will no longer stay at Royal Lodge.

As Charles makes moves to protect the crown, the U.S. House of Representatives is working to expose Epstein's network. Mountbatten-Windsor was summoned by the Congressional House Oversight Committee, which said in a letter that it wants the ex-prince to "uncover the identities of Mr. Epstein's co-conspirators and enablers."

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US congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who signed a letter to Andrew requesting an interview about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, tells Sky's David Blevins that the former prince 'doesn't have to respond' but should to 'do right by the victims'. #skynews

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Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, who is a member of the committee, said the former duke "has been hiding from us, and I think he will continue to try to hide from people doing meaningful investigations of this matter."

"It seems like every time we find more evidence, Andrew seems to be in the documents," Subramanyam told The Guardian. "And so I think if he is hoping that the story will just go away by ignoring us and being silent, he will be sorely disappointed, as we continue to pursue this over the next year and beyond."

Andrew faces heartbreak as Sarah Ferguson sets her sights on 'finding a proper gentleman'

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor might still have feelings for Sarah Ferguson.

According to a source, Princess Beatrice is worried for her father as her mother sets her sights on finding a new man to provide for her following her recent scandal.

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Ferguson wants to find love

After Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor, who divorced in 1996, were stripped of their titles and evicted from their home due to their ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the former Duchess of York wants to move on with her life.

"Sarah's told Beatrice and her inner circle that she's been devastated by recent events, but she's never going to give up on love. She's been open about finding a proper gentleman to help her enjoy life. Someone successful, kind and financially secure," a source told Closer magazine.

"She's always been independent, but she knows she's got expensive taste and she jokes she needs a man who can keep up," the insider said.

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Worry over Mountbatten-Windsor

Although the former Duke of York and his ex-spouse split years ago, their eldest daughter is reportedly worried about how Mountbatten-Windsor will adjust.

"Beatrice wants her mom to move on, but also fears how Andrew would take it. She knows her dad would be crushed if Sarah met someone new and fears the thought of being alone will break his heart," the source told the publication.

"But at the same time, she just wants her parents to find their own peace. They've been separated for decades and clinging to the past isn't healthy," the insider said.

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Ferguson abandons Mountbatten-Windsor

Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams thinks the 66-year-old is giving up on her ex-husband after years of defending him.

"She is discredited and appears to have abandoned Andrew insofar as we know," the expert told Daily Express.

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Will Ferguson spill royal secrets?

As Ferguson finds new ways to support herself, Fitzwilliams believes a tell-all isn't out of the question.

"If she is after a fast buck, she might well go back on Oprah or choose another outlet. This would give her publicity," he said. "In the past, she was able to make comebacks after she was hit by scandals and was admired for this, with charities deserting her after it was proved that she lied regarding her links with Epstein.  This seems highly unlikely. It depends on what her priorities are, how much money she actually has and what her plans are."

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Will Ferguson embarrass herself?

If the matriarch decides to spill The Firm's secrets, she could find that it comes with consequences. "We will doubtless discover soon, she was a disaster as a working royal and is totally shameless," Fitzwilliams said.

"Also, if the interviews given by Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, are anything to go by, a large amount is yet to be revealed, which could prove extremely embarrassing to her," he added.

Beatrice 'genuinely upset' Will and Kate

Princess Beatrice might have made a major mistake.

According to a source, Prince William and Kate Middleton were blindsided when they learned their cousin hosted an official afternoon tea at Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel in Saudi Arabia.

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Why is Beatrice's Saudi Arabia gathering controversial?

The establishment where Beatrice held the alleged event was the site of Saudi Arabia's crackdown, where royals and business figures were detained and allegedly mistreated in 2017.

The appearance was also ill-timed, as the 37-year-old's parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, were being stripped of their titles for their friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

"It was seen as tone-deaf, especially given the venue's reputation and the recent controversies surrounding Andrew and Sarah," the source told Closer magazine.

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William and Kate 'upset' by Beatrice

The Prince and Princess of Wales were shocked by Beatrice's carelessness. "William and Kate were genuinely upset when the pictures emerged," the insider told the publication.

"They have been very supportive of Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and hope now that they will tow the Palace line," the source said.

Despite the former Duke of York and his ex-wife's banishment from royal life, King Charles III allowed Beatrice and her younger sister to retain their titles.

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Repercussions for the mistake

The Firm is now laying down the law on royal outings. "The Palace has made it crystal clear. Every appearance must now be approved and vetted by senior aides before anyone gives it the go-ahead," the source said.

"There's now a push inside the Palace to impose an 'office-style' approval system on Beatrice and Eugenie's future activities, to ensure there's no repeat of such headlines. They can't risk another scandal linked to the York name," the insider added.

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Did William threaten Beatrice's title?

BBC journalist Emily Maitlis previously alleged William held Beatrice and Eugenie's titles over their head to get their father to leave Royal Lodge before his honors were removed.  

"There was a question over whether there had been, earlier in the day, a meeting between Prince William and the princesses, Beatrice and Eugenie, saying, 'You guys have to get your dad to move out of Royal Lodge, otherwise we will start re-examining the state of your own titles,'" she claimed during a broadcast.

According to The Mirror, the allegation is untrue. A representative for Kensington Palace insisted the future king never met with his relatives about the matter.

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Charles keeps Beatrice and Eugenie in the royal fold

Despite their parents' public scandal, Charles wants to keep his nieces in the inner circle. "I think that Charles feels quite responsible for these two girls, because it's been a hideous time for them. Really hideous," Ingrid Seward told The Sun.

"They've both got young children, and I know they've got supportive husbands, but they've both got young children, and I think it's been very, very difficult," she noted.

Elizabeth was one of Epstein's clients

Did Queen Elizabeth II have a connection to Jeffrey Epstein?

According to the 23,000 documents released by the United States House Oversight Committee, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wasn't the only royal with ties to the late criminal.

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Elizbeth's alleged connection to Epstein

In one document, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Murray Gell-Mann claimed he was "under the impression that Epstein's clients include the Queen of England."

The files alleged the late monarch was taking "financial advice" from Epstein.

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Other legal papers claim the financier attended a bash held in Elizabeth's honor.

"Epstein had been invited to Windsor Castle to celebrate the queen's birthday," a document read. "Six months later, Epstein flew to Sandringham, the queen's estate in Norfolk, England, for a party Andrew threw for [Epstein accomplice] Ghislaine Maxwell's 39th birthday."

Andrew loses his titles

King Charles III stripped Andrew of his titles and evicted him from Royal Lodge over his friendship with Epstein and allegations of misconduct against them both.

The late queen previously removed the former Duke of York's military and charity patronages in 2022 but didn't take further action.

"King Charles has proven he's a bit more of a doer, not just a talker. Definitely not as silent as his mother Queen Elizabeth II," public relations expert Renae Smith told Daily Express.

"He's more decisive than people give him credit for and this shows he's willing to make uncomfortable calls when it protects the institution. It's a very different energy from the 'keep calm and carry on' approach of previous generations, it's firmer, cleaner and more modern," she continued, adding, "I'm a fan."

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Elizabeth let Andrew's behavior slide

In The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, writer Robert Jobson claims that Andrew requested $42,000 to cover the cost of live-in spiritual gurus to treat him at his home.

When Charles received the request, he was reportedly "horrified" and said no to his brother's outlandish ask.

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This was a change for the disgraced duke, as Elizabeth reportedly "passed the request through."

Camilla gave her son the 'worst present' ever

Queen Camilla's son has revealed that the former Duchess of Cornwall doesn't always hit the nail on the head when it comes to gift-giving.

In a column for You Magazine, Tom Parker Bowles reflected on a present his mother gave him when he was a teenager.

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Camilla gave her son the 'worst present' ever

King Charles III's stepson recalled the awkward moment with his mother: "The worst present I ever received (worse than that hideous 'gin o'clock' sign) was back in 1991, when I asked my mother for a leather jacket," Parker Bowles wrote.

"I wanted a proper black one with zips and attitude and swagger. Marlon Brando in The Wild Ones or Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator. I don't think my mother got the hint," the food critic said.

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"What I unwrapped was a toffee-brown Marks [and] Spencer monster, blouson-style with a naff tartan lining. Lovejoy by way of Alan Partridge," he recalled.

"Worse still, I had to pretend to adore it and wear the thing all day long. The shame still burns as fierce as brandy-damned plum pudding," he added.

Parker Bowles doesn't want a royal title

Despite Camilla being part of the royal family, Parker Bowles — whose father is retired army officer Andrew Parker Bowles — does not want a title.

"I tell you, that would be the quickest way to revolution," he said on the "Good Food" podcast when questioned on the topic.

"I think we're a fairly balanced and sober and sensible country on the whole," he continued. "But if I suddenly became a prince, I think that Buckingham Palace gates would be stormed. It would be appalling. I think that would put back the long and glorious cause of the monarchy in Britain by many years."

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Parker Bowles feels for William and Harry

While Parker Bowles gets to live a somewhat private life, the same cannot be said for his stepbrothers Prince William and Prince Harry.

"I learned a long time ago not to put my fat fingers into the world of William and Harry," the writer told The Telegraph in 2024.

"It was appalling what they went through. I've had a billionth of what they've had to go through, but I sympathize," he added. "Counting how many paps were at the gates, to see who was watching us and taking photographs, it was all as normal as bacon and eggs in the morning. You didn't think of it in any other way. [But] it was barbaric."

Philip was 'one of the very few wary' of Meghan

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Prince Philip gave Prince Harry a stern warning about Meghan Markle before they got married.

"One steps out with actresses, one doesn't marry them," Philip reportedly told his grandson.

According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, Philip was "one of the very few wary" of the Suits star. In My Mother and I, Seward wrote that the Duke of Edinburgh viewed Meghan as a Wallis Simpson-like figure. Edward VIII famously abdicated the throne to marry the American socialite and divorcee.

Meghan's previous marriage and nationality reminded the patriarch of Simpson, whose union reshaped the monarchy. In private, Philip referred to Harry's bride as "DOW," an abbreviation for Duchess of Windsor. 

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Seward hinted at Philip being saddened by the pair leaving the U.K., which was later dubbed "Megxit."

"I think he's very, very disappointed because I think he feels he gave up his naval career in order to stand by the Queen and help the monarchy," Seward told Sky News

"And why can't Meghan just give up her acting career, support her husband and support the monarchy?" Seward continued. "He just cannot understand why she couldn't support Harry and help him rather than wanting to have her voice."

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Similar to his grandfather, Prince William had his own concerns about Meghan. In Spare, Harry revealed William thought the Sussexes' romance moved too quickly.

"'It's too fast,' he'd told me. 'Too soon.' In fact, he'd actually been pretty discouraging about me even dating Meg," Harry wrote.

As a result, William and Harry's relationship is now fractured. Though Meghan and Harry avoided speaking ill of Philip and Queen Elizabeth II in their tell-alls, they painted William and Kate Middleton as cold toward Meghan.

"I was a hugger and have always been a hugger. I didn't realize that that was really jarring for a lot of Brits," Meghan said in Harry & Meghan, referring to her first time meeting William and Kate. "I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside."

"There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and you are like, 'Oh, great. We can relax now.' But that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me," the Northwestern alum continued.

Charles thought Harry 'crossed a line' with Camilla

King Charles III was reportedly enraged over what Prince Harry said about Queen Camilla in his memoir.

According to a source, His Majesty asked the Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle to leave Frogmore Cottage after learning what his son wrote about the former Duchess of Cornwall in his 2023 tell-all Spare.

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What did Harry write about Camilla?

In the bombshell book, Harry labeled Camilla "the other woman" and his "wicked stepmother." He also accused her of interfering in his parents' marriage.

"In a funny way, I even wanted Camilla to be happy. Maybe she'd be less dangerous if she were happy?" the 41-year-old wrote.

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Harry claimed that he and his older brother, Prince William, begged their father not to marry Camilla, but the couple tied the knot in 2005.

Charles claims Harry 'crossed the line'

Charles wasn't thrilled with Harry's remarks about his second wife.

"It was the last straw. Harry was well aware how Camilla would be a red line for his father and he crossed it with flagrant disregard anyway," a source told Daily Express.

"The king felt without a doubt it crossed a line. It was the ultimate act of disrespect," the insider said.

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Sympathy for Harry

According to royal expert and historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop, Harry's constant need to speak out about his family comes from a place of sadness.

"The optics are terrible," she told Daily Express.

"Britain's response to the news has, on the whole, been gleeful. On one level the vitriol is understandable. Prince Harry had just lobbed several verbal hand grenades at his family and the former institution to which he belonged. But he did so from a position of weakness, on the outside, in pain and feeling side-lined," she explained.

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Harry tries to make amends with Charles

Harry tried to patch things up with his dad during a recent trip to England. However, after the New York Times best-selling author accused Charles' royal staffers of leaking information about their meeting to the press, things between them soured again.

"The relationship between the duke and His Majesty the king is a matter for the two of them and the two of them only," an additional source told DailyMail.com.

"The men in grey suits should stay out of it," the insider added, referring to Charles' advisors.

The biggest way Kate's life changed after she and William got engaged

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A royal insider revealed Kate Middleton's life quickly transformed after Prince William proposed.

"Things definitely changed after the engagement. Before that, Kate had no royal protection, and the press followed her everywhere, leaving little privacy," ex-royal gardener Jack Stooks told Smooth Spins Casino. "I believe the pressure even contributed to their brief breakup. Once the engagement was announced, she was assigned personal protection officers, allowing her to move around safely and with less stress."

After Kate met Prince William at university, she continued living as a private citizen despite dating a royal. Once their commitment became public, the couple retreated into a more secluded life. "Public outings became rarer, but behind closed doors, she and William remained warm and down to earth," Stooks shared.

In the partners' engagement interview, Kate was enthusiastic and nervous about her transition into the monarchy.

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15 years on from William and Kate's engagement announcement – on Talking Royals, our experts discuss how their relationship has developed over the years and look back on the day they gave their first interview as an engaged couple. You can watch or listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. #itvnews #royals #royalfamily

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"It is obviously nerve-wracking because I don't know the ropes really. But I'm willing to learn quickly and work hard. I really hope I can make a difference and help even in the smallest way," Kate told ITV's Tom Bradby in 2010.

15 years later, the Prince and Princess of Wales have become the monarchy's most popular figures. Kate, who was raised outside of the aristocracy, is often praised for bringing a relatable spirit to the royal family.

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"I think William and Kate, making sure that George, Charlotte and Louis have these normalizing experiences where they just interact with really normal people, actually gives them that grounded sense that they are human beings like the rest of us, they're not rarefied, they're not elevated and it could hopefully dilute that sense of 'I'm invincible,'" psychotherapist Lucy Beresford said in the Channel 5 documentary Prince George: How To Make a Monarch.

Royal correspondent India McTaggart shared a similar sentiment, noting that Kate has "brought so much from her Middleton upbringing and her family values, that I think has completely informed the way that she is raising the next generation of royals."