Kate Middleton's 'unprecedented' gesture from late Queen to show she was 'accepted'

Marrying into the Royal family can't be easy, but Kate Middleton was reassured by the acceptance she received from the late Queen Elizabeth before her death.

Prince William and Kate tied the knot on April 29, 2011, after first meeting at the University of St Andrews in 2001. The Queen made extra efforts to make Kate feel welcome, including inviting her to Balmoral and allowing her to photograph the breathtaking scenery, according to royal expert Katie Nicholl.

While this may seem trivial to some, it's not typically done, Nicholl explained. Kate's initial invitation to Balmoral came when she first started dating her future husband.

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It's likely that Kate felt anxious during her early visits to the estate, but the Queen was determined to make her feel comfortable, granting her a rare privilege. In her book, Kate: The Future Queen, Nicholl wrote: "Until now the Queen had met Kate only fleetingly at the wedding of Peter and Autumn Phillips, but she went out of her way to make her feel welcome, giving her permission to take pictures at Balmoral."

This invitation to Balmoral signified the Queen's readiness to welcome Kate into the inner Royal circle. Nicholl stated: "As a woman who has lived her entire life in the public eye, the Queen rarely lets her guard down, and very few apart from her family and closest friends get to see the real Elizabeth."

Since that initial visit, Kate has frequently visited the royal's Scottish Highlands retreat. In 2019, William and Kate were photographed arriving at the Sunday church service with the Queen.

Meanwhile, Kate has shared a previously unseen photo she took at Balmoral, giving fans a glimpse into the late Queen's final weeks surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The touching photo, taken by Kate in the summer of 2022 at the estate, shows the late monarch on a sofa surrounded by young royals.

Savannah Phillips, the eldest daughter of Peter Phillips, and Mia Tindall, holding her brother Lucas, are seated next to her.

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