Kate Middleton has cheeky five-word reply after being mistaken for Prince William's assistant

Kate Middleton and Prince William have made a slow return to public duties following the Princess' cancer treatment and there's been a buzz around their public engagements .

The pair are one of the most famous couples on the planet, but this didn't prevent a hilarious mix-up when Kate was mistaken for her husband's assistant during a visit to the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, Wales. The couple were introduced to resident Joan Drew-Smith, who pointed at Kate and asked the Prince of Wales : "Is that your assistant?"

Kate responded with laughter , telling William: "Well, I am your assistant." She added: "I have been for a long time!"

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William and Kate tied the knot on 29 April 2011 after first meeting at the University of St Andrews in 2001. Despite recent turbulence, Princess Kate is known for her 'keep calm and carry on attitude' - a trait the late Queen Elizabeth reportedly admired.

The monarch made a special effort to ensure Kate felt at home when she joined the Royal Family, allowing her unparalleled access to Balmoral's breath-taking scenery with the privilege of capturing it on camera, royal commentator Katie Nicholl claimed. This level of hospitality is quite unusual, as Nicholl points out that such invitations are not typically extended.

When she began dating her now-husband, Kate first received the warm invitation to visit the estate. Anticipating some initial nervousness from Kate during her inaugural visits, the Queen seemingly aimed to put her at ease by extending this exceptional allowance.

Nicholl delved into this in her book Kate: The Future Queen, stating: "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 gesture marked Kate's induction into the very heart of the Royal Family. Nicholl further remarked: "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 those early days, the Princess has become a frequent visitor to the Royal Scottish hideaway, and in 2019, she was spotted alongside William attending the Sunday service with the Queen.

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