Kate Middleton puts on a 'brave face' at royal events - but she's hiding a major struggle

The royal family is always under the global spotlight during significant events, and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, never fails to impress with her impeccable appearance and warm smile when engaging in these high-profile moments or meeting with the public and charity representatives. While royal life comes with its perks, such as wealth, resources, and a platform for their cherished causes, it also demands sacrifices.

Royals often have to set aside their personal identities in service of their roles as symbols of the UK's heritage. Despite Kate's ability to charm even at the most prestigious royal functions, a royal expert has revealed that there's one aspect of her duties she finds challenging.

Katie Nicholl, a seasoned royal author and journalist who has accompanied Prince William and Kate Middleton on many official tours, has previously mentioned that these tours can be "difficult" for Kate.

• Kate Middleton ditches plans to reach out to Prince Harry as she has 'far too much on her plate'

• Kate Middleton shares heartfelt message of 'love, strength, and hope' for Baby Loss Awareness Week

She revealed insights into Kate's approach to her duties, saying: "Kate wants to be modern, she wants to be hands-on, she wants to be present," which explains why the Princess of Wales finds the tours challenging. Despite her status and resources, Kate prefers the comfort of having her mother care for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, reflecting a desire for normalcy.

"Despite being the Duchess of Cambridge and being able to afford around-the-clock nannies and so on, she had her mum looking after Prince George and Princess Charlotte, which struck me as just really normal. I could see how much comfort and confidence that gave her in getting on with her job, which she does brilliantly, but I think it is always such a wrench for her to leave her children behind," Nicholl stated, according to the Daily Mail.

The late Queen Elizabeth was adept at separating her public and private personas, a skill that allowed her to embody the crown's symbolic role while connecting with people throughout the UK and the Commonwealth, reports the Mirror .

This tradition of maintaining a stoic public image has been a hallmark of royal women, including the late Princess Diana, who, despite suffering privately with mental health issues and an eating disorder, maintained a cheerful public facade until revealing her struggles following her marriage's collapse.

Meghan Markle, after stepping back from her duties, confessed that she had battled suicidal thoughts during her pregnancy. Prince Harry, during their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, revealed that on the night Meghan shared these thoughts with him, they still had to attend a royal event where they were photographed looking perfectly happy.

"Because of the system that we were in and the responsibilities and the duties that we had, we had a quick cuddle. And then we had to get changed and jump in a convoy with a police escort and drive to the Royal Albert Hall for a charity event and then step out into a wall of cameras and pretend as though everything is okay," Harry explained.

"There wasn't an option to say, 'You know what, tonight, we're not going to go'. Because just imagine the stories that come from that. While my wife and I were in those chairs gripping each other's hand, the moment the lights go down, Meghan starts crying. I'm feeling sorry for her but I'm also really angry with myself that we're stuck in this situation."

The pressure of royal duties and the scrutiny that comes with them were too much for Harry and Meghan, playing a significant role in their decision to step back as working royals.