The Important Piece of Advice Kate Middleton Has Lived Her Life by for More Than 20 Years

One of Kate Middleton's favorite teachers gave her some valuable life advice more than 20 years ago that she still seems to follow to this day. The teacher told Kate to always keep smiling, no matter what life threw her way.

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Kate Middleton has an objectively amazing life—she's brilliant, beautiful, and a literal royal who gets to dedicate her days to bringing attention to worthy causes and traveling the world as a diplomat. Not. Too. Shabby.

What's the key to that success? Well, a small part of it might be found in a very important and impactful piece of advice Kate received more than 20 years ago. In her book Kate: The Future Queen, royal biographer Katie Nicholl reveals that one of Kate's favorite teachers, Dr. Robert Acheson, the former headmaster of St Andrews' Prep School, passed a memorable piece of wisdom down to the future Duchess: Always keep smiling.

Nicholl writes:

"She had the most fabulous smile, and I always told her, whatever happens in life, keep smiling," Dr. Acheson explained later.

That advice has clearly stuck with Kate to this day, and her beaming smile lights up the world at every royal engagement she attends. It probably didn't hurt when it came to attracting Will's attention, either, because honestly, who doesn't want to spend time with someone who's always exuding joy?

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Weekend Editor at Cosmopolitan

Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.