The Major Way Kate Middleton Set Herself Apart from Princess Diana at Royal Christmases

Kate Middleton (opens in new tab) and her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, have a lot in common (opens in new tab), but they also have some differences. One of their biggest differences shines through during the royal family's Christmas celebrations.

In her book Kate: The Future Queen (opens in new tab), royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl (opens in new tab) describes the difference in how Kate and Diana felt about the royal family's annual Boxing Day shoot on the day after Christmas.

When Kate was still dating Prince William (opens in new tab), she was invited to the royal family's Sandringham estate for the Boxing Day shoot (after spending Christmas with her own family). According to Nicholl, Boxing Day wasn't Kate's first time shooting in Sandringham:

When Will younger, his mother, Princess Diana never participated in the shoot herself and didn't love that Will and Harry did.

"Diana never enjoyed her stays at the royal residences, complaining that William and Harry were 'always out killing things,' but Kate loved the sport and seemed to settle in well," Nicholl wrote.

Prince Harry's wife, Meghan Markle (opens in new tab), takes after Diana when it comes to the royal tradition. When she and Harry were engaged, reports surfaced (opens in new tab) that she had encouraged him to skip a shoot in Balmoral and last Christmas, Kate apparently waited (opens in new tab) until Meghan had left Sandringham to participate in the shoot herself.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here (opens in new tab)