Prince William "Flies Off the Handle" If People "Patronize" Kate Middleton, Source Says

Prince William fiercely defends his wife Kate Middleton when he feels that she isn't being respected.

Speaking to the Daily Mail as part of a feature on the Duchess of Cambridge's upcoming 40th birthday, a source revealed, "He flies off the handle at any sign of Kate being patronised and stamps that out very quickly. It's one of his triggers. Over the years, many people have come up with great ideas for her, but if they are put across in a dismissive way, they've got pretty short shrift from him."

The duchess' former private secretary, Rebecca Priestley, also spoke to the Mail, painting a vivid picture of what her boss was like behind closed doors. When she asked her what plans she had for philanthropic efforts, she found that "Catherine had clearly put a lot of thought into it and made very clear that, for her, it was about listening and learning."

Another source who has worked for the Cambridges described the dynamic between the couple when it comes to supporting causes, explaining that they decided early on to take things slow. "And that's exactly what she has done—with William as her guide," the source said. "He's encouraged her to do things gradually, saying: 'This is for you to work out how you want to do it.' He may not shout from the roof-tops about equality, but theirs is a true partnership."

The Cambridges have often been hailed as injecting some much-needed modernity into the Royal Family, especially as their roles evolve in preparation for Prince Charles' accession to the throne. Back in August, royal expert Kent Gavin said of the couple, "Kate and William are totally different and operate in a totally different way. They're great. It's the best thing the Royal Family could have." Good for them!