Princess Kate Revealed Queen Elizabeth's "Fantastic" Quality

Princess Kate sitting next to Queen Elizabeth wearing a pink suit and smiling

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth would have turned 100 on April 21, and although the late monarch died in 2022, her family did get to celebrate her landmark 90th birthday back in 2016. Princess Kate, in particular, reflected on her grandmother-in-law's best qualities while participating in a documentary titled Our Queen at Ninety.

The Princess of Wales, who was then known as the Duchess of Cambridge, shared one of the things she loved best about the late Queen while speaking on camera. "I think she’s so, so engaging," Kate said. "She has got the most fantastic smile and I think if the Queen says nothing but she smiles, I think it gives everybody such a huge amount of joy and a huge amount of pleasure."

Despite meeting so many people at royal events around the globe, the princess said that Queen Elizabeth was able to make each person feel important. "Everyone feels like they’ve had some quality time with Her Majesty and, also, a real personal connection and I think that’s a real skill," she continued.

Kate Middleton sitting next to Queen Elizabeth, both wearing blue coats and laughing — Princess Kate and Queen Elizabeth are pictured during the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton looking at a garden — Queen Elizabeth is pictured with Princess Kate and Prince William at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show.

While speaking about her first solo engagement with the late Queen and Prince Philip—a visit to Nottingham, England in 2012—Princess Kate said that Queen Elizabeth made sure she was okay throughout the day. "She took the time to make sure I was happy and looked after," the princess said. "It just shows just how caring she is, really."

Princess Charlotte was born in 2015, and in the documentary, Kate said that Queen Elizabeth "was really thrilled that it was a little girl," adding that the late monarch was one of the first people to visit the new baby at Kensington Palace.

"She’s very fond of Charlotte. She’s always watching what she’s up to," Princess Kate added.

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Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.