Kate Middleton's New 'Rockstar' Status Comes With a Painful Price, Says Royal Author
In a time seeking stability, she embodies the modern monarchy with unshakeable grace, carrying its future on her shoulders.
The British monarchy is currently undergoing a significant transition from an exemplary traditional model to one that embraces modernity. And the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has been thrust into the spotlight after her challenging cancer recovery. She has evolved from a supportive figure to a central anchor of the institution. Her participation in the recent public engagements, including the successful trip to Italy, emphatically supporting King Charles III on his cancer charity missions, Trooping the Color, and dazzling comeback during the Royal Ascot, highlights her crucial role as she transforms the monarchy into a relatable and resilient entity amid public scrutiny and family tensions. In a time seeking stability, she embodies the modern monarchy with unshakeable grace, carrying its future on her shoulders. However, a royal expert believes that Middleton is silently battling the rise of her popularity.
"Kate is the closest they have to a rockstar member these days, and she’s the one everyone wants to see," royal author Catherine Mayer told PEOPLE!. "That’s a huge burden for anyone to carry, let alone someone who has had existential battles with her health," the author added, whose new book Divide & Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles will be on the stands soon. Back in 2024, the Princess of Wales made a poised entrance at Trooping the Color on June 13, her first royal engagement after announcing cancer treatment. Middleton had later described her experience as highly exhausting. "Kate not only had to look vibrant and in command of her role, but she knew she would be scrutinized more than ever,” Mayer said. This year, despite heightened scrutiny and protests concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's recent controversies, she maintained a dignified composure while riding with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Thus, revealing a true marking of a future queen.
In 2025, while making a personal visit to Colchester Hospital, where she met and addressed cancer patients and staff, Princess of Wales described her struggles. "I can get back to normal again, but actually that- It's really difficult, " she said, TODAY reported. "You're not necessarily in a clinical team any longer, but you're not able to function, she added. Prince William, too, recently mentioned that he would want his wife to relax and take things one at a time. "Make sure she's, she's okay and rested, but she's in good form,” he said while appearing live during the Heart radio breakfast show. William went on to speak about the toll the illness had collectively taken on the family and how he was afraid of being unable to cope without her.
Royal historian Amanda Foreman previously told PEOPLE! that Kate has literally conquered death, "This is someone who stared down the abyss," she said. Foreman described her experience as a "character assassination," highlighting the twin difficulties of dealing with illness in public. Foreman praised the future queen's ability to navigate this turbulent moment. "She has that steeliness and that tremendous charm and that smile," the royal historian said. "It’s the combination of a willingness to show vulnerability but at the same time not being vulnerable."
