The Pressure of Being Princess of Wales - and Why Catherine’s Role May Be the Toughest
EXCLUSIVE: Prominent royal author Ingrid Seward explains why Princess Catherine has the hardest job in the Royal Family
THE ROLE of Princess of Wales is the most 'pressurised' job of the whole Royal Family, except of course for the sovereign.
That's according to eminent royal expert Ingrid Seward, who spoke exclusively to the Royal Observer. Her new book, Catherine & Diana: The Inside Story of how the Princesses of Wales Shaped the Modern Monarchy, explores the similarities and the differences between Princess Catherine and Princess Diana. In the book, Seward writes how a modern Princess of Wales has many hurdles within the palace to navigate daily, which includes protocol, courtiers - whom Seward called 'the men in grey suits' - as well as significant pressure from the inevitable media interest surrounding her life.
This is on top of the visual pressure when it comes to fashion, to never put a foot wrong, to always remain glamorous yet appropriate, but also not to outshine the monarch in any way. Speaking on Palace Unfiltered, when I asked if the role is the most 'pressurised,' Ingrid couldn't help but agree, especially because of who previously inhabited the role.
She exclusively told me: "I think it probably is [the most pressurised], because also when you have to live up to the previous incumbent, which in this case was Diana, although Catherine said, 'I want to make the role my own', and she really had to. I think you are absolutely right."
After marrying then-Prince Charles, Diana became a global philanthropic figure and pop culture icon. As well as her tactile approach to charitable work, the late Princess of Wales was known for her dazzling appearances. Previous outfits have sold for millions, such as the iconic Warm & Wonderful Black Sheep Sweater, which sold for over $1.14million in 2023. Such was her influence; the combination of oversized collegiate sweatshirts, biker shorts and sneakers is still widely emulated by fashion enthusiasts today.
To this, Seward continued: "It is a really pressurised, or it's become, let's say, a really pressurised position, and I think that is because of the glamour that Diana gave to this role, and no one's ever outshone her."
When it came to her charity work, Diana was known to bravely challenge stigmas when it came to the 'downtrodden' of society. She famously shook hands with a patient suffering from HIV/AIDS without wearing gloves to dispel widespread fears about transmission of the disease. She also made physical contact with patients suffering from leprosy to again challenge myths that the condition was easily contagious.
Ingrid told the Royal Observer that Princess Catherine was keen to take a different approach to The Princess of Wales role than Diana. "And what Catherine's been so clever to do is she's just been different," Seward remarked. "She hasn't tried to outshine her, but she is blessed by being a beautiful woman, which, of course, you know, really helps in this situation, when we live in this totally sort of image-based world; it really helps."
Many commentators have previously compared outfits between the Princesses. In her book, Seward includes a side-by-side image of both Princesses at their respective James Bond movie premieres. Princess Diana wore a Bruce Oldfield gown at the premiere of A View to Kill in 1985. Catherine walked the red carpet in a Jenny Packham gown at the 2021 premiere of No Time to Die. Both looks were gold in colour and contained sheer materials, broad shoulders, flowing lines, and were cinched at the waist. As Seward wrote in her book, Like her late mother-in-law, Catherine has also become known for her love of coats by Catherine Walker, boyfriend cut blazers, and polka dot patterns.
However, Ingrid Seward thought that despite apparent similarities in outfit choices, Catherine does not feel 'pressure' to emulate Diana's fashion sense, although she may be influenced by her predecessor's impeccable style. She exclusively told the Royal Observer: "I don't think Catherine feels the pressure to hark back to Diana. I think some of the things that Diana wore work so beautifully in that role, and fashion has almost done a full turn."
She continued: "I can't see Catherine just sitting down and looking through lots of pictures of what Diana wore; I'm sure she does have a good idea of what Diana wore and what Diana would have worn. Although she's not copying her, but you know, Diana really sort of got the right feeling for most of the clothes that she wore as Princess of Wales."
Seward added: "So you know, well-cut blazers, beautiful dresses for premieres, simple clothing. But you see, it was fashionable now, and it was also fashionable back in Diana's day."
