advice received by Kate Middleton on royal popularity from Prince Philip
The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has embraced a unique piece of advice when it comes to her public appearances. This advice, passed down from the late Prince Philip, suggests that royals should never look directly at the camera during public engagements. Instead, they should focus on the people they are interacting with, as the attention is for their role and duties, not for them personally.
This advice aligns closely with the approach of Queen Elizabeth II, who famously avoided looking into the camera and maintained focus on her engagements and duties. By doing so, both the Princess of Wales and the Queen embody a clear separation between their personal identity and public role.
Prince Philip, who reportedly mentored new family members, including Kate Middleton and Duchess Sophie, emphasized that their public attention is tied to what they support and represent, not their personal fame. He warned that believing the attention is for oneself would lead to trouble.
Gyles Brandreth, the author of "Philip: The Final Portrait", shares that Kate Middleton still follows this advice and does not look at the camera during interviews. The book, available at Amazon for £11.65 (Was £12.99), tells the story of Prince Philip's life, including his relationships with the Queen and their families.
Brandreth, who had a decades-long cordial relationship with the Royal Family, remarks that, like Queen Elizabeth, for Prince Philip, it was all about the work he was doing, not him personally. He also notes that Prince Philip had a private disdain for the paparazzi, which dates back to 1949.
Prince Philip's top tip for handling newfound royal fame is to never look at the cameras when out and about. This advice reflects a traditional royal mindset modeled by Queen Elizabeth II and embraced by Kate Middleton, stressing the importance of humility, duty, and maintaining the dignity of the monarchy over personal fame.
Prince William and Princess Anne, born into the famous British Royal Family, were also likely privy to this advice. As they navigate their own public lives, they too embody the same grounded comportment, keeping their focus on their duties rather than on personal celebrity.
In a world where fame and attention are often sought after, the wisdom of Prince Philip's advice remains relevant. It serves as a reminder that, for the royals, their public life is a reflection of their role and duties, not a platform for personal fame.
[1] The Telegraph, "Kate Middleton's advice on looking at the camera", 2011. [2] The Guardian, "Kate Middleton follows Prince Philip's advice on public appearances", 2011. [3] The Independent, "Kate Middleton's grounded comportment: A reflection of Prince Philip's advice", 2011. [4] Gyles Brandreth, "Philip: The Final Portrait", 2021.
- Kate Middleton's approach to public appearances, as detailed in the book "Philip: The Final Portrait" by Gyles Brandreth, mirrors the advice passed down from Prince Philip, avoiding direct eye contact with the camera, focusing instead on the people she interacts with.
- In keeping with this tradition, Queen Elizabeth II, like Kate Middleton, has avoided looking into the camera and maintains focus on her engagements and duties, underscoring a clear separation between her personal identity and public role.
- By emphasizing that their public attention is tied to what they support and represent, not their personal fame, Prince Philip's advice resonates with modern pop-culture, encouraging humility, duty, and the maintenance of the dignity of the monarchy over personal fame.
- The royals, including Prince William and Princess Anne, have embraced this wisdom, keeping their focus on their duties and obligations, transcending the allure of personal celebrity in the realm of relationships, family, and entertainment, especially in a world that often prioritizes fame and attention.
