Prince Philip shares unsolicited counsel on royal celebrity with Kate Middleton
Prince Philip, the late consort of Queen Elizabeth II, left a lasting impact on the Royal Family, not just through his public duties, but also through his advice on handling fame. His wisdom continues to resonate with new members, such as Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, who reportedly follows his guidance during public appearances.
In an interview with The Times in 2021, Gyles Brandreth, a long-time friend of the Royal Family, shared that Prince Philip had a longstanding mistrust of the paparazzi, a sentiment that began in 1949. This mistrust extended to the "fame" aspect of being a royal, a sentiment he reportedly held for most of his life.
One of Prince Philip's top tips for handling newfound royal fame was to never look at the cameras when out and about. He believed that the attention is for the role, what one does, and what one is supporting, not for the individual. This advice was given to newcomers such as Kate Middleton, and has been noted as a guiding principle she still follows during public appearances.
Prince Philip's approach to being a senior royal was focused on the work he was doing, rather than himself personally. According to Emma Shacklock, Royal Editor at woman&home, he believed that the public focus should be on what he accomplished, not on him as an individual.
Gyles Brandreth's book, "Philip: The Final Portrait," offers a powerful, revealing account of Prince Philip's relationships with Queen Elizabeth, their children, and their families. It explores his life and his remarkable royal partnership with Queen Elizabeth II. The book is available for purchase at Amazon for £11.65 (Was £12.99).
Prince William and Princess Anne were born into one of the most famous dynasties around the world and were famous from the day they were born. Despite this, they, like other royals, marry into the Royal Family. Kate Middleton, for instance, joined the family when she married Prince William in 2011.
Brandreth, who has shared a decades-long cordial relationship with the Royal Family, remarks that Kate Middleton still follows Prince Philip's advice and does not look at the camera during interviews. This tip is said to be something the Princess of Wales continues to follow.
In the same interview with The Times, Brandreth stated that while Prince Philip showed him great friendliness over 40 years, royalty offer friendliness, not friendship, and one must remember the difference.
Gyles Brandreth has continued to appear at events such as 2022's Big Jubilee Lunch with King Charles and at Queen Camilla's Reading Room Festival, demonstrating his enduring connection with the Royal Family.
[1] The Times, "Prince Philip 'mistrusted the paparazzi' since 1949, says Gyles Brandreth", 2021 [2] woman&home, "Prince Philip's advice to the Royal Family: Kate Middleton and Sophie Wessex still follow his tips", 2021
- Prince Philip's mistrust of the paparazzi and the "fame" that comes with being a royal began in 1949, as shared by Gyles Brandreth in an interview with The Times in 2021.
- One piece of advice Prince Philip gave to newcomers like Kate Middleton was never to look at the cameras when out and about, as he believed that the attention should be on the role, what one does, and what one is supporting, not the individual.
- In the book "Philip: The Final Portrait," Gyles Brandreth offers a detailed account of Prince Philip's relationships, including his remarkable royal partnership with Queen Elizabeth II.
- Kate Middleton, who married into the Royal Family in 2011, reportedly continues to follow Prince Philip's advice and does not look at the camera during interviews, as noted by Brandreth in his interview with The Times in 2021.
