A special relationship. Princess Kate formed a bond with Queen Elizabeth II when she became a member of the royal family, looking to the monarch for inspiration over the years.

Kate became the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William in April 2011, but her introduction to the queen came three years prior at William’s cousin Peter Phillips’ wedding to now-ex-wife Autumn Kelly. At the time, the monarch was “very friendly” toward the now-duchess.

“She was very welcoming,” the Duke of Cambridge said during a post-engagement interview alongside his soon-to-be bride. “She knew it was a big day and everything was going on with Peter and Autumn, [but] she had wanted to meet Kate for a while, so it was very nice for her to come over and say hello. We had a little chat and got on very well.”

King Charles Statement On Queen Elizabeth II Passing

King Charles Statement On Queen Elizabeth II Passingclose

As she grew more comfortable in her senior royal role, Kate became a positive presence for her grandmother-in-law. “More than anything, knowing she can rely on Kate and [William] to handle matters in her absence is the greatest comfort she could ask for,” a source told Us Weekly exclusively in August 2020, noting that Kate was a “rock” for the queen throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“Her Majesty sees the Cambridges as the future of the monarchy and trusts Kate and William’s judgment implicitly,” the source explained at the time. “Kate asks for advice about speeches she’s due to make, whom she can depend on most within the palace and protocol dos and don’ts. The queen’s more than happy to impart her wisdom — she’s proud to be Catherine’s go-to adviser about royal life.”

While the Duchess of Cambridge admired Elizabeth’s continued poise throughout her decades-long reign, she won’t be afraid to mix things up when she and William eventually find their places on the throne.

“Kate has flourished into a queen in waiting in front of everyone’s eyes,” a second insider revealed in November 2020. “Kate may change some of the outdated royal rules when she becomes queen [consort].”

Not only was Elizabeth a trusted advisor to both Kate and William until she died at the age of 96 in September 2022, but also a loving great-grandmother to their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. While she may appear serious on the exterior, the queen has a playful side too, which Kate hinted at during a January 2019 visit to Islington in London.

When a youngster asked the duchess if the queen enjoys eating pizza, Kate replied, “You know, that’s such a good question. I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe next time I see her, shall I ask?”

The Duchess of Cambridge mourned the queen in September 2022. The monarch died at age 96 at her Balmoral estate in Scotland and was buried in Windsor with her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021.

“And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredible grateful,” Prince William said, in part, in a statement prior to the funeral. “I have had the benefit of The Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade. My wife has had 20 years of her guidance and support.”

Keep scrolling for a look back at Kate’s sweetest moments with the queen:

Credit: Paul Edwards – WPA Pool / Getty Images; Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Introduction

Kate met the monarch in 2008 at William’s cousin Peter’s wedding. “She was very friendly,” the duchess recalled during an interview after her engagement to William. The duke gushed over his “very welcoming” grandmother, who “had wanted to meet Kate for a while.”

Credit: Hugo Burnand/Clarence House/Shutterstock

Wedding Day

The queen was all smiles when Kate and William tied the knot in April 2011. Three months later, Kate joined her grandmother-in-law at Buckingham Palace for the opening of an exhibition, which displayed her Alexander McQueen wedding gown.

Credit: Ray Tang/LNP/Shutterstock

Travel Buddies

In March 2012, the University of St Andrews alum accompanied the queen in Leicester, England, during her Diamond Jubilee Tour, marking their first engagement together without William.

Credit: Oli Scarff – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Tea Time

The Cambridges’ move to Kensington Palace from Norfolk’s Amner Hall allowed Kate and the queen to spend more time together, even “casually catch[ing] up over afternoon tea,” a source explained in April 2019.

The royal women “have always had a special bond,” but when Kate and William moved “within walking distance of Buckingham Palace,” they grew even closer. “They developed a deeper friendship,” the insider told Us.

Credit: Shutterstock; Aaron Chown/PA Images/INSTAR

Stepping Up

When the coronavirus pandemic put the world at a standstill in early 2020, the queen was grateful for “having Kate as her rock” through the uncertainty. After seeing Kate step up to lend a hand, an insider told Us Elizabeth “can rely on Kate,” which “is the greatest comfort she could ask for.”

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock (3)

Family First

The duchess and the queen may have been separated by social distancing, but they showed each other support during a private Remembrance Day ceremony in November 2020.

Credit: James Whatling / MEGA

10 Years Later

When Kate and William celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in April 2021, Elizabeth wished them “a very happy” day in a social media statement.

Credit: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

Touching Tribute

As the British family mourned the loss of Prince Philip at his April 2021 funeral, Kate honored his widow by wearing pearl earrings that belonged to her.

Credit: Photo by Paolo Roversi/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

Birthday Nod

In the portraits taken for her 40th birthday, Kate honored both Diana and the Queen. The sovereign lent Kate her Diamond Frame earrings for the portrait in which the duchess wore a red Alexander McQueen dress while she wore other items belonging to Diana in two other commemorative photos.

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Celebrating in Style

Although Her Majesty was unable to attend the Service of Thanksgiving in her honor during her Platinum Jubilee festivities in June 2022, her granddaughter-in-law honored her by wearing a pair of her pearl drop earrings to the event.

Royal expert Bethan Holt told exclusively Us in April 2022 that Kate often took fashion inspiration from the queen.

“Many of the things that we see the Duchess of Cambridge doing today are things that she’s learned from the queen,” the Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style author said at the time.

Credit: James Whatling / MEGA

Mourning Her Queen

In September 2022, the new Princess of Wales mourned the monarch. She attended the state funeral in London and committal service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor with her husband as well as George and Charlotte.