King Charles' rare personal insight into his relationship with 'beloved' Kate Middleton
King Charles and Catherine seemingly share a strong bond
King Charles once offered a rare glimpse into his close and affectionate relationship with his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton.
Over the years, the king and the Princess of Wales have reportedly built a uniquely close relationship, marked by mutual respect, empathy, and affection.
King Charles’ gushing words about ‘beloved’ Kate Middleton
During a 2023 state banquet in Nairobi, Kenya, King Charles made a rare and heartfelt comment about the Princess.
Reflecting on the United Kingdom’s history with Kenya, he said: “It was here, in sight of Mount Kenya, that my son, The Prince of Wales, proposed to his wife, now my beloved daughter-in-law.”
Although brief, the statement offered a rare window into Charles’ deep fondness for Kate, who has been a senior royal since marrying Prince William in 2011.
In 2022, body language expert Judi James told Express that Charles and Kate “do seem to have a rather special relationship”.
Their connection also extends beyond formal engagements. According to Jack Stooks, a former gardener at Charles’ Highgrove estate, both Charles and Kate share a passion for gardening and nature.
“He loves a garden… and Kate loves to be outdoors. She’s very into gardening. More so than William,” Stooks told Smooth Spins Casino.
“She’s clearly been inspired by [Charles], as well as her own family’s love of nature.”
Meanwhile, Charles and Kate have never shied away from small, meaningful gestures.
At the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in September 2025, the Princess of Wales greeted the king with a warm kiss on the cheek and a respectful curtsy. Charles responded by wrapping an arm around her.
Their camaraderie was also on display at 2024’s Trooping the Colour celebration. Observers noticed a change in formation: instead of standing beside Prince William, the king chose to stand next to Kate.
“Charles made Kate his centre of attention to signal both how much she is cherished and how grateful he was at her attendance,” Judi James told MailOnline.
King Charles and Kate’s close bond after both battling cancer
In early 2024, both Charles and Kate revealed their respective cancer diagnoses, a deeply emotional moment that many insiders believe has strengthened their already close bond.
Since their joint health struggles were made public, sources have spoken of a deepened connection between the two.
One palace insider told The Sun that shortly after Kate’s diagnosis, the king arranged a private lunch with her at Windsor Castle.
They claimed: “The king left his lunch feeling very emotional. They are very close, and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter. There’s no doubt there is a lot they can share and use each other for support.”
Following Kate’s emotional video announcement of her health diagnosis, King Charles released a public statement praising her bravery, saying he was “so proud” of her for having the “courage” to speak out. He also emphasised that he was in “the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law”.
Royal expert Jennie Bond noted the significance of his phrasing.
“I was struck by the fact that he didn’t say ‘close’, but ‘closest’,” she told OK!. There’s no doubt that cancer has cemented an already strong relationship.”
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