When Princess Catherine started dating Prince William, few thought the college romance would end in marriage.

Now, she’s the queen-in-waiting and raising the future king of England. Catherine went from being a middle-class woman to one of the most renowned royals in the world, and as the years wore on, her influence within the British monarchy — and the world — only grew.

There are whispers that few understand the profound impact the Princess of Wales has on the British royal family. In Robert Jobson’s 2024 royal biography “Catherine, The Princess of Wales,” the future queen’s influence is discussed thoroughly.

If insiders who spoke to Jobson are to be believed, Catherine is the reason Prince William’s relationship with King Charles III hasn’t gone the same route as Prince Harry’s.

“[Catherine has] smoothed the way for William and his father to have a better relationship than they had in the past,” Jobson wrote. Apparently, William has held somewhat of a grudge against his father for favoring his work over his family in the past, but Catherine, ever the diplomat, has managed to get Willam to see things through his fathers eyes. “[She] is somebody who always tries to see both sides of any dispute,” an insider told Jobson.

Her cool head and emotional maturity have made Catherine a pillar of strength within the royal family, and if you’re curious just how much influence she has within the firm, you, dear reader, are in the right place.

Princess Catherine set some ground rules, and Queen Elizabeth accepted them
Princess Catherine and Prince William with baby Charlotte on hospital stepsMike Marsland/Getty Images
While most would only be too happy to join a family of royals, Princess Catherine didn’t go into it completely blind. While she was pregnant with Princess Charlotte in 2015 and had found her feet within the royal family, she set out some ground rules, perhaps because she realized at this point how easily royal life could suck you in.

In his book, “Catherine, The Princess of Wales,” Robert Jobson writes that the princess had started to realize she needed some more time to learn how to balance being a mother with her royal duties, and presented some of her ground rules to Queen Elizabeth II and then-Prince Charles. “She wouldn’t be pigeon-holed into carrying out particular duties and insisted on eventually having her full quota of maternity leave, away from the glare of the media and public,” Jobson wrote. Catherine didn’t want her entire life to be ruled by her royal duties; she also wanted space to have a personal life and be there for her husband and kids. Furthermore, she requested that the causes she supports be of personal interest and share her core values.

Princess Catherine holds power by raising the future king

Being a mother is tough on the best of days, but Princess Catherine has the added pressure of knowing she’s raising Prince George to become king. According to royal biographer Angela Levin, the Princess of Wales is all too aware of this big responsibility. “Kate’s a very confident mother. But even so, she’s acutely aware of the pressure of raising George as the future monarch. It’s a very heavy burden to carry,” she told OK! Royal expert Camilla Tominey also spoken on the subject, explaining that, thanks to her son’s position within the royal family, Catherine is, by all counts, the most powerful member of the firm. What she teaches young George will shape him into the adult he’ll one day become and influence the decisions he’ll make once he’s king.

Catherine and Prince William told George about his destiny when he turned 7, Robert Lacey claimed in his book, “Battle of Brothers: William and Harry — the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult.” William and Catherine are trying not to make the knowledge of his future responsibilities too burdensome on George and are actively trying to ensure he has as normal a childhood as possible. Catherine is known for spending a lot of quality time with her kids — she didn’t even want to hire a nanny when George was born and only relented after realizing that doing everything on her own while juggling her royal duties was impossible.