Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, reportedly gave Princess Catherine a crucial piece of advice when she joined the Royal Family in 2011, and she continues to follow it to this day. The guidance, revealed by royal author Gyles Brandreth, centered on how to handle the intense global scrutiny that comes with being a senior royal.
Prince Philip's advice to Princess Catherine
According to Brandreth, who wrote the biography Philip: The Final Portrait, Prince Philip told Catherine: "If you believe the attention is for you personally, you're going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you're supporting. It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That's all." He specifically advised her: "Don't look at the camera. The Queen never looks at the camera. Never. Look at who you are talking to. Look at who you've come to see. Diana looked at the camera."
Catherine's adherence to the advice
Brandreth noted from his own observations that Catherine has consistently followed Philip's guidance. "I have been on a walkabout with the Duchess of Cambridge. She never looks at the camera," he wrote. The advice reportedly helped Catherine navigate life under constant public attention, focusing on her duties rather than personal fame.
Philip's similar advice to Princess Diana
Prince Philip had reportedly tried to give the same advice to Princess Diana, but she did not follow it. Brandreth wrote: "One of the things that saddened - and worried - the Queen and Prince Philip about Diana, Princess of Wales, was not that she was popular, but that she allowed her popularity to go to her head." He contrasted this with the Queen and Prince Philip, who "did not take it personally."
Bond between Philip and Catherine
The counsel Philip offered led to an "unexpected" friendship between the two. They often sat together at royal occasions and shared a similar sense of humor. Prince William paid tribute to this bond in his heartfelt message following Philip's death in 2021, writing: "I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her."
Philip's legacy of service
Prince Philip devoted decades to serving the Royal Family and the monarch, earning a reputation as the Queen's steadfast partner. He served as patron, president, or member of more than 780 organizations. His lifetime of commitment made him well-placed to guide Catherine on navigating life under the constant glare of the public eye. When Catherine joined the Firm at age 29, Philip was reportedly "relieved" that Prince William had found "such a level-headed girl."
