As the Duchess of Cambridge marks her 40th birthday this weekend, so too does she mark a decade as a senior member of the British Royal Family, and the big question remains: what’s next for Kate?
Many articles have been written this week looking at Kate’s character, her royal record so far, and even on the record interviews with the organisers who work with her closely. One of my favourites, from a Hello! exclusive: Chief Scout and nature enthusiast Bear Grylls, who said, “We are so proud to have her as a joint President and when she wears her Scout scarf she shows her solidarity with 57 million young people worldwide who know the power of Scouting to change and improve their lives. To me she is a hero.”
In her November 2010 engagement interview, Kate said: “I really hope I can make a difference, even in the smallest way. I am looking forward to helping as much as I can.”
Her work thus far has been changemaking in the sense that she applies herself to an issue, works on a major project related to it, and has spent countless hours researching the best way to achieve her goals. Her work with Hold Still, the Back to Nature Garden, her support of Holocaust survivors and remembrance, Heads Together, the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood are examples of this.
Kate has made her core mission very clear: she wants to do what she can to research and raise awareness of the effects of the early years and how giving children the best start in life can best prepare them for adulthood. This will continue to be her focus in the next decade
She’ll continue to prioritise raising her young children and ensuring that they also get a foundational start to their lives, not just as future senior royals, but as children deserving of the best of what the early years can provide: her life’s work. This next decade will be transformational.
In all likelihood, Kate will become Princess of Wales in this next decade of her life. With that comes a higher profile, a more official role in the grand scheme of royal and governmental affairs. It will mean more official visits; more engagements with world leaders and a more packed diary of engagements.
But to answer the question ‘what’s next for Kate?’ The answer is something only Kate truly knows, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
