King Charles III’s Relationship With Daughter-in-Law Princess Kate Through the Years 

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King Charles III’s Relationship With Daughter-in-Law Princess Kate Through the Years 

No ordinary in-laws! Princess Kate joined the royal family in April 2011 after her wedding to King Charles III’s eldest son, Prince William.

The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales first met as undergraduate students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After becoming close friends, the pair eventually started dating. Amid their courtship, William brought Kate home to meet his family.

“It was one thing to be asked to accompany Will on club-hopping excursions in London and Edinburgh. It was quite another to be invited to Balmoral, which William’s great-great-great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria called 'this dear Paradise,’” royal expert Christopher Andersen wrote in his 2011 book, William and Kate: A Royal Love Story. “By all accounts, Kate was the first girl Wills ever brought to Balmoral – in large part because, said a royal insider, ‘he must have known how much she would love it.’”

According to Andersen’s tome, the Duchess of Cambridge was introduced to William’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96, and his father, Charles. (His Majesty and late ex-wife Princess Diana were the parents of William and Prince Harry.)

“During her first visit to Balmoral, Kate jumped one significant hurdle. She met Charles,” Andersen wrote, noting that the duchess impressed her future father-in-law thanks to her “assuming grace.”

After dating on and off, William popped the question in fall 2010 during their vacation to Kenya. They wed one year later before welcoming their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in 2013, 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Throughout the Duke of Cornwall and Kate’s romance, they continued to support Charles and the monarchy. The Duchess of Cornwall quickly became a staple at her husband and father-in-law's public engagements.

After the queen’s passing, Charles — as her firstborn son and direct heir — immediately assumed the throne. With the Trinity College grad’s ascension, he bestowed his former titles of Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge onto William.

“Today, I am proud to create [William the] Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty,” the king said in his first speech as the reigning monarch in September 2022, noting that Kate will thereby be referred to as the Princess of Wales. “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground where vital help can be given.”

William and Kate have since continued to support Charles’ reign, including by participating in his official coronation in May 2023.

Scroll below to revisit Kate’s relationship with her father-in-law, Charles:

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December 2006

One of Kate’s first public appearances was at then-boyfriend William's Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst, in which military cadets graduate from training in front of the reigning monarch. While Elizabeth dutifully inspected William’s uniform in the lineup, Kate and her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, sat in the front row alongside Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla.

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April 2011

When William and Kate prepared to tie the knot, Charles was instrumental in their planning process.

“I love trying to organize some interesting — I hope — pieces of music for certain occasions … particularly for weddings if people want,” the regent said during a May 2020 radio interview on Classic FM. “I know my eldest son was quite understanding and was perfectly happy for me to suggest a few pieces for their wedding. I hope that gave some people pleasure, but it’s rather fun having orchestras in for great occasions like that, and why not suggest a few pieces occasionally? Anyway … I do enjoy it.”

After the nuptials, William and Kate drove off in Charles’ Aston Martin vehicle.

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December 2012

“It’s a very nice thought to become a grandfather in my old age, if I can say so,” Charles quipped to reporters after he was asked about Kate’s first pregnancy. “I’m thrilled, marvelous.”

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July 2017

Charles greeted Kate with a peck on the cheek during a family appearance at the Tyne Cot cemetery to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of Passchendaele.

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June 2021

When Kate joined Charles at the Eden Project on June 11, she hinted at her special nickname for her father-in-law.“Hello, Grandpa! How are you?” Kate greeted Charles during the event.

The king is a grandfather of five to William’s three kids and Harry’s two. (The Duke of Sussex and wife Meghan Markle share son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet.)

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February 2022

Kate joined her in-laws at the Prince’s Foundation training site.

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June 2022

Will and Kate were all smiles as they rode in an open-top carriage with Charles and Camilla en route to the annual Garter Day celebrations.

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September 2022

The sovereign named Kate the new Princess of Wales — to accompany William’s Prince of Wales title — after his ascension.

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December 2022

Charles later appointed Kate as the Colonel of the Irish Guards, a title that previously belonged to William. (The duke was gifted the honor by the queen in 2011 ahead of his wedding day.)

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May 2023

After Charles and Camilla were blessed and anointed as England’s monarchs, they began their procession out of Westminster Abbey. As the king passed by Kate’s pew, she curtsied as a sign of respect.