The royal couple tied the knot in a spectacular ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 and the milestone anniversary is expected to be marked by the Queen with “a special secret something”. The Queen bestowed her highest seal of approval upon the Duchess of Cambridge on her eighth anniversary when she made her a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Awards under the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by the monarch to reward services to the sovereign.
And the Queen is now thought to be preparing to award the Duchess another prestigious honour in recognition of her work as a senior member of the royal family.
Royal expert Duncan Larcombe told OK! magazine: “It’s highly likely she’ll be planning a special secret something to honour Kate’s 10 years in the royal family – something she can do to mark it.
“Kate and the Queen have a fantastic relationship.
“Kate strikes that balance between bowing to her as head of the Royal Family in public but being able to check in with her as the great-grandmother to her children.”
Mr Larcombe told OK! magazine the Queen and the Duchess had remained close throughout the coronavirus pandemic with Kate having a direct line to speak to the monarch.
He said the royal pair were in regular contact and the Queen looks forward to receiving updates the Duke and and Duchess’s children George, seven, Charlotte, five, and Louis, two.
Mr Larcombe said said Kate is believed to have tutored the Queen in the use of video calls so she can see her great-grandchildren during lockdown.
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The Queen is understood to view Kate as one of the hardest working members of “the Firm”.
She has travelled to the Commonwealth on behalf of the monarch and helped to raise awareness about mental health alongside Prince William and Prince Harry.
Through her royal work, she also supports many of her own causes such as early years development of children.
Speaking during the video call held on Tuesday, Kate said: “You hear time and time again about the amazing things nurses up and down the country are doing – going that extra mile.
“It’s the things that, you know, it’s not part of the training and the things that you’re taught, but the things that come from your heart.
“I think that’s what matters so much now, these acts of kindness to the patients you’re looking after, that are in your care, that family members aren’t able to be there, but you are going that extra mile and being there.”
Kate spoke to the medical workers from Sandringham, the Queen’s Norfolk residence, which is close to the duchess’ home of Anmer Hall where her three children are being homeschooled.
It is understood the Queen, who is spending the lockdown at Windsor Castle, has allowed the Cambridges use of Sandringham to make video calls, now a familiar part of royal engagements.
