Catherine’s Dilemma before Accepting Princess of Wales Title Due to ‘Stressful’ Reason — Here’s Why She Eventually Did

When Prince William went down on one knee to propose to his wife, Catherine Middleton, it was one of the least things she expected. The two were in Kenya on a holiday, visiting friends, and the proposal came as a surprise.

In a past interview following their engagement, Catherine recalled the moment, stating, “We were out there with friends and things so I really didn’t expect it at all.” The proposal was special for William who had been planning it for a while.

He gave Catherine his mother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring and it fit her perfectly. She later stated that the ring was the same size and she was honored to wear it.

But while Catherine found herself betrothed to her charming prince, she knew a great responsibility lay ahead. She was aware that one day, she might be expected to follow in Princess Diana’s footsteps.

In the 2010 YouTube interview following their engagement, Catherine was asked about the pressure of marrying into the royal family. The question specifically highlighted the fame of William’s mother and if she found that intimidating.

Her response was she felt calm about it and inspired by the royal family’s achievements. William, sitting beside Catherine, supported her response. He explained that Catherine didn’t feel pressured to fill his mother’s shoes. Instead, she was focused on shaping her own path and future.

Despite this, the idea of becoming the Princess of Wales was still not particularly enticing to Catherine. She knew from the start that comparisons with Diana were inevitable.

She had every reason to be concerned since discussions about the similarities and differences between them were endless, even within the royal household. Catherine found the constant scrutiny “stressful.”

At one point, she even considered following Camilla’s example and choosing not to use the title of HRH Princess of Wales when the time came.

However, in the end, she embraced the title with grace, out of respect for her husband and the King. By then, enough time had passed to make the title more acceptable, and Catherine had been in the public eye long enough to be valued for her own unique qualities.

Despite the comparisons, the most fundamental difference between Diana and Catherine lies in their childhoods. Diana, coming from a broken home, grew up without a strong sense of security.

In contrast, Catherine enjoyed a happy and stable upbringing. Now, she’s dedicated to giving her three children a similar nurturing environment.

For Diana, she was much younger when she entered the Royal Family. She was known for her strong-willed and emotional nature—a trait her son, William seems to share.

One key to William’s successful marriage is Catherine’s calming presence. She has been an instinctive peacemaker, helping to improve William’s relationship with his father.

According to a senior source, in recent years, William and his father have become much closer. The source mentioned that William respects his father’s dedication to service. At the same time, he feels that his father’s focus on work had a negative impact on their father-son relationship during his upbringing.

Just like his father King Charles III, William continues to show his leadership skills when it comes to his royal duties. Recently, he surprised the public after he reportedly dismissed a key figure from his payroll.

Prince William has reportedly removed Annabel Elliot, Queen Camilla’s sister, from the Duchy of Cornwall’s payroll, surprising netizens. According to The Telegraph on July 24, Annabel has been the estate’s interior designer since 2005, working under King Charles III’s direction on various royal properties.

The 75-year-old interior designer’s departure comes as William begins to shape the estate’s management in his way. The latest Duchy accounts show she wasn’t paid for her services in 2023-2024, marking the end of nearly two decades of work.

The report repeated a statement from the Duchy’s 2024 annual report, which covered Charles’s last six months managing the estate and William’s first six months after inheriting it following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

The statement read, “During the period to 8th September 2022 the Duchy paid Mrs. Annabel Elliot, the 24th Duke of Cornwall’s sister-in-law, in the normal course of business and on an arm’s length basis £19,625 (or $25,091.25) for fees and commission and £12,316 ($15746.44) for the purchase of furniture, furnishings and retail stock for the Duchy of Cornwall Holiday accommodation, Duchy offices and Duchy Nursery. At 31st March 2024 there was £nil (2023: £nil) remaining payable to Mrs Elliot in respect of these [sic].”

The Duchy is a private estate that provides income, and funds the official and private activities of the Duke of Cornwall and his family. This place was established in 1337 by Edward III to support his son, Prince Edward, and is governed by specific charters and laws.

The estate is managed with a focus on sustainability and community benefits, aiming to preserve it for future generations. The current Duke of Cornwall, William, does not have access to the estate’s capital and pays income tax on the profits it generates each year.

Along with its historic significance, the Duchy offers luxury holiday cottages in period buildings across Cornwall, Wales, and the Isles of Scilly. Designed by Annabel, these interiors blend antique and modern styles, using recycled materials like glass bottles for light fixtures and old chests for coffee tables.

The estate emphasizes eco-friendliness, using green electricity and renewable energy heating systems. It also promotes sustainable tourism that supports local economies and communities.

William’s decision to remove Annabel from the Duchy’s payroll has drawn mixed reactions from netizens. One user commented, “Charles put her on the payroll she wouldn’t have been interior designer if it wasn’t for her sister and I’m glad Prince William took her off payroll [sic].”

Not everyone was aware of Annabel’s role, with some expressing surprise. “So he should, didn’t know she was on the payroll,” one netizen said.

Despite being removed from the Duchy’s payroll, Annabel remains active in royal projects, including recent renovations at Balmoral. However, her company, Annabel Elliot Limited, has reportedly faced financial challenges, with a noted decline in assets over recent years.