Royal historian Robert Lacey, author of the best-sellingBattle of Brothers, exclusively writes this week’s PEOPLE cover story, offering insights on the state of the monarchy, the Queen’s legacy in action, and William and Kate’s eye toward their future on the throne
Prince WilliamandKate Middletonmarked their10th wedding anniversarythis past spring with a set of new portraits in which the royal couple (who were together for eight years prior to their engagement) beam and embrace.
Whether they’reglittering on the red carpetorstepping into nature with their three children, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge represent a united front — supportive spouses andpartners in parenthood.
According to royal historian Robert Lacey, William’s steady, stable relationship with his beloved Catherine makes for a sharp contrast to the generations of strained royal marriage before theirs.
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Lacey gives much credit to Kate, whom he describes as an “empathetic outsider from middle class origins.”
And while Kate’s parents,CaroleandMichael Middleton, remain happily married after 41 years, the marriage of William’s parents,Prince CharlesandPrincess Diana, was already irreparably broken as they passed their own 10th anniversary. Eighteen months later, Prime Minister John Major would announce their separation in December 1992, triggering a years-long, highly scrutinized divorce that undoubtedly shaped William’s approach to his own marriage and family. (The couple finalized their divorce in August 1996, and Diana died in a car crash in Paris one year later.)
Lacey notes that Kate understands the importance of her role as future monarch’s consort and mother to a future king and key royals — and that providing stability in all those areas is paramount.
She and William “have focused on … working to ensure that all three of their children —[Prince] George, 6-year-oldPrincess Charlotteand 3-year-oldPrince Louis— enjoy the peaceful childhood that eluded William and Harry.”
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The couple’s former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkertontold PEOPLERoyalsthat William “has the experience of knowing where the institution sits and seeing it evolve,” while Kate “brings this pragmatic awareness of what it’s like to be from a decent, down-to-earth family.”
He added, “They have a solid bond through these last 10 years. If you had scoured the realm you couldn’t have got a better pair, frankly.”
source: people.com
