PRINCE William and Kate Middleton have grown “closer than ever” as the drama with Meghan and Harry has brought an “unexpected consequence,” according to a royal observer.
The apparent fallout between the royal brothers following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey is said to have had an “unexpected impact” on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s own relationship.
Read our Royal Family live blog for the latest updates
While the Royal Family has been rocked by the claims made in the 90-minute interview, Kate has been a huge source of support to her husband and equalled out their marriage, according to one royal expert.
Camilla Tominey, in an article for Stella magazine, said: “It seems an unexpected consequence of the family conflict has been to help William and Kate find equilibrium in their own marriage.
“What started out as an uneven match between a blue-blooded prince and his ‘plus one’ has now blossomed into a two-peas-in-a-pod kind of partnership.”
Kate was seen by many observers to be stepping into the “peacemaker” role between the brothers Prince William and Prince Harry during the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
Tensions were said to be running high due to the fallout over Harry and Meghan Markle’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Among the claims made Harry and wife Meghan said a member of the Royal Family had questioned the colour of Archie’s skin before he was born.
After the emotional service, Harry was seen talking with William and the Duchess of Cambridge as the group left the moving funeral.
A royal source said at the time of the funeral: “It looked like a conciliatory move by William to wait for Harry and allow him to catch up and chat to him and Kate. That could be a significant moment.
“Harry appeared grateful for the opportunity, and Kate seemed to make a point of letting the brothers walk alone together, having briefly chatted to Harry as well.”
The popularity of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on social media is also said to have given a boost to William and Kate, according to another royal watcher.
Katie Nicholl said the couple had realised they too need a “commanding presence,” especially with a younger audience.
The royal editor of Vanity Fair told 9Honey: “I think they, both of them, have let their guard down a bit and become more relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera because it’s on their terms.”
“It’s them controlling their public image and their narrative and therefore you are seeing a more relaxed William and Kate.
“If you’re going to reach out to this audience via YouTube or Instagram, you have to be authentic, you have to be real and relatable too.
“Stiff, formal, un-relatable, uncomfortable is not going to yield them followers.
“Open, relaxed, relatable will and they are clearly comfortable enough to let their guards down and show a bit more of their real personalities, which has been lovely to see.”
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, William and Kate have boosted their social media presence, releasing a 25-second trailer to promote their new YouTube channel.
Clips from the trailer showed footage of Kate playing archery and William serving food in a street kitchen among other public engagements.
Their Instagram page regularly updates fans with footage of their activities as well as giving a glimpse into their home lives.