Kate Middleton has gone above and beyond to please her beau’s grandparents since joining the royal family. Middleton has spent a significant amount of time attending royal events with Queen Elizabeth II, as it is extremely probable that she will become Queen of UK eventually. According to royal expert Duncan Larcombe, quoted in The Observer, this quality time spent with the queen has allowed the two to establish a “fantastic relationship.”

While the Duchess of Cambridge’s public interactions with the Queen are more restricted, Us Weekly reports that the Queen has been a true mentor to her granddaughter-in-law privately.

Kate stated in her post-engagement interview with Prince William that she first met the Queen during Peter Phillips’ (William’s cousin) wedding to Autumn Kelly in 2008. “Well I first met her at Peter and Autumn’s wedding and again it was in amongst a lot of other guests and she was very friendly,” the duchess said in the Q&A, according to The Telegraph.

While the couple’s relationship may appear distant to others, Queen Elizabeth has expressed her affection for the Duchess of Cambridge by bestowing unique rights on her, such as a direct line to talk with her at any time. According to Larcombe, Middleton utilizes this direct line to seek guidance from the queen and to keep her up to date on the whereabouts of her great-grandchildren.

According to a source, “the Queen really taken Kate under her wing.” “The two of them will often spend hours discussing royal life and the future of the monarchy.” There has also been some tough training. “The Queen will give intense one-on-one training [to Kate] about taking on the crown,” a source told USWeekly.

Six months after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding, it appears that the Duchess of Cambridge took advantage of their close connection when she addressed Queen Elizabeth with her worries about Markle’s “behavior.” In their book, Royals at War, authors Andy Tillett and Dylan Howard stated that the two struck a deal to help Markle through her new job in the royal family (per Marie Claire).

Kate attended the inauguration of an exhibition including her memorable Alexander McQueen wedding gown at Buckingham Palace in July 2011. The duo discussed the beautiful clothing, and the royals’ chemistry was obvious even then.

A second insider told Us about when the time comes for Kate to assume the throne, “It’s taken a long time for Kate to get to where she is today, but she’s ready.”

Middleton and Prince William relocated from Anmer Hall in Norfolk to Kensington Palace two years after their wedding. Because Kensington Palace is within walking distance of Queen Elizabeth’s home, Buckingham Palace, the two have had many opportunities to meet. According to a royal family insider, Queen Elizabeth and Middleton “casually catch up over afternoon tea” on a regular basis.

Kate’s major priority right now, though, is her family. According to an insider, William and his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, mean everything to her. “She’s determined to create a healthy balance between her personal life and her future role.”

Kate and the Queen were sighted together again in June 2012, this time during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour in Nottingham. The royals were in high spirits, as usual, and appeared to be enjoying each other’s company:

Aside from royal duties, Middleton has frequently mentioned the queen’s affection for her great-grandchildren. Middleton stated in 2016 that her eldest son, Prince George, referred to his grandmother, Her Royal Highness, as “Gan-Gan.” “She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay, and that just shows her love for her family,” Middleton said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight during ITV’s Our Queen at Ninety program.

In a 2016 ITV program commemorating the Queen’s 90th birthday, Kate recalled the very first Christmas gift she gave to Her Majesty: homemade chutney (via The Telegraph). The duchess said “I was worried what to give the Queen as her Christmas present. I was thinking, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’ I thought back to what would I give my own grandparents. And I thought, ‘I’ll make her something.’ Which could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny’s recipe of chutney.”

The basis for Kate’s eventual greater position in the monarchy is already being set.

On a visit to an Islington community garden in January 2019, a little girl asked Kate if the Queen ever eats pizza. Kate responded, “You know, that’s such a good question. I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe next time I see her, shall I ask?” Kate appears to have a close relationship with her husband’s grandma.