Queen Once Broke Tradition & Invited ‘Unregistered’ Kate Middleton to Christmas Lunch - She Declined

Queen Elizabeth II was so sure about Kate Middleton that she broke a Royal tradition to invite her, an "unregistered girlfriend," to a Christmas lunch. Still, Kate turned her down.

The British Royal family needs to follow many rules, and some might feel outdated. Queen Elizabeth II knows it, and she has sometimes broken a few of them.

For example, the Queen allowed Meghan Markle to join her family at the Norfolk estate for Christmas even though she and Prince Harry were not married. Now, a new book claims Duchess Kate Middleton also received special treatment over a decade ago.

QUEEN ELIZABETH RESPECTS DUCHESS KATE

People have speculated who will replace the Queen when she passes on the title for years. The most logical option is Prince Charles because he is first in line.

However, Charles may not want to take on such a challenge in his 70s. Rumors about him handing the responsibility over to William have made the rounds on the internet. If he does, the Queen has nothing to worry about.

According to Majesty Magazine Managing Editor Joe Little, apart from William, who has proven he is ready, the Queen trusts that Kate will help him lead the royal family's future.

Now that the family faces many hardships – Harry and Meghan's royal exit and William's supposed strained relationship with Harry – the Queen believes in Kate even more.

Little is sure that the Queen has high expectations of Kate because she bestowed her with the royal family order (Diana, Princess of Wales, also received it). It is a recognition given to the women who have been part of the family for a long time and are "deemed to be of great support" to the Queen. Little added:

"The Queen has great trust in the future Prince and Princess of Wales William and Catherine will be one day and, in the fullness of time… King William and Queen Catherine."

Kate reportedly earned the Queen's trust by being a team player in the family. She also kept a low profile during her first few years as a royal. Instead of making appearances as a working member of the royals, she would just show up as William's wife.

When she finally began taking more responsibilities as the Duchess of Cambridge, she chose her projects carefully. For all those reasons, Little believes Kate has thrived in royal life.

Kate is confident enough to share details about the Queen's relationship with her grandchildren.

KATE IS FEARLESS

Little is not the only person talking about the Queen and Kate's relationship. Us Magazine also reported that William's wife has been proving to the Queen that she can be trusted.

As a result, both women developed a great friendship. Although Kate allegedly needed ten years to get over the feeling of being "uneasy" in the spotlight, she is now a "fearless" public figure.

After marrying William in April 2011, Kate learned the royal protocols and now knows them like "the back of her hand." The Duchess of Cambridge used to be nervous around the Queen, too.

She wanted to impress her so much that it made her anxious, but their bond has transformed. Now, Kate is confident enough to share details about the Queen's relationship with her grandchildren.

In 2016, William's wife confessed that her son Prince George called his grandmother "Gan-Gan." She added that the Queen would frequently leave George and Princess Charlotte gifts in their room when they stayed at Buckingham Palace.

Although Kate is "slightly nervous" about the responsibilities that will come with her imminent Queen Consort title, she is ready to make her mark.

Queen Elizabeth is sure William and Kate will be outstanding when their time comes. She has been in contact with them about their future roles and feels confident that they will fulfill all responsibilities.

Coming back to Little, he said the Queen saw Kate as "a safe pair of hands." The current monarch believes that the Duchess of Cambridge sticks to tradition, but she also recognizes that the modern family "has to evolve."

Although it was the first time that the Queen did such a thing, Kate turned down the invitation.

TURNING DOWN THE QUEEN'S INVITATION

Speaking of tradition, the Queen broke one for the Duchess of Cambridge years before she married William, which proves her respect for Kate is nothing new.

British historian and biographer Robert Lacey wrote in his book "Battle of Brothers" that the Queen defied royal protocols and invited Kate to one of the family's Christmas events in 2006.

William and Kate had been dating for about five years, but he had not proposed. Kate was an "unregistered girlfriend" to other royals and could not attend special events.

However, William wanted her to join him and the rest of the family at Sandringham Palace for their traditional Christmas lunch, so the Queen allegedly invited her.

Although it was the first time the Queen did such a thing, Kate turned down the invitation. She wanted to spend Christmas with William's family only when she was engaged to him.

KATE AND WILLIAM'S ROLE MODELS

Now, Kate and William have been married for ten years. According to Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's former secretary, they have role models.

The couple supposedly finds inspiration in the Queen and Prince Philip's 73-year marriage and Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton's 41-year relationship.

Lowther-Pinkerton added that their contrasting backgrounds were crucial to the success of their relationship. William knows where the institution sits and has seen it evolve, and Kate provides the pragmatic awareness of a "decent, down-to-earth family."

Kate and William are expected to have three Christmas celebrations this year: one with the Queen at Sandringham, the second with Kate's family, and the third with their children.

Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe added that George, Charlotte, and Prince Louis probably wouldn't get expensive gifts because they didn't want to spoil them. After all, they are raising the future King (or Queen) of the United Kingdom.