The future is William and Kate

 

The Prince and Princess of Wales are looking to the future and that royal future is increasingly about them. In recent weeks, William and Kate have been front and centre for the House of Windsor and it shows no signs of abating. This isn't just an heir and his wife. This is a king and queen in waiting.

The latest sign of that was the totally unexpected but highly significant appearance of Kate in a tiara reserved only for queens. At the State Banquet for the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and his wife, Elke Budenbender, the Princess of Wales wore the Circlet tiara. There was a German nod - it was designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria so this was a celebration of creativity from Germany. However, one big question remained. Why wasn't it Queen Camilla in the Circlet?

This tiara has only ever been on the head of a queen. After Victoria died, she left the tiara to the Crown. Queen Alexandra used it, as did Queen Mary while Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother made it one of her all time go to tiaras. She held on to it for so long that Queen Elizabeth II only ever wore it in public once, in 2005. It's not been seen for 20 years and it appeared on the queen in waiting. That is a highly significant royal moment.

It follows a very high profile number of weeks for Kate, with William alongside her. It's not just that the two of them have been seen out and about. It's the nature of the engagements, all of which have put them front and centre of the Royal Family. They were guests of honour at the Royal Variety Performance and, what's more, then posed with Paddington who has become an unofficial emblem of the modern Monarchy since his appearance in a sketch with Queen Elizabeth II during her Platinum Jubilee. 

Kate has also made some high profile comments around issues close to her heart, including a powerful letter on supporting those in addiction and more work on showing the importance of nurture in the early years. Prince William has been to Cornwall, his duchy, to get behind community initiatives including support of grassroots sport while his environmental work has been on show in Wales, during a visit to Colwyn Bay, and in Brazil.

It was in Brazil that his role as king in waiting was totally cemented. Four days of big engagements around the environment and international relations was completed by a star studded Earthshot Prize ceremony before the heir to the throne headed to Belem to represent King Charles at the Heads of State summit at COP30.

On his return, he joined the Princess in commemorations for those who have given their lives for their country. The Princess of Wales took Prince George to the Festival of Remembrance for the first time and then watched from a balcony overlooking Whitehall as Prince William laid a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. On Armistice Day, it was Kate who represented the Royal Family at the National Act of Remembrance at the National Arboretum while Prince William joined King Charles and Queen Camilla for a reception for VJ Day veterans.

One of the most powerful images, though, came at the German State Banquet. The guests of honour had walked into the castle with The King and Queen when William and Kate made their entrance flanked by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester followed. It was a moment when the future appeared very clear indeed. At the heart of the group were the Prince and Princess of Wales and all royal eyes were on them. William and Kate are the future now and the House of Windsor is ready to show that.