ROYALINSIGHTS  04.25

Princess Catherine

Role Model Extraordinaire

By Diana Addison Lyle

All of us, subconsciously, gravitate towards role models we respect because they inspire us to be better human beings and to raise our game. Whether you support or don’t support the concept of a royal family being relevant in 2025, the consensus worldwide is that the Princess of Wales, Catherine Middleton, is an extraordinarily special person who has won the admiration of everybody across most nationalities and in virtually every country in the world. The reasons are rooted in an inviolable value system that she represents so beautifully and with such dignity.

Princess Catherine possesses a set of moral principles that no matter one’s religious or political beliefs – affirm everything we’ve been taught by good parents, dedicated educators and experts in the fields of psychology. She reminds us by her consistent actions of the fundamental decencies that create strength and stability in families and communities.

Instead of being self-centered, she is devoted to charities across Britain, particularly causes related to children, families, and mental health. She is oblivious to the cameras following her as she warmly engages with everyone she meets. She’s dismantled the stiff, formal barriers that used to be associated with the royal family, and like her deceased mother-in-law, Diana, her genuine compassion is relatable, tangible and genuine. She lifts people up by her presence and demonstrates her enormous empathy and understanding of their circumstances.

Catherine’s battle with cancer throughout 2024 has also shown the world a level of courage that is gargantuan. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she has fought it head-on, and helped tens of millions of people across the world by describing her reality: she has good days, and she has bad days. It has demonstrated so clearly how united we are as humans in the more stringent battles in life. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Whether you are royalty or a regular person, the challenges are the same, and everyone facing this disease can relate 100% to Catherine’s experience and her triumph over it. Her impact is immeasurably positive.

Catherine’s dedication to her husband and children is not old-fashioned or uncool. What it has demonstrated is how better equipped children are to cope with their own family challenges, as well as the challenges of life, when they have two devoted parents who are well versed in mental health and how best to communicate age-appropriate information to their children. Catherine and William have a vastly successful marriage and this has provided a safe and stable family ecosystem in which their children can feel empowered to move towards a positive goal.

After Diana’s death, the royal family went through a crisis because of the public’s perception of their cold austerity. Catherine has completely changed that perception. She is a modern and approachable royal figure who comes across warmly and graciously towards everyone she meets. The British press scrutinizes every member of the family’s every move, and not once in 15 years has Catherine ever done anything wrong. She has an unblemished reputation even though her exposure to people is vastly greater than her predecessors. Everyone with whom she comes into contact confirms her relatability, her genuine interest in their circumstances, and her kindness. She is completely comfortable in casual settings and her friendliness promotes interactions that are personally beneficial.

Catherine has also shown by her clothes choices that she is not in a superior league. She often wears outfits that are affordable – multiple times, and she is praised for her style’s accessibility and elegance.

That all-important word ‘dignity’ is of vital importance in today’s world. Catherine is the very definition of the best attributes of dignity, and its presence has nothing to do with money or social stature. Dignity carries with it a level of emotional maturity that assures us of the fundamentally important values in life. Catherine shows us when she arrives at Wimbledon Tennis after chemotherapy – waving to the crowds in appreciation of their support and kindness towards her – that even in our darkest days, being brave, positive, gracious and receptive to human kindness – are life’s assurances of better tomorrows. No matter your age or your stature in life, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, makes us better people by her example.