Many families can attest that getting to know your in-laws can come with its fair share of problems and teething pains, however, at least for most of us this doesn’t often play out in the public eye – or come with the added pressure of learning to embody royal protocol perfectly.

When Princess Kate officially joined the Royal Family, she was eased into representing the crown quite slowly, giving her an opportunity to learn the ropes in her own time – and Kate has opened up repeatedly about how pivotal the late Queen Elizabeth was in helping her get used to her royal duties and life inside the monarchy.

In a new documentary, Kate & The Queen: A Special Relationship, royal experts have shared their views on the dynamic between Kate and the late monarch, and just how close the pair became with time. The Daily Mail reports that there was one key event that seemed to bring Kate and her grandmother-in-law much closer than they ever had been before – and it was a hugely important moment for the whole family.

The major family event in question was the arrival of Kate’s children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six. Kate herself admitted in a documentary to mark the 90th birthday of the late monarch that the arrival of Charlotte in particular in 2015, saw the late Queen take a great interest in the new addition to the House of Windsor.

“It’s very special us having a new little girl to the family. Very lucky that George has got a little sister. The Queen, she was really thrilled that it was a little girl and I think as soon as we came back here to Kensington [Palace] she was one of our first visitors here. I think she’s very fond of Charlotte, always watching what she’s up to,” Kate admitted.

However, in the same documentary, Kate also described just how close the former monarch was to Prince George, the heir to the throne. “George is only two and a half and calls her ‘gan-gan’.’ She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay and that just shows, I think, her love for her family”.

According to Town and Country, the late Queen also commented during one of her engagements about the nature of Charlotte and George’s relationship and noted that despite the fact Charlotte was the younger sibling, she was very protective of her big brother George.

The late Queen was giving a signed bible to ten-year-old Emily Clay back in 2018 when she asked the young girl if she took care of her little sister, to which Emily swiftly replied: “It’s the other way around.” The former monarch replied, “It’s like that with Charlotte and George,” giving a glimpse into the siblings’ sweet relationship.

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