Princess Kate stuck in 'lonely position' as royal forced into 'uncharted waters'

Kate, the Princess of Wales is "incredibly successful" but her trailblazing role has left her in a rather "lonely position", according to a royal commentator.

She is the first royal bride to officially take on the title of Princess of Wales since her beloved mother-in-law tragically died in 1997.

Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September, Kate has steadily increased her public presence – regularly undertaking several official duties each week despite criticism about her commitment early on in her marriage.

As one of the highest-ranking members of the British Royal Family, the Princess of Wales has succeeded in striking a balance between the traditional approach to the role and the monarchy's need for modernization.

Historia Dr. Tessa Dunlop said: "She's left the category of a lone ranger or rich girl from her home county and has become this sort of stratospherically famous, influential individual and I think that's probably quite a lonely position.

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"Which is why she's lucky she's got a good relationship with her mother and a very good one with her sister."

Dr. Dunlop noted that, as an outsider to royalty or even nobility, Kate has been able to bring her own touches to the way she manages the demands of the job – but because of her background she is in much "uncharted" territory.

Speaking to Ok! Magazine, she continued: "Kate has very much charted her own course in some respects, she's an outsider.

"She's an incredibly successful import into the Royal Family and bought into the institution of monarchy, almost like no other outsider has and reaffirmed its sort of conventional parameters."

The historian also noted that despite the parallels that are often drawn between her and Princess Diana, Kate can no longer rely on examples of how her late mother-in-law would have tackled her duties.

Dr. Dunlop added: "She had died before she got to Kate's age, they (the monarchy) haven't had a Kate.

"Kate is now in uncharted waters in modern history and I think that's worth bearing in mind.

"The future Queen Consort's role is an incredibly influential one and this is all about soft power."

Despite the pressure, royal commentators have widely agreed in noting the Princess of Wales has hit the ground running since taking on the role last year.

Her own brother, James Middleton, said over the summer she was "blossoming" in the position.

He told Good Morning Britain over the summer: "She's my sister, and I see her as my sister. I'm extremely proud. I'm always taken aback by how much she does do, and that does always continue to stay at the forefront of my mind.

"But to be honest, she's my sister, so I know all of her quirks and everything and to see her blossoming in that role, I'm very proud of her."

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