Inside the late Queen's relationship with Kate Middleton: Royal experts reveal what the monarch really thought of Prince William's wife and how she developed a 'grandmotherly' bond with the Princess of Wales

The late Queen grew to really trust the Princess of Wales with the pair sharing a 'grandmotherly bond,' experts have told a new documentary.

The Princess of Wales, 42, who married Prince William in 2011, saw her husband's grandmother as a 'guide' when she joined the royal family.

Speaking in Kate & The Queen: A Special Relationship which airs on Channel 5 on Saturday, the Daily Mail's editor-at-large Richard Kay explained how the pair ended up with a special bond.

'The queen grew to trust Kate. I don't think she really trusted anyone on first impression, we're all performing the same show, the show is supporting the Queen. 

'But with Kate and the Queen it grew deeper than that, there was a real grandmotherly affection between the two'. 

Ingrid Seward, royal expert and editor of Majesty magazine echoed his comments, adding: 'I think the Queen saw her strength and saw that she is a caring person who had this amazing affiliation to duty.

The late Queen grew to really trust the Princess of Wales with the pair sharing a 'grandmotherly bond,' experts have told a new documentary.  The pair are pictured at Buckingham Palace in June 2022

'I think Kate would have really appreciated the kindness and  attention the Queen had given to her, and she knows better than anyone how busy the Queen is. She put time aside to make Kate feel appreciated.'

Kate is believed to have formed a stronger bond with the late monarch after welcoming her three children - Prince  George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, six, and made a great effort to involved Her late Majesty in the children's lives.

Speaking in the Queen at 90 documentary in 2016, Kate said: '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. 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.'

The Queen was also said to be a guide for Kate after she married into the Firm.     

'The Queen was perfectly aware of how daunting it was for an outsider to join the royal family, so they would have had their techniques of making someone look at home,' Simon Vigar, Channel 5's royal correspondent added. 

Royal expert Victoria Murphy added that Kate always described the Queen as 'a gentle guidance'. 

Kate with The Queen on the balcony of Nottingham’s Council House during The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK, 13 June 2012

Kate with Prince Louis and the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, June 2019

'Right from the beginning, Kate had a lot more in common personality wise with Elizabeth. 

'They have something about them which has that inner poise and the capacity to lead and command respect,' she added.

India McTaggart, royal correspondent at the Telegrpah, added: 'Catherine has said the Queen was very supportive of her as she was undertaking her first engagements without William. I think she influenced her by showing her by example.'.

Speaking in 2016, Kate explained that the Queen wasn't 'forceful in her views'.

'The most memorable engagement for me I suppose was an away day to Leicester and I went without William so I was rather apprehensive about that. I think there is a real art to walkabouts, everyone teases me in the family that I spend far too long chatting so I think I've still got to learn a little bit more and pick up a few more tips I suppose. 

The pair are pictured at Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK

'She was very supportive. The fact she took the time to make sure that I was happy and looked after for that particular occasion, which probably in everything that she's doing is a very small element, which just shows how caring she is, really.'

Many observers believe William and Kate are modelling themselves on the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who were married for 73 years until his death in April 2021.

Speaking in 2016, Kate spoke of her special bond with the Queen.

'You would expect a lot of grandeur and a lot of fuss, but actually what really resonates with me is her love for the simple things,' she said.

'And I think that's a special quality to have. I can remember being at Sandringham for the first time at Christmas, and I was worried what to give the Queen as her Christmas present. 

'I was thinking: 'Gosh, what should I give her?' I thought: 'I'll make her something', which could have gone horribly wrong, but I decided to make my granny's recipe for chutney. I noticed the next day that it was on the table. Such a simple gesture went such a long way for me.' 

Kate & The Queen: A Special Relationship, Saturday 15th June at 9pm on Channel 5