A royal author has shared how the late Prince Philip shared invaluable advice to the Princess of Wales when she first joined the Royal Family, as she still follows the meaningful guidance to this day07:33, 18 Jul 2026When Princess Kate wed Prince William in 2011, she became part of the world's most renowned family, and would go on to become one of the most beloved members of the Firm.‌Having come from more modest origins, Kate understandably needed guidance on how to handle the intense global scrutiny she would face upon becoming a princess. The ideal person to offer that counsel was the late Prince Philip, who relinquished his Greek royal title to become the longest-serving consort in British history.‌Philip devoted decades to serving the Royal Family and the monarch, earning a reputation as the Queen's steadfast partner who consistently put the needs of the Firm above all else.‌This lifetime of unwavering commitment - which saw him serve as patron, president or member of more than 780 organisations - made him perfectly placed to guide Kate on navigating life under the constant glare of the public eye. When Kate joined the Firm at the age of 29, Philip was reportedly "relieved" that his grandson, Prince William, had found "such a level-headed girl".According to royal author Gyles Brandreth, who struck up a friendship with Prince Philip through his involvement with the National Playing Fields Association, Philip passed on some priceless wisdom to Kate — lessons he had once similarly attempted to impart to the late Princess Diana.‌Brandreth wrote in his biography Philip The Final Portrait: "One of the things that saddened - and worried - the Queen and Prince Philip about Diana, Princess of Wales, was not that she was popular, but that she allowed her popularity to go to her head.""Once upon a time Philip and Elizabeth were seen as characters from a fairy tale. The difference between them and Princess Diana, I think, is that they did not take it personally."‌He documented that Philip told Kate: "If you believe the attention is for you personally, you're going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you're supporting. It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That's all."Don't look at the camera. The Queen never looks at the camera. Never. Look at who you are talking to. Look at who you've come to see. Diana looked at the camera."‌Brandreth revealed from his own observations that Kate has consistently followed Prince Philip's guidance, noting: "I have been on walkabout with the Duchess of Cambridge. She never looks at the camera."The counsel Philip offered Kate resulted in the two developing an "unexpected" friendship, as they frequently sat alongside one another at royal occasions and even shared a comparable sense of humour.Prince William paid tribute to the bond between Kate and Philip in his heartfelt message following the Duke's death in 2021, writing: "I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her."Article continues below