Everything Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth Have In Common

Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth are often perceived as complete opposites in the world of royalty. Life as a royal  was a lot more traditional when the queen was Middleton’s age, so they are bound to have some pretty significant differences.

For example, Middleton was considered “old” for being a royal bride at 29 when marrying Prince William in 2011. The queen, on the other hand, married Prince Philip at age 21 and was about to give birth to her fourth child at 36, the age Middleton is now.

Middleton has been the face modern royal fashion, as well, wearing more affordable clothing lines. Meanwhile, the queen is only ever spotted in the finest of royal apparel. Despite their surface-level differences, the two royal women have more in common than you may think.

Here’s everything that actually makes Middleton quite similar to the queen — including how they feel about Meghan Markle joining the family.

1. They stay reserved in public

Body language can say a lot about a person, and it’s revealed some significant similarities between Middleton and the queen. Judi James, a body language expert, has found that Middleton rarely, if ever, looks directly into the camera while being photographed — and it works to her benefit.

“Kate has sustained an incredible record for not showing emotional leakage in public. She always smiles perfectly and she always looks positive,” James explained.

The queen definitely keeps things formal and positive while in public, as well. Body language expert Patti Wood revealed that she may come across as more guarded with her formality, which has similarly been said about Middleton.

Next: They’re funnier than you’d think.

2. They’ve proven to have a sense of humor

No matter how reserved they tend to stay in public, both Middleton and the queen have revealed their senses of humor from time to time. For example, after the royal party was once pelted with eggs by an anti-monarchy demonstrator in New Zealand, the queen laughed it off with a joke. She proclaimed, “I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.”

We know Middleton can get seriously funny — especially considering it was confirmed by Prince William during their engagement interview. He admitted, “She’s got a really naughty sense of humor, which kind of helps because I’ve got a really dry sense of humor.”

Next: They may have bonded over this hobby.

3. They love gardening

Middleton and the queen even share similar hobbies. In her old age, the queen has rediscovered her love for gardening. So much, in fact, that for her 90th birthday, her friends gifted her with plants for her new flower beds at the gardens at Frogmore House.

Middleton has a passion for all things outdoors, and she’s used her love of gardening while working with children. In November 2017, she visited young students at southwest London’s Robin Hood Primary School to help plant winter bulbs.

According to E! News, the school had been working with the Royal Horticultural Society’s campaign for school gardening. It’s “a decade-old program [that] works to support gardening initiatives in schools for children to improve their skills and development.”

Next: They aren’t afraid to break (some) rules.

4. They’ve broken royal tradition

The royal family may have a rulebook they need to follow, but Middleton and the queen have both broken some traditions in the past. According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, the queen breaks tradition once a year during Christmas lunch by sharing a toast with the royal staff. He revealed:

Right before the Christmas buffet, the senior chef on duty goes into the dining room and carves the rib roast or turkey or ham, and once he’s done, Her Majesty presents the chef with a glass of whiskey, and they toast. That’s the only time the chef goes into the dining room and has a glass of whiskey with the royal family. It’s one of the chef’s favorite traditions.

Similarly, Middleton has broken rules where she’s seen fit. Even though Middleton normally keeps it formal in public, she definitely shows some emotion when it comes to meeting with children. She’s been known to get down on children’s level and give them hugs, rather than follow the “royal handshake” protocol.

Next: This is one rule they don’t break.

5. They refrain from PDA — mostly

One rule that Middleton and the queen both generally stick to is refraining from PDA. However, they’ve each made small gestures that prove they’re totally in love with their husbands.

While the duchess and Prince William were awarded gold Blue Peter badges for their work with children’s mental health, Middleton was spotted placing her hand on her husband’s knee. Though a small gesture, it was still a very rare instance of PDA.

The queen has subtly shown her affection for Prince Philip, too. On occasion, she’ll be seen resting her hand on Philip’s arm. In her older age, it may now be moreso for support, but it’s a move she’s pulled over the years.

Patti Wood explained, “It’s more formal than interlocking fingers but it’s unique to them. It’s their way of reassurance and comfort.”

Next: Here’s how they show their love for their husbands.

6. They say the sweetest things about their husbands

Even if these royal ladies stick to royal protocol by avoiding PDA, they’ve still gushed about their husbands. The queen once said of Philip, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I and his whole family, in this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know.”

While on a royal tour of Canada in 2011, Middleton proved to be just as crazy about William. “I’m very, very lucky. He looks after me as much as possible,” she boasted.

Next: They were lucky to have been able to do this.

7. They both married for love

The queen may have wed Prince Philip long ago, but their marriage wasn’t arranged by any means. She had been in love with her future husband since she was 13 and even had a photo of him by her bedside. They became secretly engaged in 1946, but Elizabeth’s father forced the pair to wait to announce their engagement until she turned 21. The two married in 1947, and they’ve seemed to be completely in love ever since.

It’s no secret that Middleton wasn’t born into royalty. Instead, she famously met William while attending the University of St. Andrews in September 2001. She was seeing someone else at the time, but by 2004, she and William were officially an item. Even though the two briefly split in 2007, they became more and more serious about each other before tying the knot in 2011.

Next: They call the same place home.

8. They’re British born

Meghan Markle might be an American marrying into the British royal family, but both Middleton and the queen are natives of England. Middleton was born in Reading, England, while the queen was born in London.

Next: They even got married in the same place.

9. They got married at Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey has been the site of many royal weddings — including those of the queen and Middleton. For over 200 years, the Chapel Royal at St. James Place was the traditional choice for royal weddings. However, it only seats 100 guests, and as the years went on, guest lists became longer.

1919 was the first time in 605 years that Westminster Abbey was used as a ceremony location, and it’s since taken over as the most common royal wedding location.

Next: They’re clearly not too high-maintenance.

10. They did their own makeup for their weddings

The fact that both the queen and Kate Middleton did their own makeup for their wedding days says a lot about them. No matter how luxurious the life of royalty may be, they still opted for a more low-maintenance approach on their special days.

Next: They travel in similar style.

11. They mark their luggage the same way when they travel

The two royal women even travel in similar style. According to royal blogger Gert’s Royals, “Rather than filling in luggage tags with their name and address, their name is simply attached to the cases.”

The queen’s tag literally just says “The Queen,” and it’s always yellow. Middleton’s staple tag color has also become yellow, with her husband and children each using their own designated colored tags.

Next: You’ll definitely see them both in a crowd.

12. They rock bright colors

Speaking of colors, Middleton and the queen are both known to rock some bright hues in their outfits. The queen actually has good reason for rocking her colorful wardrobe. In the documentary, The Queen at 90, Sophie, Countess of Wessex (and the queen’s daughter-in-law), revealed exactly why. “She needs to stand out for people to be able to say ‘I saw the queen,’” she explained.

“Don’t forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep,” she added, “and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queen’s hat as she went past.”

Middleton has followed suit, and according to Town & Country Magazine, has been gravitating toward bright hues for the exact same reason.

Next: Middleton has learned some other lessons from the queen.

13. They passionately work with charities and organizations

The queen has been an amazing role model for generations of royals to come. According to The Guardian, she’s “done more for charity than any other monarch in history.” She has over 600 patronages, and “around half of [her] patronages cover every area of the charity and voluntary sector, from opportunities for young people, to preservation of wildlife and the environment.”

Middleton has certainly followed in the queen’s footsteps. For her 30th birthday, she opted to support charities instead of receive gifts. According to Bustle, she chose The Art Room, London’s National Portrait Gallery, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice, and Action on Addiction.

Next: Here’s how they spend their time off.

14. They enjoy relaxing on vacation

Given all the hard work Middleton and the queen put in to their royal duties, it’s no surprise that they enjoy some well-deserved vacation time. In August 2017, the queen actually tagged along for vacation with Middleton and her family while visiting Scotland.

They enjoyed their off-duty time while staying at Balmoral, a 50,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands.

Next: This is what they really think about Meghan Markle.

15. They both approve of Meghan Markle

Luckily, both the queen and Middleton approve of Prince Harry’s fiancée, Meghan Markle. Shortly after their engagement in November 2017, Middleton expressed, “William and I are absolutely thrilled. It’s such exciting news. It’s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.”

While it’s great that Middleton is excited to welcome Markle into the family, the queen’s written permission is actually required. The Royal Marriage Act rules that the queen must consent, so impressing her is a must. Considering the wedding is still on for May 19, 2018, Markle is clearly well-liked by the queen.

Read more: Everything Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle Have in Common

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