The late Prince Philip was known for his blunt, sometimes controversial, and often hilarious one-liners. From cheeky remarks that nearly crossed the line (and some jaw-dropping ones that definitely did cross it!) to jokes at royal events, the Duke of Edinburgh rarely held back, which is why he had such a huge army of supporters.
But behind the humor, Prince Philip also had a reputation for his wisdom too. According to royal biographer Gyles Brandreth, he even offered some invaluable advice to Kate Middleton before she officially joined the royal family – and it’s safe to say she took it to heart!
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Prince Philip's Advice To Kate Middleton
In his book Philip: The Final Portrait, as per Hello!, Brandreth revealed that the Duke of Edinburgh gave Kate what he called the "golden rule" for surviving royal life before she married Prince William and became an official senior royal.
"If you think the attention is on you personally, you'll end up in trouble," Prince Philip reportedly told the mom-of-three, adding: "The focus is on your role, what you do, what you support."
He didn't stop there, as he allegedly went on: "It's not focused on you as an individual. You're not a celebrity. You represent the royal family."
Kate Middleton Was 'Taught By The Best'
It seems like the Princess of Wales followed her late grandfather-in-law's advice perfectly, as he was reportedly quite fond of her. And according to Brandreth, Prince Philip was "relieved" that his grandson Prince William had found a "level-headed girl" like Kate. Aww!
Kate's ability to take his advice on board and excel in the royal family was echoed by British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard. "She was taught by the best," Chard told Fox News Digital, adding: "Prince Philip reminded her that she wasn't a celebrity. She represents the royal family. She needs to dedicate herself to a life of service, concentrate on the job at hand and never smile directly at the camera."
She went on: "The Princess of Wales's deep humility and discretion, along with Philip's advice in dealing with life in the spotlight, has given her the strength to breeze through challenging media firestorms."
