The Princess of Wales, who married Prince William in 2011, was still becoming familiar with the Royal Collection and its historical significance at the time.
Royal author Catherine Mayer, formerly London Bureau Chief for TIME and later writing for the Daily Mail, shared an account of an early interaction she had with Kate Middleton.
Mayer recalled speaking with her at a small press gathering, noting that Kate had baby Prince George with her and seemed more relaxed in her role as a mother. She described this later encounter as noticeably different from their first meeting.
During their earlier conversation, Mayer attempted to engage Kate through the surrounding artwork displayed in the room, highlighting that her background in Art History made it a natural topic. However, when asked about her personal preferences in the paintings, Kate chose not to go into detail.
According to Mayer, Kate explained that she had not yet fully familiarized herself with the Royal Collection. When asked about her artistic interests more broadly, she responded in general terms, stating that she had “varied tastes,” which effectively closed down further discussion on the subject.
