Princess Kate's the 'best thing for the Royal Family since Diana' - poll results

Princess Kate received a standing ovation as she took her place in the Royal Box for the Wimbledon's women's singles final on Saturday - and we asked Mirror readers if the Royal Family would be as popular without the Princess of Wales.

Tennis enthusiast Kate, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, smiled and waved as she was met with a warm welcome on Centre Court. This marked Kate’s first public engagement since she had to cancel her attendance at Ascot last month.

It's understood she missed the event as part of her ongoing effort to find the right balance as she fully returns to public-facing engagements, just months after she announced her cancer was in remission. During her visit to Wimbledon, Kate met Lydia Lowe, a courageous eight year old who has faced her own health battles.

The young girl, having sustained a brain injury in January 2024 that left her visually impaired and relearning basic actions like walking, talking, and eating, encouraged Kate with the words: "Don't be nervous, take deep breaths".

As the Princess continues her cancer recovery with remarkable candour, recent royal outings have underscored just how central her presence has become to the monarchy’s modern image. From the dazzling tiara sported at the glitzy state banquet at Windsor Castle for the French state visit, to the beautiful teal number sported at Trooping the Colour - it's clear that the public’s fascination with the Firm is deeply entwined with hers.

While Kate is widely admired for her classic and elegant fashion choices, she has also been praised for her refreshing candidness. This was evident when she spoke to staff and patients at Colchester Hospital, where she delved into her own personal experience with cancer for the first time, revealing much about her illness and recovery.

We asked Mirror readers if the Royal Family would be as popular without Kate, and a whopping 78 percent said they would not. Around 21,023 people took part in our poll and a hefty 16,417 selected the option ‘No, they wouldn't’.

Voicing their thoughts in the comments section, one Scandinavian reader penned: "You are so lucky to have a very professional, clever and well-educated person as Princess of Wales. She is a princess of today! Compared to Mary [Denmark], Letizia [Spain], Mette Marit [Norway] and Victoria [Sweden], who all do a great job, but your Catherine is the born diplomat - and some of you underestimate her wisdom - and importance for Britain!"

Another shared: "Kate is the best thing for the RF since Princess Diana," while a third wrote in another Mirror article: "Always elegant and charming. One the best royals."

"I’m sorry to those who are anti-royal, but some, like the Prince and Princess of Wales, bring a lot to the table. They do a lot behind the scenes which is not reported on. They bring tourists from around the world here to London and they are ambassadors for the UK when they are aboard. Everyone has their own opinion but whatever your point of view be kind and respectful, because what you see on the outside is not always what goes on the inside," expressed a fourth.

Meanwhile, 22 percent said the royals would still be as popular without Princess Kate, as reader stated: "This poll is not able to take into account that, if Catherine did not exist, someone equally attractive in appearance and personality could well be married to William. Catherine is understandably very popular, but so was Queen Elizabeth II before her - even more so. All the Monarchy needs is at least one very lovable main character every generation - and the others in the Family reliable and enthusiastic patriots for UK and the Commonwealth."

Another voiced: "Neither of them ever got close to the most popular Royal in history, Diana. She was on a level Kate cannot dream of and that’s from an anti-royalist. To be honest Kate can’t reach that level because she’s only popular with old women and royalists, she has no connection with the young or even the middle aged."

"The RF survived before she came along and would do had she not...glad she is here though as she makes William happy," added a third.

Do you think the Royal Family be as popular without Kate? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Please note that the poll is still live, so these results may change after the article has been published.

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