It didn’t matter that she was a Welsh rugby supporter, on account of her husband Prince William’s role as that squad’s patron, nor that she had never played a rugby game in her life.The point was the Queen had anointed her patron of both England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Football League (RFL) and like her line out, elevated her above the Duchess of Cornwall who could have expected such a prominent role.And it is not the first time.No-one could really imagine Camilla partaking in a rugby training session at Twickenham as part of the new role, nor the mock scoring of a try as Kate performed.But the importance of the bestowing of the high-profile patronages cannot be understated as they make 40-year-old Kate the first member of the royal family to receive an appointment once held by the duke and duchess of Sussex Harry and Meghan since they quit royal life.Her public popularity has rarely come into question but the Queen has now taken an active step to promote her over Camilla, as alongside Prince William the pair are the future face of the monarchy.This shift was most evident last November when Kate took centre stage – quite literally – at a crucial royal family event. When the Queen through ill health cancelled her appearance at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, she dispatched Camilla, Kate and the Countess of Wessex Sophie to take her place on the balcony.But it was Kate, that royal courtiers were told to “purposely” ensure, was in the centre flanked by the other two women. Royal observers noted the very obvious placement with expectations that it should have been the future king’s wife as consort at the forefront of such events.The public has been seeing a lot more of Charles and Camilla in recent months as the Queen steps down from more roles and commentators have noted there “is more snap in their celery” as they are being seen more often.But for some there remains a pall over Camilla and her popularity, due in no small part to the fact she will always be seen as Charles’ “other woman” during his time with first wife Diana.Camilla by all accounts is a lovely and open no-nonsense sort of woman providing a strong support to the future monarch but her appeal is unlikely to ever eclipse the adoration of Kate. Some may say sport and Kate are a natural fit. She is already the royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the Lawn Tennis Association and SportsAid and the America’s Cup inspired 1851 Trust designed to inspire science in sport.But there is still something about Kate, be it fascination or adoration that the Queen knows can only endear the public to the royal family for another generation.
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