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Celebrity

16th Jun 2019

This is the piece of advice Kate was given for dealing with the press when she started dating William

Fair.

Anna O'Rourke

Growing up in the royal spotlight is one thing – but taking it on as an adult is another.

That’s why Prince William pulled out all the stops to help Kate Middleton adjust to the media attention they attracted when they started going out.

In her book ‘Kate: The Future Queen’, royal biographer Kate Nicholl detailed how palace staff taught William’s girlfriend to deal with paparazzi.

She was advised to always smile when photographers were around so she wouldn’t be caught in an unflattering shot.

A palace aide told Nicholl that staff had been instructed to give Kate every support she needed.

“William said we had a duty of care to her and her family and so we advised her on how to deal with the cameras,” the insider said.

“We told her to smile at the photographers so that there would be a better picture.

“She was given advice on how to manage the media, and we were there to support her if there was a crisis.”

William arranged for a private hotline to be set up for Kate so she could contact the palace press office at any time, Nicholl added.

A panic button was also installed in her house that would directly alert the police in an emergency.

The Prince made the decision after paparazzi figured out where Kate lived and began taking photos of her outside her home.

He was nervous of Kate enduring the same harassment as his mum, the late Princess Diana, and wanted to protect her.

“William was aware of the situation and anxious about it,” a passage from the book reads.

“He had seen first-hand how his mother had been harassed by the paparazzi and was determined that Kate not be subjected to the same treatment.”