Kate Middleton’s carefully planned path to the throne revealed as expert says she ‘played the long game’

Kate Middleton's remarkable rise from middle-class university student to the Princess of Wales wasn't accidental — according to multiple royal experts, it was carefully planned from the very beginning.

Royal author Simon Vigar wrote in "The Four Wives of Windsor" that Prince William's "right-hand man" said Kate believed in "steady progress" as she learned the ropes of royal life, explaining, "We're not going to rush our fences." "Catherine is no wallflower, somebody told me," Vigar told Fox News Digital.

"She's got definite views about things.

William obviously trusts her implicitly, and they need people like that.

The queen needed Philip.

Charles needs Camilla.

And William needs Catherine. [And] she's very clever.

I reckon she's probably the cleverest of a lot of them." KATE MIDDLETON IS 'INDISPENSABLE' TO ROYAL FAMILY AS SLIMMED-DOWN MONARCHY FACES MOUNTING PRESSURE: EXPERT Vigar said that as a newcomer to the royal family, the Princess of Wales was determined to master the role, carefully carving out her place without overshadowing the monarch.

"For instance, they had various charitable interests, ranging from wounded service personnel to early years education and homelessness," Vigar explained.

"The person who linked all of those together under the mental wellbeing banner was Catherine.

It wasn't Harry or William.

She was the one who said, 'Do you know what the common denominator with all of this is? It's mental wellbeing and mental health.'" "And so, they started a new charity, sort of an umbrella over those," said Vigar.

"She will have learned from the other consorts.

You're always one step behind, but you're there as a support.