“Kate’s part-smile part-laugh response showed her genuine excitement at her grandmother-in-law.”

During her time as a senior royal, Kate could have won the hearts of her family by sticking to tradition and taking tips from the Queen.

There are many royal rules and protocols the Duchess has mostly followed while in the family.

Judi explained: “Kate was always a slow but steady integrator into the royal firm.

“Her slightly traditional approach, making very few if any ripples in continuity, does seem to have resonated with the Queen, who increasingly appears to treat her as a friend as well as a daughter-in-law.