Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne (37 page)

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After deftly navigating the treacherous waters of the royal court for a full decade, Kate married Prince William on April 29, 2011.

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Conspiring behind the scenes to make it all happen was Kate’s ambitious, self-made mother, Carole, who celebrated with the Queen and Camilla.

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The “Kate Effect.” In her first outing as a royal, the Duchess of Cambridge dazzled the crowd at a London gala that raised $28 million for charity.

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A month later, she watched William get ready to throw a barrel at the Calgary Stampede.

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Kate brought along a touch of Diana, delighting crowds and hugging a little girl battling cancer.

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The Country Girl. Flanked by Philip, Charles, and Camilla in their royal tartans, the Queen cheers on Balmoral’s tug-of-war team during the annual Braemar Games in Scotland.

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One of the rare times the Queen doesn’t carry a purse: when she walks one of her beloved corgis.

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Kicking off Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, the three queens peer into gift baskets presented to them by London’s Fortnum and Mason gourmet store.

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Royal flush. Making his debut on the Buckingham Palace balcony, George and his Windsor relatives gaze up at the RAF flyover celebrating Elizabeth’s sixty years on the throne. This marked the first time in history that four generations of present and future monarchs appeared together on the royal balcony.

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The three queens watched as a Jubilee flotilla sailed down the Thames on June 3, 2012. Kate, who wore red, was criticized for upstaging the other royals.

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Philip was back to his charming self two weeks later, sharing a laugh with Carole Middleton at Ascot.

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Later, the Queen surprised everyone by inviting Camilla to take an ailing Philip’s place next to her in the royal carriage.