Future challenges

Kate’s biggest challenge will be the inevitable comparisons with Princess Diana.

She was just 20 when she married Prince Charles. The nation and much of the world were captivated.

Middleton was raised in a wealthy family. Her parents are self-made millionaires who run a party accessories website from their home west of London. Kate’s mother used to be an air hostess and traces her family back to coal miners and butchers.

In a country obsessed with class, much has been made of the fact that a commoner is marrying royalty.

Little of Majesty magazine says that will benefit the royal family.

"Kate’s a breath of fresh air. You could say that there hasn’t been any glamour, dare I say it, in the British royal family for a while and we’re just getting a huge injection of that," Little said.

William has long been used to the so-called ‘goldfish bowl’ of life as a royal prince.

For Middleton, a journey of rarefied privilege and pressure lies ahead - starting with the wedding itself.