Whether you are born into a royal family or marry into one, image is all-important. Against the objectivity and distance of the Queen, one can think of her filming comical skits with Paddington Bear.

This balancing act is perhaps most evident with regard to Kate Middleton. She has recently become a master of never revealing too much while at the same time maintaining an approachable and friendly image.

Today, the Duchess of Cambridge appears very confident in her role, which had to be carefully calibrated from the outset to ensure that she remained in the public's good graces.

"In short, Kate was a commoner. It was really important that she didn't overstep, especially in the British groupthink," royal reporter Elizabeth Holmes explained on the "Royally Us" podcast (via the Daily Star).

For Holmes, one of the most powerful ways to convey that Middleton was a woman of the people was through her choice of clothing.

"If she had gone out in designer clothes, tailor-made from the beginning, head to toe, that would have sent a message," she continued.

"But instead, you kept doing exactly what she was doing. There are a lot of pictures of Kate and William when they were together, but they were together for a very long time, and by the time they announced their engagement, the public was very familiar with her.

"And I think that gave her a certain credibility. And I think it gave her a certain credibility.

Basically, the Duchess learned early on to balance Zarath and Supergas with McQueen and Packham.

"She worked closely with Sarah Burton on Alexander McQueen," Holmes continued, "and that helped enhance her style. But it was important for her to maintain this everygirl image, and I think it was important for the monarchy as a whole."

It certainly worked: at Marie Claire, they borrowed a style trick or two from the Duchess's wardrobe.