How Kate is edging ahead of Camilla to become Queen

There is just something about Kate as the Queen again elevates the royal above others with latest nod.

As she was lifted high into the air during a rugby lineout and managed to take the ball, the Duchess of Cambridge received a rowdy locker room style cheer from her England teammates under the watchful eye of Aussie-born coach Eddie Jones.

It didn’t matter that she was a Welsh rugby supporter, on account of her husband Prince William’s role as that squad’s patron, nor that she had never played a rugby game in her life.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge takes part in an England rugby training session. Picture: Getty

The point was the Queen had anointed her patron of both England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Football League (RFL) and like her line out, elevated her above the Duchess of Cornwall who could have expected such a prominent role.

And it is not the first time.

No-one could really imagine Camilla partaking in a rugby training session at Twickenham as part of the new role, nor the mock scoring of a try as Kate performed.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge takes part in an England rugby training session, after becoming Patron of the Rugby Football Union at Twickenham Stadium. Picture: Getty

But the importance of the bestowing of the high-profile patronages cannot be understated as they make 40-year-old Kate the first member of the royal family to receive an appointment once held by the duke and duchess of Sussex Harry and Meghan since they quit royal life.

Her public popularity has rarely come into question but the Queen has now taken an active step to promote her over Camilla, as alongside Prince William the pair are the future face of the monarchy.

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge flanked England's rugby players Ellis Genge and Jamie George as she takes part in England's rugby teams training sessions. Picture: Getty

This shift was most evident last November when Kate took centre stage – quite literally – at a crucial royal family event. When the Queen through ill health cancelled her appearance at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, she dispatched Camilla, Kate and the Countess of Wessex Sophie to take her place on the balcony.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge takes part in an England rugby training session. Picture: Getty

But it was Kate, that royal courtiers were told to “purposely” ensure, was in the centre flanked by the other two women. Royal observers noted the very obvious placement with expectations that it should have been the future king’s wife as consort at the forefront of such events.

The public has been seeing a lot more of Charles and Camilla in recent months as the Queen steps down from more roles and commentators have noted there “is more snap in their celery” as they are being seen more often.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Picture: AFP

But for some there remains a pall over Camilla and her popularity, due in no small part to the fact she will always be seen as Charles’ “other woman” during his time with first wife Diana.

Camilla by all accounts is a lovely and open no-nonsense sort of woman providing a strong support to the future monarch but her appeal is unlikely to ever eclipse the adoration of Kate.

Some may say sport and Kate are a natural fit. She is already the royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the Lawn Tennis Association and SportsAid and the America’s Cup inspired 1851 Trust designed to inspire science in sport.

But there is still something about Kate, be it fascination or adoration that the Queen knows can only endear the public to the royal family for another generation.