Why Kate Middleton will take the US 由 storm just like Princess Diana 

Why Kate Middleton will take the US by storm just like Princess Diana

Since she said “I do” with a real life prince, US fans have been captivated by her fairytale story

The Duchess of Cambridge will take the USA by storm as she follows in Princess Diana’s footsteps as one of their biggest stars.

Despite having only ever set foot in the country once, America is Kate crazy and she will put their A-list in the shade when she touches down in New York tomorrow night.

Since she said “I do” with a real life prince, US fans have been captivated by her fairytale story.

“She has been on our cover 26 times, more than any US celebrity apart from Brad Pitt.

“She is already our fourth most featured cover star ever and there is no doubt she will feature more in the future.” Simon Perry, Chief Foreign Correspondent of People Magazine , the USA’s largest magazine with a readership of 46 million says.

He adds about the New York trip: “When they arrive the place is going to be buzzing.

“Everyone will be talking about William and Kate and huge celebrities will be excited to meet them.”

There will be serious moments, with William calling on President Obama at the White House ahead of making a keynote speech on illegal wildlife trafficking.

But, for many fans, the focus will be on his wife as Kate Mania takes hold.

Almost 24 million Americans watched the Royal Wedding in 2011, many getting up in the middle of the night to see commoner Kate marry into the Royal Family at Westminster Abbey.

When Kate gave birth to George in July 2013, Niagara Falls was lit up blue, US TV networks devoted blanket coverage to the event and President Obama immediately issued his congratulations.

USA visitors are “consistently the largest overseas market” to the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace, and when Kate and William went to LA in 2011 they reduced Hollywood stars to excited fans.

This key trip they are expected to do the same as they carry out engagements culminating with a glittering gala dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday night where Kate, who is almost five months pregnant with their second child, will dazzle in a floor-length evening gown.

The cream of New York society have paid thousands to rub shoulders with the royal couple and will donate thousands more via auction, with the money going to St Andrews university where they first fell in love.

The evening will mirror the night when, on her first trip to the East Coast in 1985, Diana danced with John Travolta in a midnight blue velvet dress and sapphire and diamond choker in images that remian iconic today.

And, just they did with Diana, the public will have a keen eye on Kate’s fashion which has already gathered a huge following in the US where hit blog WhatKateWore is based.

Its founder Susan Kelley says: “Once the engagement was announced in 2010 Kate’s popularity skyrocketed here; the wedding really moved her celebrity into the stratosphere.

“We’ve had six million visits to the blog this year and roughly 50% of our readers have come from the United States. ”

She adds: “Kate’s ability to mix high street pieces with luxury labels makes her interesting to the fashion crowd, while others are drawn by the fact they can buy something the Duchess of Cambridge wears – that holds tremendous attraction for people.”

The online following for Kate and her fashion had boomed, with hundreds of fansites, many with large followings, dedicated to the Duchess.

Jasmine Stevens, 19, from Houston Texas, tweets under the title Kate Cambridge Fans and has 12,600 followers.

She says: “Being, I believe, the first Kate fan account from America, I’ve seen upfront how Kate’s fan base has grown to become so crazily large...

“I would have to attribute my interest in Kate to the love I had for Princess Diana as a kid.

“She was one of my most favorite influential role models that I looked up to, so naturally, of course I would take in interest in the lives of her children.

“When news kicked up about this young woman named Kate being William’s girlfriend, I took an immediate interest/liking and I think I quite possibly did, because hey she’s just like me - an ordinary and regular old human being.”

Jasmine describes how she “wanted to throw up in a million different ways from excitement” when Kate went into hospital to give birth to Prince George.

She adds: “I was screaming, crying, and making my grandma drive 20 miles over the speed limit so I could reach home in time to see the TV.”

Amanda, 30, from the West Coast, runs blog and Twitter feed WhatWouldKateDo.

She says: “We started What Would Kate Do in 2012 when we realized that practically everyone we knew was interested in Kate...

“We are proud to be a part of a very active and passionate Twitter community who discusses Kate and can identify what she has worn faster than a human should be able to!

“We have actually heard from fans on social media that connecting with likeminded people through our community has enabled them to feel like they are not alone and we’ve been lucky enough to make some truly great friends through the site - and are planning Kate meet-ups for fans in Washington, DC and New York in 2015!

“I think what makes Kate so great is that she is truly elegant and glamorous at all times - but those who have met her also say she is down-to-earth and friendly in a way that many public figures are not.

“She’s more captivating than a Hollywood star because she’s the living, breathing embodiment of a modern day fairy tale that all little girls want to believe is a true possibility in life.”

Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William Sovereign Monarchs Jubilee Lunch, Windsor Castle, Berkshire

In New York Kate and William will carry out around 10 engagements in two-and-a-half days.

From their plush base of Manhattan’s Carlyle Hotel perched on the edge of Central Park, they will travel to Harlem, Brooklyn, up the Empire State Building and William will make a day trip to Washington.

There will be high glamour and fun moments - like a meeting with Jay-Z and Beyonce at an NBA basketball game.

But there are serious messages benind the trip as the couple carry out charity work, promote Britain for the British Government and make a visit to the World Trade Center to pay tribute to those who died in the 9/11 terror attack.

William will make a long, keynote speech on illegal poaching at the International Corruption Hunters Alliance conference at the World Bank in Washington.

And he and Kate will see Diana’s charitable legacy in action on a visit to see the work of the CityKids foundation which is based on a London youth project started by Diana in 1882.

People Magazine’s Simon Perry says: “Kate is creating her own legacy but there is no doubt that a reason there is such interest in her is because she is married to Diana’s son.

“That’s a crucial thing because Diana is at the top of our list of cover stars, she has appeared 57 times.

“The world watched with how those boys coped after their mother’s death and now they’re following their story.

“People will always be interested in William and Harry because of Diana, who was and still is such a big deal here.”

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