Catherine's pregnancy brings back memories of Diana

EVOLVING ROYAL FAMILY

Catherine also has come to symbolize the change of royal institution, partly because she is from an ordinary family, unlike the royalty and aristocrats which the royal family used to marry.

She is also a product of a more equal age for women, and is part of a monarchy that is looking ahead to the next 50 years. This means changes in the way things are done.

Charles Kidd, editor of Debrett's Peerage, told Xinhua, "There have been changes I think, even since Diana's time. Diana did have ladies in waiting -- it is a rather old-fashioned expression."

The ladies in waiting were to help Diana in her duties, but they were also part of a strict social and court hierarchy that seemed remote from the public.

There was a perception that the royal family was distant from real people and issues.

Kidd said, "Kate has chosen to have a rather useful staff around her. Her closest female aide is not called a lady in waiting. Kate has a very useful secretary, whom she shares with her husband. She has a very effective but small staff."

Both Kate and William are able to have a notably more streamlined approach to their royal lives than the Queen or Prince Charles, partly because the bulk of royal duties don't yet fall on their shoulders.

Kidd commented, "Kate's staff is very different to, for instance, Prince Charles' who has a really very large staff because he obviously needs it with his patronages. He takes his role very seriously."