Princess Catherine was interviewed five years ago by actress Giovanna Fletcher who has now reflected on what the future Queen was like off camera

The podcaster reflected on the interview five years later (Image: Getty)

A famous podcaster who spent 90 minutes with Princess Catherine revealed what surprised her about the future Queen – before sharing the moment Prince William intervened to help his wife.

Giovanna Fletcher, who is also a successful actress and author, spent time with Catherine when they discussed the ups and downs of motherhood on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast in 2020.

And reflecting on her first impressions, she told The Times: “What I think surprised me was how nervous we both were at the top of the chat. I think there’s no denying, when you talk to Catherine, you know what she means to the country, what influence she will have on life going forward – and can have with her early years campaigning.

Giovanna Fletcher opened up about meeting the future King and Queen (Image: Getty)

“So I think I was nervous because of that. She was nervous because she knew that she was about to speak in a way that she’d never spoken before.”

However, the future monarch then showed his true colours, according to Giovanna, who said he sensed Catherine’s nerves before coming over to offer two words of advice.

She remembered: “Thankfully, Prince William came into the room and he said, ‘Just talk.’ It wasn’t live and he reasoned that they could always cut bits later on. His wife took his advice and the tea grew cold in front of them as a 45-minute chat became a 90-minute, no-holds-barred interview.”

Giovanna reflected that Catherine, mum to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, came across as someone who was “full of heart” and she believes she will be a queen who really listens and is aware of what’s going on.

Princess Catherine at the Christmas morning service in Sandringham (Image: Getty)

She added that Catherine and William would embrace the leadership with their “eyes completely open” and that their understanding will be a “welcome change”.

William himself has previously opened up about change within the institution during a chat with actor Eugene Levy on The Reluctant Traveller programme on Apple.

There, he said: “I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good, and I embrace that, I enjoy that change.

“I don’t fear it, that’s the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical, but changes that I think need to happen.”

He added: “There are points when you look at tradition and go, is that still fit for purpose today? Is that still the right thing to do? Are we still doing and having the most impact we could be having?

“So I like to question things, is what I’m really getting at….I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I grew up in. And I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”