Names and faces

• Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, turned 40 on Sunday, having emerged as Britain's reliable royal. After Prince Harry and Meghan's stormy departure to California in 2020, the death of Prince Philip last year and now sex abuse allegations against Prince Andrew, the former Kate Middleton remains in the public eye as the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children's hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert. "This is the woman who was the commoner who married into the royal family and who has not tripped up, not caused any embarrassment," said Katie Nicholl, author of "Kate: The Future Queen." "It's not been an easy year, and yet somehow Kate seems to be a bit of a beacon in all of this." At a moment when the House of Windsor is facing more than its share of controversy, Prince William's spouse has won accolades for her commitment to early education, art and music. The charities she supports gush about her willingness to get involved in their causes, including the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and East Anglia's Children's Hospices. During 11 years under the royal microscope, Kate has largely avoided criticism by adopting the royal maxim "Never complain, never explain." Biographer Nicholl, who has watched Kate for years, described her as gutsy and self-assured -- a person aware of her strengths. With Queen Elizabeth II preparing to celebrate 70 years on the throne this year and the focus squarely on the longevity of the monarchy, Kate's place as the wife of a future king and the mother of another will loom even larger. "I think the monarchy is in safe hands," Nicholl said.