Last night saw the grand TV launch of Prince William's environmental sustainability initiative, The Earthshot Prize, which awarded five sums of one million pounds to people across the globe who are working to save the natural world.

The evening featured speeches on the importance of environmentalism and sustainability from Prince William himself as well as Sir David Attenborough and Emma Watson, and - of course - Kate Middleton was on hand to show her support.

The Duchess took to the stage to present the final prize of the evening. And her poise and confidence didn't go unnoticed. Fans of Kate took to social media to praise the royal for giving a brilliant speech, referencing the fact that traditionally, she's struggled with public speaking.

"I’m so proud of how far she’s come! We all know how nervous she is with public speaking and she did brilliantly," one fan said. while another praised her "confident" appearance which showed "no sign of nerves."

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Getting up and speaking on prime time TV is a huge achievement for anyone, let alone someone who's battled with public speaking nerves, as Kate reportedly has.

After her first public speech in 2012, The Guardian reported that Kate told a guest in attendance: "I find doing speeches nerve-wracking." Following that, Kate wasn't a regular speech giver, prompting outlets like Vogue and The Express to document her struggles and ask why we weren't hearing a huge amount from the senior royal.

Public speaking expert Susie Ashfield told the latter newspaper that: "Whilst The Duchess of Cambridge is no stranger to talking on camera, it’s alleged she finds public speaking uncomfortable and is naturally somewhat introverted. She generally shies away from the limelight, preferring to not generate unnecessary publicity."

However, in recent times, Kate has become a royal we've heard from more and more, and the expert says that when comparing newer speeches of Kate's with earlier ones, the transformation is clear.

"The Duchess has come a long way since the first time her voice was publicly heard at the official announcement of her engagement to Prince William... With a restrained smile, determined hand movements and extended pauses, Her Royal Highness has the glowing confidence of a newsreader, and there’s not a word (or a hair) out of place," Ashfield added.

We're sure that if the Duchess still feels a pang of nerves when she's about to deliver a speech, her impassioned words at the Earthshot ceremony - and the great reception - will have given her a big confidence boost. Good for you, Kate!

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Megan Sutton
Acting Senior Editor
Megan is Cosmopolitan UK's acting senior editor, covering topics like careers, books, health and relationships. She's particularly fond of dogs, great vegan food and karaoke.