On April 17, 2021, a solemn Royal Family gathered at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel to bid a heartfelt farewell to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
As hearts broke across the world for the late Queen Elizabeth, who was married to Philip for 73 years, sat alone in the pews, it was Princess Catherine who emerged as a pillar of strength for a monarchy in mourning.
With Britain transitioning from an old era of royalty, Kate, Queen in waiting, was now proving herself as an essential figure for the Firm’s stability and survival.
According to royal expert Robert Jobson, writing in his book Catherine: The Biography, ‘Catherine’s true class shone through on that historic day’ as she successfully shifted from the ‘periphery’ of the family to its ‘heart’.
He added: ‘Her modest, but highly effective contribution was seen by commentators as the pinnacle of her royal career to date.
‘She appeared formidable. After a decade as a senior member of the Royal Family, she looked as if she truly belonged.’
It was no secret that the late Queen and Kate, 43, shared a close bond – with the now Princess of Wales once describing Her Majesty as a ‘gentle guide’.
Donning an all-black dress by French fashion designer Roland Mouret paired with the Queen’s jewels, a poised Kate was said to have ‘radiated a regal impregnability’ as she carried herself in front of the eyes of the world.
Princess Catherine arrives at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle in April 2021, where she proved herself to be a pillar of support and strength for a monarchy in mourning
But while Kate emulated sensibility and strength, she also sought to protect and reassure her fellow members of the Firm – offering a tender kiss to her grieving father-in-law, King Charles.
Placing a delicate hand on the shoulder of an ‘inconsolable’ Charles as the family left the 15th-century chapel, the princess’s compassionate nature shone right through.
Filmmaker Bidisha Mamata, speaking in Channel 5 documentary, Kate: Our Queen in Waiting, notes the significance of Kate’s ‘warm’ relations with Charles that day.
‘She seemed to be saying to him it’s okay to show we are a family, just like all the other people in the world are families,’ Ms Mamata says.
While the funeral was no doubt a day of great sadness and heartbreak for the Firm, it was also one of remarkable tension as Prince Harry returned to the UK from his $14million Montecito mansion to be part of the procession.
Meghan Markle, pregnant at the time with the couple’s second child Lilibet, did not attend the service.
It marked the first time Harry and William had reunited since the Sussexes’ notorious interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier that year – with royal onlookers speculating whether the two brothers would be able to put aside their differences on the tragic day.
Kate had once shared an incredibly close relationship with Harry, with the Duke of Sussex previously describing her as ‘the sister I’ve never had and always wanted’.
Queen Elizabeth sits alone in the pews of St George’s Chapel at the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021
Yet, their relations had slightly frayed since Meghan and Harry’s decision to withdraw from senior royal duties, with, according to Jobson, Kate left ‘deeply wounded’ by their negative public claims.
But ever the professional, at Philip’s funeral Kate appeared to put any possible feelings of animosity aside and fulfill the role of peacekeeper between her husband and brother-in-law.
When the service came to a close, the late Duke of Edinburgh’s eldest son was seen immediately leaving the chapel and stripping his face mask away. He had clearly been crying.
Despite the revelatory statements made during the Oprah interview, Harry was seen engaging in conversation with Kate as the family left the chapel and began walking up the hill.
Kate then appeared to deliberately seize this moment as a chance for a reconciliation between the two estranged brothers – increasing her pace so she and Harry could eventually catch up with William, who was walking a few yards ahead.
Explaining the significance of this expertly manoeuvred moment, Mr Jobson added: ‘She then fell back, slowing enough to allow the brothers to walk next to each other and at least exchange a few words.
‘It gave the public the impression that they were putting on a united front for their late grandfather, whom they both loved. It was the moment the public had been hoping to see.’
Despite the revelatory statements made during the Oprah interview, Harry was seen engaging in conversation with Kate as the family left the chapel
Kate takes a tissue from her handbag after seemingly manoeuvring herself and Harry so he could speak to William alone when leaving the funeral
After the socially-distanced funeral service, the details of which were chosen by Philip himself, members of the Royal Family left the chapel and removed their masks. This is when a horde of lip-readers came into their element.
‘Yes, it was great, wasn’t it?’ William is believed to have remarked to Harry, with his brother then responding: ‘It was as he wanted.’
With Philip’s funeral marking ten years since Kate, then a fresh-faced young girl from the Home Counties, had first entered the royal fold – it was clear the future queen now ‘truly belonged’.
‘The middle-class girl, some commentators said, looked more royal than the blood royals that day, a pillar of strength and calmness amidst the emotional swirl,’ writes Mr Jobson.
Certainly, Kate’s role at Philip’s funeral in the aftermath of Harry and Meghan’s royal departure served as the start of her increasing prominence in the Firm.
Previously described by Vanity Fair royal editor Katie Nicholl as the Royal Family’s ‘greatest asset’ and the ‘glue’, Kate and William have increasingly taken on greater responsibilities as Prince and Princess of Wales.
‘The middle-class girl, some commentators said, looked more royal than the blood royals that day, a pillar of strength and calmness amidst the emotional swirl,’ writes royal biographer Robert Jobson
Kate has previously been described by Vanity Fair royal editor Katie Nicholl as the Royal Family’s ‘greatest asset’ and the ‘glue’
Speaking to 60 Minutes in Australia, Ms Nichol added: ‘The Royal Family realise they have a really important key player here and they’re bringing her centre stage.
‘I think Kate is the glue. In the same way that the Duke of Edinburgh was always the one who would help resolve family issues.
‘He was the patriarch of the family. I see Kate stepping into that role. Trying to keep things together.’
At William and Kate’s fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, Charles movingly described his eldest son’s new wife as ‘the daughter he had never had’ and added: ‘We are lucky to have her.’
His budding relationship with Kate – whom he refers to as his ‘beloved daughter-in-law’ – is said to have blossomed even more when he became King in September 2022.
And it was further cemented after they were both diagnosed with cancer in February and March 2024 respectively.
Prince Philip’s funeral marked the first time Harry and William had reunited since the Sussexes’ notorious interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier that year – with royal onlookers speculating whether the two brothers would be able to put their differences aside on the tragic day
When Kate announced her heartbreaking cancer diagnosis to the world, Buckingham Palace said: ‘His Majesty is ”so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did”.’
While the Princess of Wales took a short period of time away from public engagements during her cancer treatment, her gradual return to public life during her remission period has highlighted Kate’s unwavering commitment to public duty.
Following the Queen’s death in September 2022, the Firm has been routinely rocked, particularly by the scandalous fallout surrounding the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
On October 30, King Charles announced that his brother would be stripped of his royal titles and evicted from Windsor’s Royal Lodge after weeks of pressure to act over Andrew’s friendship with the sex offender.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: ‘These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.’
Indicative of Kate and William’s growing role in Charles’s ‘slimmed-down’ monarchy, the Prince and Princess of Wales are believed to have pushed for Andrew’s removal and strongly supported the King’s decisions.
And as the world looks to the future under William and Kate’s leadership once they become King and Queen consort, discussions of the monarchy’s possible evolution are rife.
During a recent interview with Canadian actor Eugene Levy, William declared that ‘change is on my agenda’ once he becomes king – with Kate no doubt a key figure in enabling such transformation to come to fruition.
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