Duchess Sophie’s tender show of support for Princess Kate on emotional day

Many people missed it, but on what must have been a very emotional day for Catherine, it said a lot about the relationship between the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh.

As the two senior royals left the balcony at the Centopath following the Remembrance service, Sophie gently placed a supportive hand on Catherine’s shoulder.

In honor of Britain’s fallen servicemen and women, Catherine, who is undergoing cancer treatment, participated in the event. It was the first time she had done two days of public engagements in a row since the year began.

The Duchess of Edinburgh lays a supportive hand on Catherine’s back during the Service Of Remembrance   Photo: © Samir Hussein/Wire Image
 

At the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Sophie joined her on the balcony to observe her husband, Prince William, and father-in-law, King Charles, lay wreaths during the service.

Throughout the event, Catherine exuded poise, and the two women exchanged glances and smiles. During the two-minute pause, they were both photographed paying their respects, both of them appearing moved.

In observance of the Armed Forces’ fallen, both royal ladies donned the traditional all-black outfit. Catherine looked sophisticated wearing a hat with a birdcage mourning veil and a button-down coat with a striking velvet bow. Sophie, on the other hand, sported a pearl necklace, a wide-brimmed hat, and a fitted black dress with a scoop neck.

 

Catherine looked emotional as she paid her respects as from the balcony   Photo: © Chris Jackson/Getty Images
 

Catherine didn’t appear to be fatigued from Saturday night’s Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Following Prince William’s announcement to Cape Town broadcasters during the Earthshot Prize Awards that his wife was “doing really well” and that “she’s been amazing this whole year,” Catherine has returned to the public eye.

According to Catherine herself, the past year has been “incredibly tough.” She made this statement back in September when she expressed her “relief” at finishing chemotherapy.

 

Catherine and Sophie singing during the service
Photo: © Getty Images
 

She made the poignant statement: “Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus,” she said in a moving video message. “Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”

“I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”