Kate Middleton's 'act of inconvenience' to Duchess Camilla at Commonwealth Day service revealed
Kate Middleton has expressed her respect for Duchess Camilla ahead of her future Queendom
Kate Middleton has shown respect to Duchess Camilla by offering up a small inconvenience, a royal insider has revealed.
- Kate Middleton expressed her respect for Duchess Camilla with subtle gestures at the Commonwealth Day service on Monday, a body language expert claims.
- The Duchess of Cornwall, 74, will become Queen Consort when Her Majesty dies and Prince Charles ascends the throne.
- In other royal news, why Meghan Markle was uninvited to Pippa Middleton's wedding at the last minute.
Kate Middleton has shown her respect for Duchess Camilla's higher ranking in the Royal Family with several small gestures, according to a body language expert.
The two female royals joined the Prince of Wales and Prince William at Westminster Abbey in London in honor of Commonwealth Day yesterday, for their first public appearance since the Queen confirmed that Duchess Camilla would be Queen Consort when Charles becomes King. The occasion, which dates back to 1971, observes Britain's 54 member states every March and is generally considered to be an opportunity to cultivate a greater understanding of the Commonwealth's achievements and mission.
Unfortunately, Her Majesty was unable to attend the event due to concerns that the 95-year-old would find the ceremony—much of which requires standing—'too taxing'. She was instead represented by Prince Charles, one of her four counselors of state, and her message was issued by Buckingham Palace ahead of the service.
While Duchess Camilla did not address the congregation, it was clear that her social ranking in the Royal Family has climbed since the news of her forthcoming promotion.
Dressed in a regal purple dresscoat and a matching feathered hat, the 74-year-old looked every inch the future royal consort as she arrived at the London church with Prince Charles for the annual event on Monday.
The powerhouse couple was greeted by Kate Middleton and Prince William, who had entered the abbey before them, before they took their seats in the front pews of the thousand-year-old building.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
The Duchess of Cambridge appeared to make a special effort to acknowledge Camilla's recent honor, offering multiple gestures to express her admiration for her stepmother-in-law.
"Kate touched Camilla’s arm with her left hand as an add-on gesture to suggest closeness and affection as they cheek-kissed," body language expert Judi James told the Mirror. "She also performed a huge ‘act of inconvenience’ to show respect, bending her knees to lower herself right down to plant her kiss on Camilla’s cheeks."
It's understood that Kate and Camilla have always gotten on well behind the scenes, with their shared backgrounds as wealthy commoners from the British countryside likely giving them plenty of material to talk about. The Duchess of Cambridge was reportedly even gifted a gold bracelet from her stepmother-in-law before she married Prince William in 2011, and has attended countless royal engagements with her since.
Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
Our beauty team committed these 4 nail crimes last year - here's how we'll absolve ourselves in 2025
From skipping cuticle oil to picking off gel polish, we confess the nail faux pas we won't be repeating...
By Naomi Jamieson Published
-
Helen Mirren reveals the 12-minute workout she's relied on for 60 years to keep fit
Helen Mirren does the workout, created by the Canadian Royal Air Force and featuring only bodyweight exercises, every day to keep fit as she approaches 80 years old
By Grace Walsh Published
-
Kate Middleton looks radiant in laid-back jeans, shirt and blazer in momentous birthday photograph
The Princess of Wales's off-duty style is every bit as elegant as her formal-wear and her birthday photo outfit is so easy to recreate
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton’s 43rd birthday marked with heartfelt message from Prince William alongside new black-and-white photo
Prince William lovingly paid tribute to the Princess of Wales's 'remarkable' strength as he shared a touching birthday post
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton 'needs to make sure' George, Charlotte and Louis can 'deal' with 'looming' responsibility
A huge future lies ahead for the Wales family and a royal expert believes the Princess of Wales will be keen to 'prioritise' her family
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Meghan Markle embraces Kate Middleton’s royal hobby in new Netflix trailer - and you might not have noticed
Meghan Markle's new Netflix series will show her trying out one of the Royal Family's favourite but rarely-seen hobbies
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton has loved the Longchamp tote bag since the 2000s – and we’ve found the perfect lookalikes
For the woman on the go who doesn't want to choose between fashion and function, there's the Longchamp Tote (or these lookalikes!)
By Jack Slater Published
-
Looking for a Boxing Day saving with the royal stamp of approval? Kate Middleton’s favourite Jo Malone scent is now on sale
It's not too often one can snap up the Princess of Wales approved Jo Malone scent
By Jack Slater Published
-
Kate Middleton sticks to her tried and tested formula for a perfect Christmas Day look – her outfit details in full
The Princess of Wales looked striking in a festive forest green for the 2024 Sandringham Walkabout
By Jack Slater Published
-
What do the royals eat on Christmas Day? The mouth-watering festive meals Prince William and Kate will enjoy
The Prince and Princess of Wales and the other royals are in for a treat this Christmas Day if their food traditions remain unchanged
By Emma Shacklock Published