Duchess Sophie's moving gesture to Duchess of Kent's family at funeral service
Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, died on September 4
Duchess Sophie joined other members of the royal family to pay their respects to Katharine, Duchess of Kent, whose funeral took place on September 16.
Members of the royal family gathered to pay their respects at Westminster Cathedral. It was here that Duchess Sophie made a very heartfelt gesture.
Duchess Sophie offers heartwarming gesture to Duchess of Kent’s family as they depart funeral
Duchess Sophie, the wife of Prince Edward, showed her sentimental side as she offered the Duchess of Kent’s family a heartwarming gesture as the funeral guests gathered outside Westminster Cathedral.
It was here that Sophie, 60, was captured blowing a kiss to the Duchess of Kent’s family.
Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English took to X to share the clip which, at the time of writing, has over 80,000 views.
She penned in the caption: “The sweet moment the Princess Royal and Duchess of Edinburgh comforted the Kent family.”
Princess Anne and her husband, Timothy Laurence, could also be seen offering reassuring waves as the Duchess of Kent’s family prepared to depart from the service.
The Duchess of Kent, who was 92 years old, died “peacefully” at Kensington Palace on September 4, surrounded by her loved ones.
On Monday evening (September 15), her coffin was carried in a royal hearse from the palace to Westminster Cathedral.
The royals in attendance
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince William, Princess Kate and Timothy Laurence were amongst the congregation. As well as that, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were in attendance.
Queen Camilla was not in attendance.
Earlier on Tuesday, a palace spokesperson had said: “With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis. Her thoughts and prayers will be with The Duke of Kent and all the family.”
Prince Edward was also not in attendance. He was in Papua New Guinea to mark the country’s 50th anniversary of independence from Australia.
Reports explain that the prince arrived in the country on Sunday.
He is expected to stay in Papua New Guinea until September 17. Therefore, he will miss the beginning of the US President Donald Trump’s two-day state visit, which commences today.
Evidently, Edward and Sophie’s two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, were also not in attendance.
Royal observers react to Duchess Sophie’s kind gesture
Unsurprisingly, royal observers were warmed by Duchess Sophie’s sweet signal to her fellow royals.
Because of this, many flocked to X to praise Sophie’s move and her appearance.
One penned alongside a snap of Sophie watching the Kent family depart: “I really loved this photo of our kind and lovely Sophie.”
“Duchess Sophie is such an asset to the monarchy. She’s much like Princess Anne. She works constantly, is very loved and respected, and does it all without fanfare,” chimed in another.
“Sophie is always a sweetheart,” added a third.
A fourth commented: “Love Duchess Sophie’s hat.”
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