Kate Middleton Shares Warm Moment with King Charles — a Kiss, a Curtsy, and a Touching Goodbye After Royal Funeral
King Charles has often called the Princess of Wales “my beloved daughter-in-law” — and their closeness was once again on display during a solemn royal farewell.
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, members of the royal family gathered at Westminster Cathedral for the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent. Following the historic Catholic service, the royals assembled on the cathedral steps as the late Duchess’s coffin was placed into the waiting hearse.
Before King Charles made his way to his car, Princess Kate approached him, offered a gentle kiss on both cheeks, and performed a graceful curtsy — her hand still resting lightly on his shoulder as she rose.
The brief but heartfelt gesture was the latest public glimpse of the affectionate relationship between the 76-year-old monarch and the 43-year-old future queen. Back in October 2023, during a state banquet in Kenya, the King fondly referred to Kate as “my beloved daughter-in-law,” reflecting on how Prince William proposed to her in that very country in 2010.
Their bond has reportedly deepened over the last year, particularly after both received cancer diagnoses in 2024.
Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith previously told that Charles “has always had a very good bond with Kate,” adding, “It’s fair to say she’s the daughter he never had. He and William both have an instinct to protect her — it’s something they share. The King and Kate are very much united in this.”
A royal source echoed that sentiment, noting that beyond their roles as King and future queen, “they are two patients navigating a similar health journey. Naturally, that has created a special connection. I think there is comfort for Kate in seeing how he has balanced private matters while still maintaining dignity and discretion.”
The funeral marked the royal family’s farewell to Katharine, who passed away on Sept. 4. The Duchess of Kent became a member of the royal family when she married the Duke of Kent, Queen Elizabeth’s cousin. She is survived by her husband, their three children, and ten grandchildren.
Several senior royals attended the service, including Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.