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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

How Kate Middleton and Camilla support each other as they prepare to become Queen

When the Duchess of Cambridge greeted the Duchess of Cornwall at the Commonwealth Day service, there was no denying their affectionate bond.

The two women had a lovely moment where they kissed each other on the cheek and chatted warmly before taking part in the procession down the Westminster Abbey aisle.

In fact, body language expert Judi James noted how in that moment, Kate was keen to show her affection and closeness to Camilla by performing a huge "act of inconvenience".

Judi told the Mirror: "Kate touched Camilla’s arm with her left hand as an add-on gesture to suggest closeness and affection as they cheek-kissed.

"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."

In the future, both women's husbands are destined to become King - meaning they are both currently primed to become Queen Consorts.

And with similar futures ahead, it seems Kate and Camilla are keen to support each other as they navigate royal life.

Dating advice

Kate and Camilla at Trooping the Colour in 2019 (PA)

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And this support is said to have first come from Camilla, the older and more experienced of the two women, before Kate had even joined the Royal Family.

Camilla had joined the royal fold several years before Kate so knew what life was like within the Firm.

Kate had a lot to learn, and she needed to do it quickly as she took on the role of royal girlfriend while dating Prince William.

And it was Camilla who reached out to offer her future step-daughter-in-law a few words of advice, and they're very telling.

According to royal expert and biography Robert Lacey, Charles's wife had a little tip for Kate - but she struggled to follow it.

In his book, Battle of Brothers, Lacey writes: "Camilla had confided to Kate the secret of hanging on to a busy prince: fit your timetable - well, basically your whole life - around his."

However, despite Camilla's advice, Lacey claims that this wasn't really possible for Kate as William's diary was "un-fit-roundable".

Special gift

The two women are both future Queen Consorts (Getty)

Upon Kate's marriage to William, she cemented her bond with her new-stepmother-in-law after Camilla gifted Kate a personalised gold bracelet.

The chain-link bracelet features one single charm with engravings on either side, as is reported by Hello! Magazine.

Each side of the little disc features a monogram - both Kate's and Camilla's.

On one side is the letter 'C' for Catherine, Kate's given name, with a coronet and on the other is a 'C' for Camilla and a crown.

Kate has been seen wearing the bracelet in public a handful of times - including once at Wimbledon in 2011 and again during the Santa Barbara Polo Match as part of her official royal tour to California.

Working together

Kate Middleton and Camilla enjoy a chat while out on an engagement (PA)

In recent times, there have been several royal engagements that both Camilla and Kate have attended together.

Last year, the pair, along with their husbands attended the premiere of the James Bond movie No Time To Die together.

While last June, they also took part in a fun engagement in Cornwall with the Queen, where Camilla helped Her Majesty cut a cake using a ceremonial sword.

Earlier this year, they also made a joint visit, along with Prince Charles, to East London, where they met textiles students at a centre run by the Prince's Foundation.

The two women were seen happily chatting and sharing a joke as they toured the centred and looked at ease in each other's company.

Supporting not upstaging

Kate and Camilla watch the 2021 Remembrance Sunday service from a balcony with Sophie Wessex (Getty Images)

Another day that saw the two royal women together was Remembrance Sunday during the service at the Cenotaph.

At the last minute, the Queen had to pull out of attending due to a sprained back and when they took the position on the Foreign Office balcony, Kate stood centre stage with Camilla and Sophie Wessex at her side.

Despite the positioning making Kate seem the more senior, body language expert Judi James said it appeared that Camilla was comfortable standing to the side.

However, that's not to say Kate isn't aware of Camilla's hierarchy in the family, according to royal expert Ingrid Seward.

She told the Mirror: "Prince Charles is not even King yet and the Royals are very careful about not upstaging each other. Kate will be keen not to upstage Camilla.

“She is aware of hierarchy and that it is Camilla’s turn."

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