In a touching show of unity, King Charles and the Princess of Wales clung to each other amidst their health battles, bonds visibly tightening during Trooping the Colour in mid-June. Breaking away from tradition, King Charles affectionately positioned his “darling daughter-in-law” by his side as they greeted adoring subjects from the iconic Buckingham Palace balcony.
The pair’s camaraderie was unmissable as Kate leaned in for a hushed exchange that coaxed a chuckle from Charles just before the solemnity of the National Anthem.
Last year found Charles shoulder to shoulder with William, but this year’s switch-up was interpreted as a nod of respect to Kate and her choice to step back into the limelight on his official birthday. Grant Harrold, previously in royal service as a butler, dished to OK! about the significance: “It is changing protocol to show the King and Kate united with each other and going through similar battles, so I would say this is down to the King’s preference. The balcony [line-up] is orchestrated, so I have a feeling the King said to Kate, ‘You stand next to me.
The timing of Kate and Charles’ illnesses has been strikingly similar. Both were treated at the London Clinic in January, offering each other comfort during the early stages of their treatment, reports the Mirror.
Their cancer diagnoses were announced just a month apart, with Charles’ in February and Kate’s in March. Following Kate’s public video message on March 22, where she shared her diagnosis, King Charles released a statement expressing his pride in Catherine’s bravery.
He stated that he was in “the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law” and that he and Queen Camilla “continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time”. This public display of affection is a testament to their private bond, with Royal expert Hugo Vickers suggesting there may have been frequent hospital visits between the two.
Kate’s close relationship with Charles is well-known within the royal family, and she’s even been heard referring to him as “Grandpa.” This strong bond can be attributed to Charles’ efforts to welcome his son’s girlfriend into the family during the early stages of William and Kate’s relationship.
The princess has warmly expressed her experience with her father-in-law, saying he’s been “very, very welcoming, very friendly.” Back in 2004, she had the pleasure of attending Charles’ 56th birthday shindig at Highgrove and joined the family on sleek ski holidays in Klosters – the very trips that first caught snaps of her with William.
Just when things looked chilly after a brief breakup with William, Kate was included on a 2008 ski trip, solidifying her status back within the Royal circle. Sharing insights, royal guru and writer Duncan Larcombe reveals, “Charles and Camilla adore Kate, and I think they have from the very beginning. One of the very early signs of that was the fact that William got permission for Kate to come on Charles’ ski trip with the family in 2004 and 2005. Charles wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t approve of her then.”
