Dozens of Kate Middleton Photos Were Snapped This Morning—and I Noticed *This* in All of Them

In nearly every single photo taken of Middleton at the National Service of Remembrance on Nov. 10, she had Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, right by her side lending strength and support on what is both a somber occasion and a potentially stressful return to the spotlight.

The two are clearly smiling together and exchanging knowing glances. Perhaps Sophie told Kate to simply focus on her, should the Princess find herself overwhelmed by the day. And upon leaving the balcony, Sophie even put her hand on Kate’s back, a wonderful motherly gesture of comfort.

The Duchess of Edinburgh is King Charles’s sister-in-law and married to Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son, Prince Edward. The two have been married for 25 years, so it’s safe to say Sophie has experienced a lot of time in the spotlight as a royal. Like Middleton, she was a regular British citizen before marrying into the royal family, so understands the jarring leap from regular life to that of a Duchess. In fact, Sophie may be the only other person in the immediate family with a background similar to Kate’s, making her a great resource for commiseration and connection.

I’m no body language expert, but to the untrained eye it seems Princess Catherine is feeling comfortable and confident returning to her royal duties, especially with Duchess Sophie by her side. I’m sure her long-awaited return has come with a lot of feelings and potential concerns—if The Crown is to be at all believed, the royal family never does anything in public without major preparation—so I’m glad to see her relaxed and smiling. Welcome back, Kate!