KATE Middleton today paused in a poignant moment of reflection as she bowed her head in a mark of respect at Prince Philip’s funeral.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, was one of the last senior royals to leave the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in St George’s Chapel in Windsor this afternoon.
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Prince Philip’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault in front of millions of viewers in an unprecedented move televised for the first time ever.
And photographs of the occasion taken from a distance showed the Queen standing in front of the space on the floor after the coffin had descended.
Members of the Royal Family left the chapel a short while later, with some lowering their heads in a traditional mark of respect.
Kate appeared to take a particularly long pause as she bowed her head in respect.
And as she turned to leave, she gave Princess Beatrice a quick glance of support.
The bows are a traditional practice in Christian churches – with worshippers bowing their heads and shoulders towards the altar when entering or leaving.
It is considered an act of faith in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Duchess of Cambridge was pictured being driven to Windsor Castle this morning from Kensington Palace.
She wore all black with a netted veil covering her face mask, along with a stunning pearl necklace belonging to the Queen.
It comes after she and Prince William paid a moving tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh last week, vowing to “get on with the job” and stand beside the Queen in the years to come.
“Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will continue to support the Queen in the years ahead,” William said.
“I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job.”
The Royal Family later released an unseen photo of the Queen and Prince Philip surrounded by their great-grandkids.
Kate had taken the snap at Balmoral Castle in 2018.
The Duchess was today seen chatting with her husband and Prince Harry as they shared a private moment walking away from the funeral this afternoon.
The tender reunion came after they stood apart to walk behind their grandfather’s coffin, and were sat separately in the chapel.
The brothers walked together for several minutes, moments after watching their grandfather’s coffin lowered into the vault in emotional scenes at St George’s Chapel.
