Princess Kate praised by royal fans as she reassures Prince George and Charlotte with single gesture

PRINCESS Kate arrived at Westminster Abbey with her eldest two children for the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.

The royal mother-of-three was seen placing a reassuring, gentle hand on the shoulders of Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they entered the memorial.

Eagle-eyed fans were quick to praise Princess Kate for her sweet, protective gesture, and many said they were left “in tears”.

The children, who are the youngest mourners at their great-grandmother’s state funeral today, stood and sung hymns with the 2,000 strong congregation.

Their late inclusion is believed to be the idea of parents Prince William and Kate who believed it important they attend the historic occasion.

In moving scenes, George, nine, and Charlotte, seven, looked solemn as they walked alongside their parents into Westminster Abbey.

The youngsters have been dressed in black outfits, with Charlotte wearing a hat like mum Kate.

Younger brother Louis, four, has stayed at home.

The King led the Royal Family as they walked in a procession behind the Queen’s coffin.

Charles, 73, appeared to wipe away a tear as he followed his late mother’s coffin – draped in the Royal Standard flag, and topped with her Crown, Orb and Sceptre – into Westminster Abbey.

The family then took their seats alongside leaders from around the world to say goodbye to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

William was seen in a Range Rover with a police escort heading towards the St James’ Palace ahead of the procession shortly after 10.15am.

He had a reflective expression on his face as he travelled with Princess Charlotte beside him in the car.

The royals then appeared to switch cars as William moved to travel alongside his dad, King Charles.

Charlotte and George sat side by side in another car, with Kate and Camilla sat behind.

The royal youngsters are among the 2,000 people gathered at Westminster Abbey before a committal service at Windsor Castle. 

It is their chance to say goodbye to the woman they called “Gan-Gan”.

George and Charlotte previously walked hand-in-hand with their parents at the thanksgiving service for Prince Philip in March.

Crowds of heartbroken mourners have flocked to London, Windsor and royal sites throughout the UK on the national bank holiday.

The entire funeral ceremony is being screened on television to an estimated worldwide audience of four billion people.

The 2,000 mourners inside include heads of state, foreign royals and almost 200 key workers and volunteers.

William and Kate’s youngest child Louis will not be at either service.

The four-year-old is struggling to understand the Queen’s death, mum Kate has revealed.

The Princess of Wales said her eldest son George is “sort of realising how important his great-grandmother was and what is going on”.

It comes as…

• Solemn King Charles leads the Royal Family in an emotional procession behind the Queen’s coffin
• Meghan Markle bowed her head as she joined the Royals
• Prince Andrew wore a suit after being banned from his military uniform
• Two thousand mourners including world leaders gathered for the funeral

But she said Louis is struggling – and has been asking a lot of questions ahead of his “Gan-Gan’s” funeral today.

Kate made the revelations while speaking to Australia’s Governor-General at a reception held for Commonwealth dignitaries last night.

Recalling the chat, David Hurley said:  “The younger one is now asking questions like, ‘do you think we can still play these games when we go to Balmoral’ and things like that, because she’s not going to be there?'” 

GOD BLESS THE QUEEN

Inside step by step plan for Queen's funeral including resting place

It comes after up to 400,000 people queued for hours to see the Queen lying in state at Westminster Hall, which ended at 6.30am.

The Queen will today be re­united with her beloved Philip, the monarch’s “rock and stay” for more than seven decades.