How Kate stepped up to support the royals after Prince Phillip's death

It was five years ago this week that the Royal Family lost the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip – who passed away at the age of 99. 

The funeral, which took place on April 17, 2021, at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, was a sombre occasion that saw Prince Harry return to the UK to grieve for his grandfather; and marked the first time he'd reunite with his grandmother, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, since his and Meghan's bombshell Oprah interview. 

But while it would have been easy for rife divisions to take centre stage just one year on from 'Megxit', a body language expert has revealed how Kate put the spotlight on unity, stepping to support The Firm – while its usual rock, the Queen, was mourning her husband of 73 years.

'When a leader leaves a group it is always time for another leader to step up quickly and help fill the void,' Judi James told the Daily Mail.

'In the royal family that pecking order is driven by the order of succession, but like any other family they have a more natural power ranking as well as the anointed, titular one.

'Although Philip married into the Firm, he became a strong, paternal alpha presence and his death created a leadership gap.

'The Queen was in deep mourning, and an equally distraught Charles appeared to watch helplessly as his two sons engaged in a civil war that threatened to drive a rift through the entire royal family.

'It was at Philip's funeral though when Kate's body language and behaviour suddenly, quietly but dramatically showed a switch–up that hinted at a break–through tendency.'

Judi revealed that as the royals came together to say goodbye to a beloved relative, Kate was a beacon of stability amid the sorrow.

'Her visual signals suddenly hinted that she was the one with the firmness and courage to step up and take a badly needed degree of control,' she explained.

'The world watched as, once the service was over, Kate firstly offered a consoling and supportive hug to the weeping Charles before setting off solo to herd William and Harry together like a royal sheepdog herding two anxious and dithering sheep.'

It was an occasion where the then–Duchess of Cambridge was able to show that 'she was more than just a pitch–perfect royal smile and "plus one" to her husband'.

'A photo taken during her arrival at the funeral acted as a hard launch for this more confident, matriarchal side to the queen–in–waiting,' Judi continued.

'With her mouth hidden by her Covid mask, the attention of the viewer is directed to Kate's eyes.

'Sitting immaculately groomed in her mourning black with pearl earrings, Kate's eye expression in this photo is extraordinarily strong, displaying an inner strength and confidence that had been kept almost hidden before.

'In the photo you can see the flash of the camera fully reflected in her pupils but Kate holds her direct gaze into the camera without flinching or glancing away, suggesting a strong sense of purpose.'

Judi said it was a moment which may have had wellwishers hoping for reconciliation from Philip's two feuding grandsons – but resulted in a surprising step–up from the Princess. 

'While the world waited and watched, hoping that their grandfather's death might maybe broker some kind of truce prompted by grief between William and Harry, the entire service ended without any hint of connection between them,' she explained.

'It was as the royals were leaving though and walking back up the hill in a more casual formation that Kate very firmly and deftly took control of the situation.

'Her truce–brokering power came from the fact that she and Harry were still on friendly speaking terms but it was impossible to imagine that she wasn't emotionally egged on and motivated by the thought of their grandfather's wishes.'

Judi also saw 'several signals of acute awkwardness and anxiety' from both William and Harry.

'William resorts to his signature "escape" technique of performing an act of distraction with any props handy,' she shared.

'Here he begins by looking down and fiddling with his mask and his order of service. A moment later and he's frowning while rooting around in his pockets, acting oblivious to the fact that his errant brother is close behind him.

'Harry is also riddled with anxiety here, straightening his tie in an auto–contact self–soothing gesture that also creates something of a safety barrier. There is no sign here that, left to their own devices, these two men would be voluntarily walking together chatting.'

And 'all this oozing of a wary awkwardness is in complete contrast to Kate's non–verbal presence'.

'Kate's shoulders are squared, her stride is firm and directional, and her arms hang at her sides in a gesture of confidence,' Judi continued.

'Having just been consoling a weeping Charles with a tender hug she has clearly set off to frog–march his sons towards some kind of display of togetherness.

'Leaving her husband to walk ahead, Kate falls back to walk alongside Harry, using some friendly–looking words to firmly steer him into place beside William like a royal tug boat steering two liners into dock.

'It looks clear from William and Harry's avoidance rituals that they would have walked apart had Kate not intervened and taken firm charge.

'William's distraction rituals and the way he is still straightening his tie when Harry lines up suggest this piece of choreographic brilliance is all Kate's idea.

'The last move from Kate is perhaps the most poignant, too. Having stepped up in a way that would probably have pleased and amused the two prince's late grandfather, Kate steps back to allow them to walk and chat alone, falling in step with a very distraught Sophie instead and finally pulling out a hankie to dab her own tears and allow herself to take a moment of quiet grief.'