Wed Sep 17 11:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Kate Middleton’s Touching Farewell to King Charles at Duchess of Kent’s Funeral Shows Strong Bond

**London, England** – A poignant display of affection between the Princess of Wales and King Charles III was captured following the funeral of Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, on Tuesday, September 16th. Kate Middleton, 43, bid farewell to the King, 76, with kisses on each cheek and a graceful curtsy, highlighting their close relationship.

The interaction took place on the steps of Westminster Cathedral as the royal family gathered to see the Duchess of Kent’s coffin moved into a hearse. This affectionate goodbye reinforces the strong bond between the two royals, a connection that has become even more significant following their respective cancer diagnoses this year.

King Charles has openly expressed his fondness for Kate, even referring to her as “my beloved daughter-in-law” during a state banquet in Kenya last October, referencing Prince William’s proposal to Kate in the country.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith has previously noted the special connection between the pair. “I don’t think it is presumptuous to say that she is like the daughter he never had,” Smith told PEOPLE last year. “He shares with William an impulse to protect her. They are in this together, Kate and the King.”

A royal source echoed this sentiment, adding that their shared experience with cancer has undoubtedly strengthened their bond. “Apart from being King and future queen, they are also two patients going through a common health experience… I imagine there was some comfort [for Kate] in seeing… that it was possible to balance some private information without there being an imperative to share all.”

The funeral honored the life of Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, who passed away on September 4th. She is survived by her husband, the Duke of Kent, their three children, and 10 grandchildren. The service was attended by numerous members of the royal family, including Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

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