A touching moment between Princess Kate and Prince William at today's Trooping the Colour has drawn comparisons to a similar exchange between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip 16 years ago.
Cameras captured Kate, 43, stealing a loving glance at her husband as he rode on horseback during King Charles's official birthday parade in central London.
The tender look echoed a photograph from the 2009 Trooping the Colour, where Queen Elizabeth was seen gazing affectionately at Prince Philip as they travelled by carriage.
The parallel between the two royal couples has resonated with royal watchers, highlighting the enduring nature of such intimate moments within the monarchy.
Princess Kate spotted gazing lovingly at Prince William in uniform.
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The similarities between the two moments extended beyond the expressions of affection. Both Princess Kate and Queen Elizabeth wore striking aqua blue outfits with matching hats during their respective ceremonies.
Prince William, 42, rode in his capacity as Colonel-in-Chief of the Welsh Guards, dressed in the traditional scarlet military tunic and bearskin hat. This mirrored Prince Philip's appearance in 2009, when he wore identical ceremonial attire.
Princess Kate watched from a position of honour on the dais alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla, her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards placing her prominently in the ceremony.
Royal experts have drawn parallels between Princess Kate's supportive approach and Prince Philip's role alongside Queen Elizabeth.
Princess Kate looked behind to watch her husband in his uniform.
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"She's never trying to outshine him in any way. I think that Kate is a bit like Prince Philip supporting the Queen.
She doesn't outshine William but still has a lot to say herself," royal biographer Penny Junor told People.
Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth: The Queen and the Crown, observed that whilst William and Kate's was "a modern royal marriage, in that it was a love match," it has traditional elements.
"She mostly appears as a supportive figure to her husband," Gristwood told People.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II pictured at Trooping the Colour in 2009.
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Prince William can be seen on the left as Kate beamed over.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales later reunited on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the equestrian procession, joining their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
The ceremony marked the third Trooping the Colour of King Charles's reign, bringing together hundreds of soldiers, musicians and horses in what has become a traditional Royal Family gathering.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married for 73 years before his death aged 99 in April 2021.
Following the Queen's death, she was laid to rest beside him in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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