Prince William studies Paddington Bear drawing on phone after admitting the tributes left him ‘choked up’ as he spoke with staff who helped organise Queen’s funeral in Windsor
- William and Kate took part in first royal engagement since funeral yesterday
- The couple went on to share a swish video of the engagement on Instagram
- Posted: ‘It was a pleasure to meet just a small number of staff and volunteers today – we are hugely grateful for all of your efforts’
- Princess of Wales said rainbows were ‘Her Majesty looking down on us’
- The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage
Prince William could be seen studying a Paddington tribute to the Queen on a phone during his first royal engagement after the late monarch’s funeral yesterday.
The Prince of Wales, 40, joined Kate Middleton as they thanked people who had worked to stage Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in Windsor.
The couple went on to share a swish video from the engagement on their official Instagram page, posting: ‘Thank you to all those who have worked so tirelessly to ensure that everyone visiting Windsor over the past two weeks has had a safe and positive experience.
‘It was a pleasure to meet just a small number of staff and volunteers today – we are hugely grateful for all of your efforts.’
In the clip, Kate and Prince William could be seen beaming as they spoke with volunteers, as well as studying tributes to the late monarch.
Prince William could be seen studying a Paddington tribute to the Queen on a phone during his first royal engagement after the late monarch’s funeral yesterday
Elsewhere on the engagement, the Princess of Wales said she believed the late Queen was looking down on them when five rainbows appeared in the sky over Balmoral.
Kate, 40, who opted to wear her recycled £2,150 Dolce & Gabbana collarless long coat in black, made the comment as she and William thanked people who had worked to stage Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in Windsor.
It came as the Royals remarked at seeing the colourful weather phenomenon as they spent time in Scotland.
The Prince of Wales, 40, said the unusual sight had left them surprised, adding ‘In Scotland, how many rainbows turned up? You hardly ever see rainbows up there, but there were five.’ Kate smiled as she replied: ‘Her Majesty was looking down on us.’
Kate, Princess of Wales, and Prince William attended Windsor Guildhall, three days after the funeral of Her late Majesty the Queen, to speak with staff and volunteers who helped organise and run the committal service at St George’s Chapel in Winsdor on Monday
In the video clip, the couple appeared in good spirits and could be seen chatting with volunteers and staff members at Windsor
And during the engagement, which was the first in person engagement for the Prince and Princess of Wales since the state funeral, William said he found himself ‘choked up’ when he saw Paddington Bear tributes to his grandmother, but had found comfort in the public outpouring of support for the Royal Family.
The stunning skies seemed to say a last goodbye to the Monarch, on Sunday, who has been a central figurehead of the country for over 70 years, and Britain’s longest reigning monarch.
Elizabeth II was synonymous with Windsor Castle, where rainbows also appeared, and where she spent much of her time especially after the death of her beloved husband, Prince Philip, in April last year.
And the rainbows were seen also overhead the Queue, which saw around 250,000 mourners lining up throughout the night to see the Queen lying in state.
Her Majesty also gave her name to the tower which holds the bell of Big Ben, which was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark her Diamond Jubilee, and also saw the stunning phenomenon.
It comes as rainbows were also spotted outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle on the day of Her Majesty’s death, on Thursday, September 8.
Nature’s own memorial: A rainbow appeared yesterday over Westminster Abbey and Parliament while Londoners revel at a stunning red sky over Big Ben
A rainbow also appeared when people gathered outside Buckingham Palace on the day the Queen died, aged 96, in Balmoral on Thursday, September 8
The Union flag is pictured being lowered on Windsor Castle as a rainbow covers the sky on September 08, when the Queen died
The Princess of Wales remained elegant and composed as she met with staff and volunteers and spoke to them about how they managed to organise a seamless, poignant ceremony to say farewell to Her late Majesty
Kate appeared to duck out of the way as Prince William shook hands with a volunteer from St John’s Ambulance, who were on standby throughout the day to ensure the crowds of mourners were safe
It came as the Royal couple told volunteers and operational staff who helped to organise the Queen’s Committal Service that moments of sadness still caught him out.
The Royal Family were not expected to carry out any official engagements during their mourning period, after more than a week of being under the world’s gaze while performing ceremonial duties following the Queen’s death.
Yet royal duties recommenced yesterday for William, with the father-of-three making his first speech since his grandmother passed away with a pre-recorded address to the Earthshot Prize summit in New York. The prince was due to attend but cancelled his trip following the Queen’s death.
Buckingham Palace has said a small number of engagements will be undertaken during royal mourning to thank those involved in the delivery of HM Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral and associated ceremonial events, and to recognise the service to King and country of those on deployment overseas.
William also said: ‘It is the things you don’t expect that get to you,’ he said, adding that he got ‘choked up’ over the Paddington tributes. He went on: ‘It is always very comforting that so many people care. It makes it a lot better.
‘There are certain moments that catch you out. You are prepared for all but certain moments catch you out.’
They also thanked the group for supporting the large crowds that gathered in Windsor to commemorate the Queen and watch the procession of her coffin up the Long Walk to the castle before the service.
The Prince and Princess of Wales met with staff, who were also dressed in black to pay their respects to Her late Majesty during the period of mourning
A rainbow is seen in a semi circle over Westminster Hall on Sunday before the Queen’s funeral
The Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured) have met with volunteers and operational staff to thank them for their work on the Queen ‘s committal service at Windsor Castle
The Royal Family were not expected to carry out any official engagements during their mourning period, after more than a week of being under the world’s gaze while performing ceremonial duties following the Queen’s death.
But yesterday William made his first speech since his grandmother passed away with a pre-recorded address to the Earthshot Prize summit.
Buckingham Palace say a small number of engagements will be undertaken during royal mourning to thank those involved in the delivery of HM Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral.
Princess Anne, 72, has also stepped out at Portsmouth Naval Base, where she shook hands with Royal Navy personnel who took part in the procession.
It was her first engagement since attending her mother’s funeral on Monday.
Speaking to staff, the prince asked whether the Queen passing away at Balmoral ‘made it complicated’. He added: ‘I think I heard it was the ”least planned for plan”. It was seamless, you could feel it.’
William and Kate spoke of the extraordinary public response to the Queen’s death as they met with volunteers and workers who helped in Windsor on the day of the State funeral.
It was the couple’s first official engagement since the funeral on Monday, as several senior royals returned to their duties, while continuing to mourn for the Queen.
The prince and princess arrived dressed all in black as they continue to observe the royal mourning period which lasts until Monday
A rainbow is seen over the Big Ben on the eve of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century
The pair (pictured) have passed on their appreciation to volunteers and staff who worked on the service at St George’s Chapel on Monday afternoon
Kate waved as she left the meeting in which she and the Prince of Wales said a heartfelt thanks to the staff and volunteers in Windsor, in their first public engagement since the Queen’s funeral
A rainbow forms as people queue to pay their respects to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth following her death, in London
Windsor Guildhall, pictured, where Kate and William are speaking to volunteers and operational staff to thank them for their work on the Queen’s committal service at Windsor Castle
Her late Majesty’s only daughter, 72, was seen at Portsmouth Naval Base, where she shook hands with Royal Navy personnel who took part in the procession
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince George of Wales pictured arriving at Westminster Abbey
Britain’s William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the day of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey
(Top to bottom) The Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Sussex and Duchess of Sussex at the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle
SEPTEMBER 8 — The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle
Kate spoke about seeing all the infrastructure like barriers going up along the roads ‘coming back and forwards from the school run’.
The group spoke about the number of people in the crowds, with one of the logistics staff saying it was about 110,000.
William said: ‘We did not see the whole town come to a standstill. That’s what we were worried about, that it would disrupt everyone’s lives.’
Later, when one of the staff talked about how difficult the last few days must have been, he said: ‘If you flip it on its head, it is always very comforting that so many people care. It makes it a lot better. There are certain moments that catch you out. You are prepared for all but certain moments catch you out.’
The engagement is one of their first since William became the heir apparent and became known as the Prince of Wales, after the death of his grandmother and the accession of his father, Charles, to become the King.
William also inherited the title Duke of Cornwall and is now the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge. Kate is now known as the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ outing comes after a royal book claimed William and wife Kate felt ‘relief’ when Prince Harry (pictured here with Prince William during a special vigil for the Queen) and Meghan Markle announced their decision to move to the US, because they felt that the ‘drama was gone’
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Catherine, Princess of Wales stand at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lays on the catafalque at Westminster Hall on September 14
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ outing comes after a royal book claimed William and wife Kate felt ‘relief’ when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to move to the US, because they felt that the ‘drama was gone’.
In a book soon to be published about The Firm, The New Royals, author and journalist Katie Nicholl addressed the deepening division between the Sussexes and other members of the Royal Family after Harry and Meghan decided to step down as senior royals and begin a new life in the US in 2020.
William is reported to have held a summit of aides – which came to be known as the ‘Anmer Summit’ after the couple’s Norfolk home – to discuss the Royal Family’s future in the wake of Harry’s move to the States.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry apparently suggested bringing in a mediator to solve his rift with the rest of the Royal Family, causing Camilla to ‘splutter over her tea’.
The book quotes an unnamed family friend who told the author the Duke of Sussex met with his father in spring this year and wanted ‘to clear the air’ – but the awkward meeting left relations strained.
After the Duke and Duchess did not attend the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service at Westminster Abbey in March amid a reported dispute over their UK security arrangements, Nicholl wrote that a glimmer of hope was on the horizon when the couple stopped off in the UK before a visit to The Hague for an Invictus Games event a few weeks later.
The Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday
In an extract of the book published in Vanity Fair, Nicholl said King Charles, who was then Prince of Wales, insisted on a meeting with Harry over tea before he had an audience with the Queen.
‘The meeting with Charles and Camilla was more awkward than their cordial tea with the queen,’ Nicholl wrote, adding that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were late to the meeting which left Charles with just 15 minutes to catch up with his youngest son and daughter-in-law before he had to attend the Royal Maundy Service at Windsor Castle where he stood in for the Queen.
The family friend said: ‘[Harry] actually suggested that they use a mediator to try and sort things out, which had Charles somewhat bemused and Camilla spluttering into her tea.’
They added the Queen Consort told the Duke his suggestion was ‘ridiculous’ and that they would resolve their differences within the family.
Despite the rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, there have been glimpses of a potential reconciliation following the Queen’s death.
It had originally been reported that Harry and Meghan were not planning on meeting with William and Kate during their stay in the UK.
But on the Saturday after the monarch passed away, the Prince and Princess of Wales made their first public appearance outside the Windsor Estate to read tributes that had been left to Her late Majesty and greet mourners.
In an unexpected appearance, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the couple as the ‘Fab Four’ were reunited in their grief.
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