Catherine Steps In as King Charles Faces Cold Shoulder from His Son
Prince William and Catherine joined King Charles and the royal family on Tuesday at Westminster Cathedral to say a final farewell to Katharine, Duchess of Kent. After the Catholic mass, the royals gathered on the cathedral steps as her coffin was placed into a hearse for the journey to Windsor.
The family looked visibly moved as they mourned, but the tensions within the monarchy were also on display. As Charles chatted with the cardinal, William and Catherine stood beside him. When the King turned to depart, William diverted his attention back to the cardinal, seemingly avoiding a goodbye.
At that point, Catherine stepped forward to bridge the silence. She kissed Charles on both cheeks, offered a quick curtsy, and rested a hand gently on his shoulder. The warm gesture highlighted her close bond with the King, while William stayed focused on other conversations.
The Princess of Wales kisses and curtsies to the King as they depart Westminster Cathedral. pic.twitter.com/rlYASZvVv7
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) September 16, 2025
This small but telling moment follows reports of a growing rift between Charles and his heir. Journalist Tina Brown recently claimed that Charles is “less irritated” with Harry than with William, with disagreements about the monarchy’s future at the heart of the strain. William is said to view his father as “weak” for reconciling with Harry, while Charles has grown frustrated with his son’s approach to royal duties.
The numbers tell part of the story: in the past year, Charles managed 175 public engagements despite his cancer treatment, while William has taken five family holidays in just seven months.
