In the world of royalty, where tradition and protocol often dictate the minutiae of public appearances, it's not every day that we witness a break from the established order.

Yet, in a heartfelt display that underscores the deep personal connections within the British royal family, King Charles III recently made an emotional departure from the norm with a simple yet profound five-word message to his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton.


This touching directive, which came during the pomp and pageantry of Trooping the Colour, was more than just a rearrangement of the usual lineup on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

It was a public affirmation of the close bond that has been forged between the King and the Princess, particularly poignant as they both navigate personal health challenges.


The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. Traditionally, the balcony arrangement follows a strict order that reflects the line of succession and royal hierarchy.

Last year, for instance, King Charles stood beside his son, Prince William.

However, this year's change, placing Kate at his side, was a clear gesture of respect and support for the Princess, who had chosen this very occasion to step back into the public eye after her own health battle.


Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, shared, ‘It is changing [the] protocol to show the King and Kate united with each other and going through similar battles, so I would say this is down to the King’s preference. The balcony [line-up] is orchestrated, so I have a feeling the King said to Kate, “You stand next to me.”’

The timing of their respective illnesses, with both receiving treatment at the London Clinic and their cancer diagnoses announced just a month apart, has only served to strengthen their bond.

Following Princess Catherine's brave public video message revealing her diagnosis, King Charles released a statement expressing he was ‘so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did’.

The statement also noted that the King was in ‘the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law’ and that both he and Queen Camilla ‘continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time’.

It was a notable public display of their private affection, with royal expert Hugo Vickers commenting that he wouldn't be surprised if there hadn’t been ‘a lot of plodding along the hospital corridor to see each other’.


Princess Catherine's close relationship with King Charles has long been acknowledged within the royal family, with her even referring to him as ‘Grandpa’.

The depth of their bond stems from Charles’s deliberate effort to welcome his son’s girlfriend into the family during the early days of William and Kate’s relationship.

The princess has described her father-in-law as ‘very, very welcoming, very friendly’. In 2004, she attended King Charles' 56th birthday party at Highgrove and was also invited on several family ski trips to Klosters, where she and Prince William were first seen together.

By 2008, her inclusion in another ski trip confirmed that she was fully integrated into the family after their brief separation.


According to Royal expert and author Duncan Larcombe, ‘Charles and Camilla adore Kate, and I think they have from the very beginning. One of the very early signs of that was the fact that William got permission for Kate to come on Charles’ ski trip with the family in 2004 and 2005. Charles wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t approve of her then.’

‘That was the start of this bond between Charles and Kate. He’ll be absolutely over the moon with how she’s grown into the role, how she’s made it her own and how the public has warmed to her.’

In her book Kate: The Future Queen, royal author and biographer Katie Nicholl wrote, ‘William’s father was very fond of Kate and already saw her as a future daughter-in-law.’

Charles supported this in practical ways as well, providing Kate with access to his lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, during her struggles with paparazzi in London.

He also offered Highgrove as a private retreat for the young couple, allowing them to spend time together away from public scrutiny, possibly recalling the intense media attention faced by the late Princess Diana during the early part of her relationship with Charles.

In Katie’s book, a senior member of Charles’ household is quoted as saying, ‘Charles was like any other father: he was very kind and hospitable towards Kate from the beginning. He was delighted William had found such a lovely girlfriend, and she was made to feel at home.’


Unlike Princess Diana, the young Kate quickly embraced country activities such as deer stalking and shooting.

In 2007, Kate and Charles were photographed, without William, seemingly engaged in a lesson on the sport.

So, it was hardly surprising when King Charles remarked at Prince William and Princess Catherine’s wedding that the royal family was ‘lucky to have her’.

When his son was named Prince of Wales in September 2022, his father notably mentioned the princess in his speech, stating, ‘With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.’


Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, author of A Royal Life, a biography of HRH The Duke of Kent, shared, ‘Charles has always appeared to be very, very fond of Kate—and he should be, as they are very lucky to have her. Theirs is a good relationship.’

The camera reveals the truth, and many photos of Kate and her father-in-law highlight their close bond.

During Charles’ coronation, Kate was captured kissing him on the cheek, and after the funeral of his father, Prince Philip, she was seen putting her arm around his shoulders outside St George’s Chapel.

King Charles has also been eager to ensure his ‘beloved’ daughter-in-law remains close to the other important women in his life, particularly Queen Camilla.

They share a unique connection, both being married to a monarch or a future monarch, which has fostered a strong bond between them.


Before William and Kate’s wedding, Camilla gave Kate a lovely gold bracelet featuring two ‘Cs’ on a charm.

As the wedding at Westminster Abbey approached, the two were seen having lunch together with Pippa Middleton and Camilla’s daughter, Laura Lopes.

The group was overheard talking about the final wedding preparations, with Camilla’s granddaughter, Eliza, serving as a flower girl.

More recently, Kate was privileged to take photographs of Camilla to celebrate her 75th birthday.


In public, Camilla has referred to Kate as ‘a lovely girl’, while royal expert Penny Junor has noted, ‘They are two very normal people. Camilla is so easy to get on with, so un-stuck-up, and Kate is young and friendly.’

It’s no surprise that the King has made such public and sincere expressions of support for his daughter-in-law.

He understands that the future of the monarchy partly depends on her. Her presence beside him on the Buckingham Palace balcony demonstrates his commitment to supporting her through the challenges she has faced and continues to face this year.


King Charles III’s recent departure from royal protocol by publicly showing support for his daughter-in-law underscores his willingness to break tradition when it comes to family matters.

This shift in approach has sparked discussions about how the King is handling other personal and health-related updates.

As the focus turns to the potential for forthcoming announcements regarding his own health, palace insiders are weighing in on what might come next for the monarch.
We invite our readers to share their thoughts on this touching moment. Have you ever experienced a time when breaking with tradition led to a stronger bond within your family or community? Let us know in the comments below!