Fans Praise Kate Middleton for Showing She’s Ready for Future Following Queen Elizabeth’s Injury
One key figure was missing during the 2021 Remembrance Day service in the U.K. as it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II would miss the event due to an injury she sustained. This marked only the seventh time the monarch had ever missed the event during her 69-year reign. She was previously absent from the service four times when she was on tour abroad and twice when she was pregnant.
In the royal family matriarch‘s absence, all eyes were on the other senior royals including Kate Middleton who fans hailed on social media following her appearance. Here’s more on the queen’s injury and what fans are saying about the Duchess of Cambridge.
Who Kate stood alongside and which royal replaced Queen Elizabeth
The Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph War Memorial on Nov. 14, 2021, would have been Queen Elizabeth’s first public engagement since her hospital stay on Oct. 20-21. Instead, she had to miss it after spraining her back.
In a statement the palace said: “Her Majesty is disappointed that she will miss the service.” Reuters reported that a Buckingham Palace source said the sprain was not at all related to the queen’s recent hospital visit, calling it an “incredibly unfortunate coincidence.”
Taking the queen’s place on the balcony above the Cenotaph was her cousin, the Duke of Kent, who was accompanied by another one of the monarch’s cousins, Princess Alexandra. On a neighboring balcony stood Kate next to Camilla Parker Bowles and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Royal fans applauded the duchess after her appearance
The Express reported that when the pictures were released of Kate standing alongside Camilla and Sophie, many took the opportunity to praise the Duchess of Cambridge via social media.
“Kate will be a great queen,” one person tweeted.
“Beautifully turned out, impeccable & respectful. Kate is the diamond in the crown,” another wrote.
“We have a royal family to be proud of which has definitely been made better by the addition of the Duchess of Cambridge,” said a third person.
A fourth person tweeted: “The future of the monarchy, Charles will reign with William at his side. Catherine is a real asset to the royal family. All of them looked teary today.”
“Just stunning — our future queen and what a consort she will make to William,” another posted.
Kate may have paid tribute to 2 royals
Some thought that Kate may have been paying tribute to not one but two royals with her Remembrance Day look.
The Daily Mail noted that the mother of three wore a collared jacket accessorized with Princess Diana’s Collingwood earrings, and a poppy pin featuring three red flowers. The duchess also donned a £275 ($369 USD) black wide-brimmed Tiffany hat, which is similar to one her late mother-in-law wore during the service in 1992.
Elizabeth Holmes, who authored the book HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, opined that the Duchess of Cambridge may have been paying tribute to not only Diana but also her grandmother-in-law with her hat choice. Holmes made the case by pointing out that wide-brimmed hats are a staple of Queen Elizabeth’s wardrobe.
