Princess Kate Shares a “Sisterly Bond” With This Surprising Royal

The older sister she never had.

Catherine, Princess of Wales has always been a big sister figure. She was one year old when her little sister, Pippa Middleton, came along, and five when her baby brother, James Middleton, was born. Their relationship with one another only seems to have strengthened as they've entered the public eye, with the Middleton bond being adored by onlookers worldwide. While it appears that Kate takes pride in being the protective and playful older sibling, she found an older sister figure in Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh upon entering the royal fold.

Just like Kate, who tied the knot with Prince William in 2011, Sophie married into the royal family through her union to Prince Edward in 1999. Over the years, the two women have developed a fondness for one another. Their sweet friendship was on full display earlier this month at Remembrance Sunday.

After observing the service at The Cenotaph war memorial, Sophie put a guiding hand on Kate's back as they left the balcony and walked into the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The gesture served as a kind, unspoken show of support for Kate during her first major public appearance since completing her preventative chemotherapy treatment.

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told Hello! the pair "have a sisterly bond." She added that "Sophie is like the older sister Kate never had." And, not only do they care for one another, but they share commonalities.

“They are both protective of their children. Sophie has had a young family, so she knows what it’s like trying to protect them while being in the royal world," Seward said, adding that the two women are "incredibly kind girls."

She continued, saying, “[Sophie] has been there in the background [for Kate] as part of a private support network...[They] have a huge amount in common, having probably formed a bond very much at the beginning. Sophie was there for Kate in an unofficial capacity because she had the same experience of being a commoner marrying into the royal family. They both had really long romances with their husbands-to-be, and Sophie lived at [Buckingham] Palace. By the time they got married, they had more knowledge than the royal brides before them about what they were getting into.”

Sophie and Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, share a daughter, Lady Louise, 21, and a son, James, Earl of Wessex, 16. Meanwhile, Kate and William share three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

The royal expert added that Sophie and Kate's kindheartedness might even be modernizing the monarchy.

“The royals have always shown a human side, but there is more warmth now,” Seward explained. “That gesture of Sophie putting her arm around Kate is something you wouldn’t have seen a few years ago.”

Royal biographer Robert Jobson shared the sentiment, telling the publication, “That moment said a lot. The royal family are all looking after Kate, and there is a protective bubble around her.”