A stiff upper lip can't hide everything.
Some viewers believe they know exactly how Kate Middleton feels about Queen Elizabeth
II's death, and what she's said seems to confirm it.
There's no doubt that Catherine, Princess of Wales, shared a close relationship with
the late Queen Elizabeth.
It's believed the monarch took granddaughter-in-law Kate Middleton under her wing when she joined
the royal family.
A source told Us Weekly in 2019,
"Kate and the Queen have always had a special bond, but they developed a deeper friendship
after she and William moved from Anmer Hall, Norfolk, to Kensington Palace, which is within
walking distance of Buckingham Palace."
The source added that the queen and Kate would have afternoon teas together.
They would also have, as they put it, "more formal meetings, where the queen will give
intense one-on-one training about taking on the crown."
"She wants to be more connected, I think.
She doesn't want to be aloof."
It's no surprise, then, that Kate has been front and center to pay tribute to the monarch
since the queen's death on September 8, 2022.
She joined her husband, Prince William, and the rest of the family at a September 14 ceremony
at Westminster Hall that served as the commencement of the queen lying in state before her funeral
on September 19.
The Princess of Wales was visibly emotional as she paid tribute to the queen.
Observers on social media noted the sadness written all over her face during the ceremony
and after, when she was driven behind the queen's coffin.
One account tweeted,
"I am sure Princess Catherine was extremely close to HM Queen Elizabeth II.
It appears she has been crying quite a bit."
Another commented,
"Catherine looks exhausted and devastated."
Just like the rest of the royal family, Kate dressed completely in black for the ceremony,
but paid a special tribute to the late monarch in her own sentimental way.
The Court Jeweller confirmed she wore a brooch that had been gifted to her by her grandmother
and earrings that belonged to the late Princess Diana.
The newly appointed Prince and Princess of Wales have made a handful of public appearances
since Queen Elizabeth II's death, including walking out to view memorials at Windsor Castle
on September 10 with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex.
Kate Middleton reportedly spoke at length to several members of the public who had visited
the grounds to pay their respects.
One visitor told BBC News that Kate said to her,
"It's just not the same at the castle without the queen."
At that same outing, Kate revealed the touching thing her son, Prince Louis of Wales, told
her that brought her some comfort.
She reportedly said,
"My little Louis is just so sweet.
He was like, 'Mummy, don't worry.
She's now with great-grandpa.'"
The Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English also tweeted that the popular princess
has been spotted getting teary while speaking to well-wishers.
We were just quite surprised that William and Kate was actually here today.
We didn't actually know."
Even in her own grief, Kate Middleton has still been finding ways to make others smile
and cry tears of joy at such a sad time in the U.K. Kate and William interacted with
school children when they went to view the many floral tributes left for Queen Elizabeth
II at her Sandringham estate on September 15.
Kate seemed to make one young girl's day by asking her to walk with her to place flowers
and a plush corgi amongst the sea of tributes.
According to GB News, the adorable interaction left the youngster in tears.
But while Kate has joined her famous family members to take in the vast amounts of tributes
laid down for the queen, she has a heartbreaking reason for not looking at every single one.
One royal fan spoke to Kate outside of Sandringham, explaining her interaction to Birmingham Live.
The fan said,
"She said she couldn't believe how many cards and flowers there were.
But she also said: 'I can't read them all or I would cry.'"
Kate also shared how her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis,
have been coping with the loss of their great-grandmother, explaining that they were doing okay and had
been taken care of at school.