Connect with us

Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited an army training centre in Surrey on Friday to meet troops who are taking part in funeral arrangements ahead of the Queen’s burial on Monday, September 19.

Photos: GETTY

Royal Family News

Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited an army training centre in Surrey on Friday to meet troops who are taking part in funeral arrangements ahead of the Queen’s burial on Monday, September 19.

The public has been paying their respects to the late monarch, whose body is currently resting at Westminster Hall.

More than a thousand sailors and Royal Marines will participate in the funeral procession, making the couple's visit to the training centre all the more poignant.

Troops from all over the world have flown to the UK to prepare for the historic event.

This is part of a series of public appearances by and Catherine as they support his father King Charles III in his new role as Sovereign.

The couple was greeted with a performance of the ceremonial Maori dance by 25 members of the New Zealand Defence Force, after which William appeared to nod in acknowledgement.

Earlier on the visit, they discussed how strange it has been going from the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to her funeral in a matter of months.

Trending:

William, talking with troops from Australia, was heard saying the difference between the celebrations in June and the funeral preparations shows the highs and lows of it all.

Meanwhile, Catherine, who was speaking with Canadian military personnel, said that going from the Jubilee to this in a few months is very strange.

She was also heard discussing lack of sleep with the troops.

During the visit, William was seen frequently placing his hand on his wife, seemingly trying to comfort Catherine, who accompanied him as well as the entire Royal family during more than a week of mourning for the Queen.

The Prince and Princess also spent about 45 minutes speaking with mourners gathered outside the Norwich gates.

Speaking in Norwich, William said walking behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday brought back a few memories of 's funeral.

Speaking to one woman, he said, “I mean the walk yesterday was challenging, it brought back a few memories.”

The Prince also spoke to receptionist Jane Wells, from Long Sutton in Lincolnshire, who said she had told the Prince how proud his mother would have been of him.

She told the BBC, “He said how hard it was yesterday because it brought back memories of his mother's funeral.”

Caroline Barwick Walters, of Neath in Wales, added she told William, “Thank you for sharing your grief with the nation,” and that he replied, “She was everybody's grandmother.”

Bex Neve, 44, from the County of Norfolk, waited over two hours to see the couple and shared a few words with them.

She told People magazine, “William said he thinks Monday will be hard.

Catherine said it's been overwhelming and she and William are very grateful for everyone being here.

She was emotional.

They seemed like they were here to soak up all the love.”

As with every public outing since the Queen died, and Catherine were dressed in black, with William wearing a suit paired with a white shirt, and Catherine looking as demure as ever in a black button-up military-style jacket and skirt, which she paired with a black hat.

The Princess paid a subtle tribute to the late Queen with her jewellery choices.

The mother-of-three wore a pair of modest pearl and diamond earrings, the same pair she wore for a walkabout in Sandringham on Thursday.

The earrings appear to be the same ones the Queen wore for her Silver Jubilee celebrations back in 1977.

Catherine has worn these earrings believed to be from the Queen's jewellery box on several occasions in past.

For a service at Westminster Hall on Wednesday to mark the Queen's lying instate, Catherine wore a pearl and diamond leaf brooch that once belonged to the monarch.

Their outing came after they took part in a similarly emotional one on Thursday, as they headed to the Queen's Sandringham home to view tributes that had been left for her.

While there, William spoke to a member of the public about walking behind the monarch's coffin on Wednesday as it was moved to Westminster Hall.

He compared the emotions of the day to when he had to walk behind his mother 's coffin at her funeral in 1997.

The Prince of Wales will take part in another emotional event on Saturday, as he and the Queen's other grandchildren mount a vigil at her coffin.

William will stand at the head of the coffin and will be joined by brother and cousins, , , Sara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James Viscount Severn.

The Royal family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from the public during this difficult time.

Top stories:

More in Royal Family News

To Top