Princess Kate Shows Compassion During Lunch at Buckingham Palace

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, was seen chatting with dignitaries from the Commonwealth at a special lunch held at Buckingham Palace.

The event was attended by the new King, Queen Consort, Prince of Wales, Earl of Wessex, and Princess Royal.

The lunch was held as a precursor to tomorrow's reception, which will see 500 world leaders, presidents, and royals gather at the palace in honor of the Queen ahead of her historic state funeral on Monday.

Kate, who wore a black ankle-length dress and had her hair down, was photographed smiling at Camilla, who was holding a drink with a slice of lemon in it.

At one point, the Princess placed her hand on the arm of St Lucia Governor-General Cyril Errol Melchiodys Charles as they spoke.

The governors-general of various countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu were present at the lunch.

Edward and the Countess of Wessex Sophie were greeted with cheers from the waiting crowds as they left the event.

The Queen's youngest son asked mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers.

Edward said the Queen would appreciate the number of people paying their respects and added, “I know that my mother would really appreciate this fantastic support.”

Meanwhile, his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy, before she stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign.

Sophie and the Earl of Wessex also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of Green Park.

This came after Prince Charles and his son William delighted hundreds of stunned mourners waiting to see the Queen lying in state on a surprise walkabout today, after they thanked emergency service staff for their work during the mourning period ahead of the state funeral on Monday.

Britain's new monarch and the Prince of Wales greeted tired royal fans who are queuing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin at the Palace of Westminster.

Hundreds of people in line along the South Bank near Lambeth, South London cheered and applauded as Charles and William emerged, with many shouting hip hip hooray and God save the King as the royals passed by.

Many took photographs and pressed against the metal barriers, eager to exchange a word with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest.

One lady offered Charles condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted, “I can't believe this,” while a third presented the two royals with a Paddington bear toy, in reference to the Queen's platinum jubilee sketch with the beloved children's character.

As the Prince of Wales shook the hands of mourners, he said, “It means an awful lot you're here.

She, the Queen, would never believe this.

You'll make some friends for life, those who have met in the crowd.”

William revealed that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte, and Louis were okay and all united in grief.

He also said that he became emotional seeing his grandmother's corgis, adding, “They are being looked after, they have gone to a very good home.

Looked after.”