Princess charlotte sophie duchess of edinburgh display close bond at Ve Day

While her brothers, Princes George and Louis stole the show at the VE Day celebrations that took place in London overnight Australian-time, Princess Charlotte’s close bond with her royal aunt melted the hearts of royal fans.

Princess Charlotte, who turned 10 on May 2, took centre stage alongside her family for VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which this year held special significance for marking 80 years.

But while Louis’ actions during the military parade and George’s attendance at his first morning tea with WWII veterans put them in the spotlight this year, it was Charlotte’s clearly close bond with her great aunt, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, that had royal watchers talking.

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After watching the military procession from a specially built dais outside Buckingham Palace, the royal family made their way inside for an appearance on the palace’s balcony to watch the traditional flypast.

It was while inside the palace gates that the Duchess was seen in conversation with a smiling Charlotte, as they walked side by side.

Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day anniversary

It is not the first time royal watchers have noticed that Sophie, the wife of the late Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son, Prince Edward, seems to have a special bond with Prince William, his wife and young family.

They are often photographed in conversation at royal events, with Sophie seen chatting with the Princess of Wales and her children.

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She was also seen placing a protective hand on Catherine’s shoulder when she made one of her first public appearances after completing cancer treatment, on Remembrance Sunday last November.

The Duchess of Edinburgh is part of the slim-downed monarchy and took her position on the Buckingham Palace balcony on VE Day beside her husband, Princess Anne and Sir Tim Lawrence, King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales and his family.

She is also thought to be filling a much-needed hole in the Wales family’s lives.

With their uncle, Prince Harry, now living full-time in the US with his American wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, and their rift with the royal family widening, Sophie is a much-needed aunt figure for the Wales children.

A rift between the Princess of Wales and Meghan on the eve of her May 2018 wedding to Harry over an ill-fitting flower girl dress for Charlotte was reportedly one of the incidents that led to the deep divide between Prince William and his brother.

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At the time, Charlotte had just turned three and with the relationship between the brothers going downhill from there, it is unlikely that Charlotte spent much time with her aunt Meghan after that.

So it is only fitting that Sophie has taken a closer interest in the lives of Princess Charlotte and her two brothers as they inch closer to playing an even bigger role in the royal family.

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