Prince George comforted by Sophie of Wessex at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral
Prince George was comforted by his great-aunt Sophie, Countess of Wessex, during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in London on Monday.
As the 9-year-old left Westminster Abbey alongside his sister, Princess Charlotte, and their mother, Kate Middleton, Sophie rested an arm over the young prince’s shoulder.
Prince Edward’s wife, 57, wore a black dress and matching fascinator for the touching moment, while her great-nephew sported a navy blue suit and a black tie.
George and Charlotte, 7, arrived at the church with Middleton, 40, and Queen Consort Camilla.
Their dad, Prince William, came separately as he joined King Charles III, Prince Harry and more family members in a procession from Westminster Hall behind Her Majesty’s casket.
The little ones took their own places behind the coffin once the procession made its way inside the church, walking in front of Harry, 38, and Meghan Markle.
Prince Louis, who made headlines in June for his Platinum Jubilee antics, stayed at home due to his young age.
While Middleton told onlookers last week that the 4-year-old is struggling to comprehend the sovereign’s passing and “asking questions,” his older brother has a better understanding of the tragedy.
When George turned 7, the heir had learned that he will one day become king, according to royal author Robert Lacey.
“In the summer of 2020 it is thought that his parents went into more detail about what the little prince’s life of future royal ‘service and duty’ would particularly involve,” he wrote in “Battle of Brothers” in June 2021.
Lacey noted that the Prince of Wales, 40, was intentional about telling George in a “controlled” way due to the “haphazard fashion in which the whole business of his [own] royal destiny had buzzed around his head from the start.”
William is now next in line to the throne as Charles, 73, assumed Elizabeth’s role after her death at the age of 96 on Sept. 8, followed by George.
Charlotte and Louis come next. As for Harry, the former military pilot’s place is behind theirs despite him and Meghan Markle quitting their royal roles in 2020.
The couple’s children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, are sixth and seventh in line, respectively.
Follow Page Six’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral:
- Harry and Meghan snubbed with seating arrangement at Queen’s funeral
- King Charles leaves touching note on Queen’s casket
- William and Harry ‘trying their best’ to get along while mourning Queen
- Kate Middleton: Prince Louis, 4, is struggling to understand Queen’s death
