Kate and William raising Charlotte 'to be George's supporter' says royal expert

Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince George of Wales travel by car from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch after the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (Photo by Sebastien Bozon - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince George of Wales travel by car from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch after the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. (Getty Images)

The relationship between Princess Charlotte and her elder brother Prince George has been compared to that of King Charles III and his sister Anne, Princess Royal.

Royal expert Victoria Arbiter - the daughter of the Queen's former spokesperson Dickie Arbiter - praised the Prince and Princess of Wales for how they're bringing up Charlotte.

"I so admire the Waleses raising Charlotte to be George's supporter," she wrote on Twitter.

Charlotte and George were front and centre at the Queen's funeral yesterday, walking with their parents in the procession behind the late monarch's coffin once it was inside Westminster Abbey.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19:  Britain's Prince George, Princess Charlotte watch as the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II moves off in the state hearse from Wellington Arch from Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. The Queen will be laid to rest at St George's Chapel, Windsor beside her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and her parents King George VI and The Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Bryn Colton/Getty Images)
Prince George and Princess Charlotte watch as the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II moves off in the state hearse from Wellington Arch. (Getty Images)

The funeral gave the public the opportunity to see the close relationship between the siblings, something that has previously only been seen at times of celebration.

Arbiter added that Charlotte's visible support of George was reminiscent of the "way the Princess Royal has always supported her elder brother" King Charles.

During the royal mourning period, Anne has received much praise for the dedication she showed to her late mother, the Queen and the Royal Family.

Anne was at Balmoral with her mother in the Queen's last hours and travelled with the Queen's coffin on every step of its final journey back from Scotland. She said "I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother's life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys."

Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, (C) and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence (L) are greeted by Station Commander Group Captain McPhaden (R) having disembarked from the C-17 carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Air Force Northolt airbase on September 13, 2022, before it is taken to Buckingham Palace, to rest in the Bow Room. - Mourners in Edinburgh filed past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II through the night, before the monarch's coffin returns to London to Lie in State ahead of her funeral on September 19. (Photo by Andrew Matthews / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW MATTHEWS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence are greeted at the Royal Air Force Northolt. (Getty Images)

She added a tribute to her brother, saying: "I am so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of monarch."

Anne also made history during the mourning period by being the first woman to take part in the Vigil of the Princes, whilst the Queen was lying-in-state. While Charles had to throw himself immediately into his new role of monarch, Anne supported him by taking a central role in the mourning rituals and ceremonies.

Charles and Anne are known to get along well. Last year, a clip of the then Prince of Wales sneaking up on Anne and making her laugh circulated. The easiness and affection between them was clear to viewers.

Queen Elizabeth II with her children Charles and Anne at Balmoral, 1952. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II with her children Charles and Anne at Balmoral, 1952. (Getty Images)

Charles is two years older than Princess Anne, the same age gap that separates George and Charlotte.

The final balcony appearance during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations was another recent example of Charlotte supporting her older brother. She was captured on camera seemingly reminding him to keep his arms down while they were and not to lean on the balcony edge.

Similarly at the Queen's funeral Charlotte was seen reminding her brother George beforehand to bow when the coffin was to go past them. As it happened, George could be seen glancing towards his sister who had sunk into a curtsey and followed her lead.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: (L-R) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
(L-R) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. (Getty Images)

After the Committal Service at King George VI's chapel, a private burial took place and the Queen was laid to rest.