Princess Kate has made a subtle yet defiant move today amidst the ongoing Windsor family feud, with a body language expert highlighting the future queen's role in this "game of royal chess".
Kate, 43, joined Prince William today for an engagement in Sunningdale to honour the life of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away three years ago today (September 9).
Their visit to the National Federation of Women's Institutes (WI) coincidentally aligns with the explosive visit of Prince Harry, who is believed to still be largely estranged from his elder brother.
The Duke of Sussex arrived on British soil this morning, ahead of the annual WellChild Awards, and immediately went to St. George's Chapel to pay respects at his late grandmother's graveside.
It's believed that Kate's last-minute decision to accompany William at today's event could be a tactical move on her part, with Judi James suggesting that the mother of three might be trying to "avoid being check-mated by the rogue royal", reports the Mirror.
Speaking to the Mirror, Judi elaborated: "We've already seen Harry on a ring doorbell looking like a fan of the impromptu drop-in, and William's outing to Sunningdale might have left one (future) queen alone and socially vulnerable if a request for afternoon tea was made.
"Kate and Harry used to be so close, and whereas a 'Sorry I'm up in Sunningdale' response might be neutral and polite enough, being at home, but turning him down could make Kate risk being made to look like the bad guy when Harry reported back to the US.
"There's a huge difference between being unavailable and appearing to actively shun someone, and the movements of the royals today suggest they are very mindful of the dangers of the 'Harry effect' on their own image and popularity."
Judi continued with her analysis: "Harry has many excuses to play the victim here if he so chooses, especially if it is made to look as though his close family members turned their backs on him while he was busy supporting his charities.
"There have already been headlines implying he would be keen for some sort of reunion, and if doors were being literally shut in his face, it could risk making the Firm look cruel and cold in the eyes of the rest of the world if the story was spun that way.
"So who can blame Kate if she preferred to keep out of the way? William's emotions will clearly be complex as he mourns two people he loved in his life: his grandmother on the anniversary of her death and his brother, who also used to be his closest pal.
"Loyalty to his grandmother might well help to cancel out some of the sadness at the loss of a brother, but I doubt the proximity factor will make little difference apart from some awkwardness, and having Kate at his side, who 'gets' the entire tragic narrative, will most likely help."
Harry's uncommon journey to the UK has sparked speculation about whether a reunion with his alienated father, King Charles, is on the cards. Should this occur, it would represent their first encounter since February 2024.
The Duke has previously voiced his desire to reconcile with King Charles and the broader Royal household, with hints of a potential breakthrough emerging in early July when senior advisers to both Charles and Harry were seen at a London gathering.
An American insider has now revealed to the Mirror that the likelihood of the pair reuniting is substantial, stating: "It's clear there is now a determination on both sides to make this happen. Nobody is pretending the wider family issues have been resolved, but this is about beginning with Charles and Harry. For the first time in a long time, there's a genuine sense that reconciliation is within reach."
They added: "After 20 months apart, and with the King continuing his treatment, the feeling is that the time is right to take that step. This is not about grand gestures or set-piece meetings - it's about a simple face-to-face conversation between a father and his son. The priority is privacy and dignity, but also ensuring the door stays open for further dialogue."
As of now, neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussexes have confirmed that such a meeting is set to occur.