A recent video of the Royal Family has stirred conversation online after viewers noticed a “subtle behaviour” from Prince William.
On Tuesday (16 September), King Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral.
Buckingham Palace had previously confirmed that the duchess “passed away peacefully” on 4 September at her Kensington Palace home, surrounded by loved ones.
Tension Between Father and Son?
Despite the solemn occasion, many watchers felt William’s behaviour hinted at a frosty atmosphere between him and his father.
Prince Andrew also made a rare public appearance, briefly exchanging words with William during the service.
As heir to the throne, William has long been reported to feel a “great deal” of anxiety about the responsibilities that await him when the time comes to succeed Charles.
The Viral Observations
Footage of the royals at the service was shared on Reddit, where viewers quickly began commenting on William’s demeanour.
Several pointed out that he appeared to be holding his jaw tightly.
“William’s clenched jaw lol,” one person wrote. Another added: “Clench that jaw any tighter and you are gonna break a tooth William!”
Others remarked that William seemed somewhat distanced from those around him.
“It looks like William gets along with exactly nobody in that crowd,” one user noted.
The Brief Exchange
At one point, as King Charles turned from speaking with Cardinal Vincent Nichols—the cleric who led the service—towards William, the two barely acknowledged one another. The King then greeted Kate, while William exchanged words with the cardinal.
Kate curtsied politely to Charles, but the entire interaction was over in seconds.
One commenter observed how her expression shifted afterward, writing: “William acts like Charles isn’t there and Kate’s face falls as soon as she finishes greeting Charles.”
A Historic Funeral
The funeral of the Duchess of Kent marked a historic moment for the Royal Family.
Later in life, the duchess converted to Catholicism, making the service at Westminster Cathedral a Catholic Requiem Mass—the first time senior royals have attended a Catholic funeral in modern history.
Queen Camilla, however, was unable to attend due to illness.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “With great regret, Her Majesty the Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s requiem mass for the Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis.”