The deeper message hidden in Kate’s intimate family video

By Camilla Tominey
For a couple unaccustomed to PDAs (Public Displays of Affection), it is the most remarkable royal video, showing the Prince and Princess of Wales as we have never seen them before.
Anyone who has suffered from cancer, or cared for a loved one suffering from cancer, will identify with Catherine when she speaks of how grateful she and William have become for “the simple yet important things in life… of simply loving and being loved.”
Yet the Princess was seemingly not content with expressing her love for her husband and their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, in words alone.
Watch the video above.
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After everything she has gone through, the once-guarded Catherine clearly decided to throw caution to the wind – and the candour caught on camera is as heartwarming as it is revealing.
We always suspected that the Waleses, both 42, had a solid marriage, based on the fact they have never felt the need to fawn over each other in public or declare their undying love in the 23 years they have been together (13 as husband and wife).
Even on their wedding day, they were reluctant to go overboard, only kissing on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the groom tentatively asked the bride: “Shall we?”
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Indeed, so rare was it even to spot them holding hands or stealing a kiss on royal tours that when they did once embrace following a dragon boat race in Canada in 2011, the photographers went wild.
A year later, they were pictured enjoying a celebratory cuddle at the 2012 Olympics as Sir Chris Hoy peddled to gold medal glory in the velodrome, so caught up were they in Team GB’s moment of triumph.
The touching scenes filmed last month by Will Warr in Norfolk, however, reflect a deliberate attempt to finally lay bare the love and affection at the heart of one of the most high-profile – and well-documented – relationships in the world.
READ MORE: Five hidden meanings in Kate’s intimate family video
Viewers will be forgiven for pinching themselves as they see the typically shy and introverted pair holding hands, Kate’s head on William’s shoulder, smiling and laughing together, and even lying on the ground, smooching.
The sepia-esque nature of the footage is reminiscent of the royal home videos of yesteryear, showing the late Elizabeth II and her beloved husband the Duke of Edinburgh larking about on holidays at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and on the Royal yacht Britannia.
Dressed in a £299 ($586 AUD) blue and white boho frock from US brand Veronica Beard, teamed with a pair of classic “mum” Veja trainers, this is behind-closed-doors Catherine, unbuttoned and unburdened by royal duty.
A normally suited and booted William is similarly casual, channelling his inner “cool Dad” in a pair of old season blue New Balance N574 trainers.
The video intended to symbolise the strength Catherine has drawn from her family and loved ones from spending time on the things which bring her joy such as family card games with her parents Carole and Michael Middleton to the sanctuary she has sought in the great outdoors.
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But beyond the obvious signals of recovery and hope lies a deeper message for the public to absorb.
The past four years have proved to be one of the most difficult periods in House of Windsor history, with “Megxit”, the deaths of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke of York saga and the cancer diagnoses of both King and future Queen.
On more than one occasion over the past four years, the future existence of “The Firm” has been called into question as the Royal family has been forced to contend with one crisis after another.
Yet the British have kept faith in the monarchy precisely because of the strength of its bonds. Over the course of the Royal family’s turbulent history, love has always proved to be the tie that binds, from Queen Victoria’s adoration of Prince Albert to the unity shown by George VI and the Queen Mother during the Second World War. One of the reasons the late Queen remained so popular was because of the “liege man of life and limb” who devoted his life to her service.
Yes, those foundations may have been shaken in recent times, not least by the acrimonious departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from royal life. But the future is finally beginning to look brighter.
This extraordinary display of devotedness between the couple who will one day wear the crown suggests that it is built on something stronger than mere duty.
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