Sophie's guiding hand: How the maternal Duchess of Edinburgh has played a comforting role to the Wales family during 'emotionally charged events'

The Duchess of Edinburgh has proven her loyalty to the Wales family, time and time again, and Remembrance Sunday was no exception. Sophie simply placed her hand on Kate's shoulder as the pair walked off the balcony after the service on Sunday Body language expert Judi James said of Prince Edward's wife at the time: 'That simple hand gesture showed Sophie’s dual role today. As the royals started filtering back into Buckingham Palace after watching the flypast from the balcony, Sophie was seen gently placing her hand on William's shoulder, suggesting how fond she is of the future King. Sophie was seen gently placing her hand on William's shoulder during Trooping the Colour in June, suggesting how fond she is of the future King At the same event, Sophie - who stepped up her royal appearances when during Kate's absence - was pictured with Kate and William's children, Prince Louis, six, and Princess Charlotte, nine On one of the hardest days for the Firm, Sophie stepped up and assisted Kate in soothing George, now 11, during his great-grandmother's send off 'But it also looked like a small but powerful signal to William and even George and Charlotte that, even when William is not at Kate’s side, she is still surrounded by royal family that are taking very good care of her, albeit subtly.' Deep in thought: The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh look straight ahead as the clock struck 11am on Sunday - with James saying Kate looked 'so much like a future queen' Side-by-side: With Prince William joining the King to lay wreaths, Kate took her place on the balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with the Duchess of Edinburgh - who, says body language expert Judi James, took on a maternal role A pillar of strength for others, Sophie only broke down as she was driven away from the late Queen's state funeral It isn't the first time the Duchess has been captured supporting a member of the Royal Family at the emotional occasion; in 1999, Sophie helped an 11-year-old Princess Beatrice as she collapsed on the home office balcony' on Remembrance Sunday.