It’s ‘Strange,’ says Kate Middleton, to be visiting Windsor Castle without Queen Elizabeth.

Editor

“She’s touched everyone’s lives globally,” the new Princess of Wales said in a public appearance at the royal residence on Saturday

Kate Middleton is missing Queen Elizabeth’s presence.

The new Princess of Wales, 40, made a surprise appearance on Saturday at Windsor Castle with her husband Prince William, brother-in-law Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan Markle, where the royal couples engaged with the crowd, shaking hands, hugging, and reminiscing about the Queen. The latter “died peacefully” in her sleep on Thursday at the age of 96.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales speak with members of the public on the Long walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince William and Kate Middleton.

In a video shared via TikTok and Instagram, Kate can be heard saying, “It’s very strange being here without Her Majesty,” referring to the royal residence that the Queen used as her home base since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“She’s touched everyone’s lives globally,” Kate added, reminiscing about the significance of her late grandmother-in-law and her reign.

Later in the video, Kate and Prince William can be seen standing together engaging with a spectator’s dog.

“Dogs are important at this time,” Prince William, 40, says as he pets the animal.

Prince Harry, 37, also mentioned how different Windsor Castle felt without his grandmother.

“It’s a lonely place up there now without her,” Harry said to well-wishers in a video obtained by The Sun. “You could feel her presence in any room she was in.”

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, <a href="https://people.com/tag/prince-william/" data-inlink="true">Prince William</a>, Prince of Wales, <a href="https://people.com/tag/prince-harry/" data-inlink="true">Prince Harry</a>, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to <a href="https://people.com/tag/queen-elizabeth/" data-inlink="true">Queen Elizabeth</a> II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The quartet also went on a tour of the memorials to Queen Elizabeth left outside Windsor Castle.

Prince William invited his brother and sister-in-law on the outing. A royal source tells that Prince William thought the walkabout to welcome the crowds “was an essential demonstration of solidarity at an extraordinarily difficult moment for the family.”

“It’s such a remarkable historical moment and also a highly personal one for the family,” a palace source says, “that you’d expect and think that all members of the family will unify and support [the King], and perhaps some of those scars might be healed in the process.”