Princess Charlotte demonstrates close bond with Duchess Sophie in touching moment

Princess Charlotte and the rest of the Wales family were the guests of honour on Saturday as they headed to the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Glasgow, for the penultimate day of the competition.

As the family watched the track cycling, they were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Charlotte and Sophie have a famously close bond, and this was put on full display as they greeted each other.

The Duchess, who wasn't joined by her two children, was seen leaning over to hug her great-niece. Although Charlotte returned the hug and was seen smiling, the young royal did appear to be distracted by the sports in front of her, looking down to the track.

Sophie looked absolutely marvellous in a patterned white shirt and denim skirt, while Charlotte wore a polka dot dress for the Games.

© Max Mumby

Other photos saw Sophie greeting Charlotte's father, Prince William, before the Wales and Edinburgh families settled down to watch New Zealand's Devon Briggs smash the world record in the Men's Para-Cycling C3 1000m Time Trial.

While at the Games, Charlotte also watched netball and judo, while also meeting with the mascot of the event, Finnie. The young royal looked overjoyed to be meeting the unicorn, giving him a high-five, something that both of her brothers also replicated.

© Alamy Stock Photo

After being in the crowd, the Prince and Princess of Wales met athletes competing at the games whose careers have been empowered by the charity SportsAid. Kate has supported the charity as patron since 2013.

Sophie and Charlotte's strong bond

Duchess Sophie, 59, is incredibly supportive of Charlotte and is often seen walking with her during official outings. The Duchess also serves as a guide for the young princess as she continues to flourish as a member of the royal family.

During the Commonwealth Games, which were held in Birmingham in 2022, the Duchess couldn't have been more excited to see her great-niece take to the stands.

Sophie's husband, Prince Edward, gave the little princess an enthusiastic wave as she took her seat alongside her mother, Kate, at the swimming event. Another sweet moment at the Games saw Charlotte, then aged seven, pulling a funny face as Sophie turned around to face her.