Familial love was the theme of Saturday's Trooping the Colour, as the Royal Family put on a rare display of affection in intimate, behind-the-scenes footage from the day. 

But the Princess of Wales's connection with her three children was on full display from the minute they departed Buckingham Palace for the King's official birthday parade on Saturday. 

The future Queen, 44, channelled Princess Diana in a blue and white coat dress that bore an uncanny resemblance to her mother-in-law's Catherine Walker Easter ensemble in 1987 - but it appears the similarities between the pair run deeper than fashion choices. 

Like Diana, who was fiercely protective of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, Catherine was the picture of motherly love during the high-profile royal outing. 

This was especially true when their royal carriage went by a small group of anti-monarchy protesters, who booed the group during heart-tugging scenes. 

Elsewhere, the Princess was seen affectionately placing a hand on her eight-year-old son Louis's blonde hair after the Ascot landau returned to Buckingham Palace from Horse Guards Parade. 

Like each year, Catherine also steered her three young children, all under the age of 13, during the high-profile balcony appearance when hundreds of cameras are typically trained on the young royals. 

From placing a protective hand on George's back to lovingly calling Louis to attention for the national anthem, Catherine was 'very much back' in her element after her cancer diagnosis, body language expert Judi James said. 

Kate's first public appearance after she announced she had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer was at Trooping the Colour that year. 

At the time, 'it was touching to see how concerned and caring her children' appeared as they both rode in the carriage and arrived with her, Ms James told the Daily Mail.

'As their carriage pulled up back then, all three children hopped out quickly to form a line facing Catherine as she emerged, and the gesture suggested caring, support and some form of congratulation.' 

This year's appearance will undoubtedly foster a 'sense of relief' among royal fans after Ms James highlighted that George, 12, Charlotte, 11, and Louis, eight, all stepped out of the carriage and walked straight into Buckingham Palace without the need to check on her or wait to accompany her.   

As a gesture of her recovery, it looked powerful and positive.' Ms James said. 

The strong bond between Catherine and her children also showed in their outfit choices. 

While George and Louis wore ties that were the exact shade of Kate’s dress, to Princess Charlotte’s printed cream dress had hints of blue. The princess also wore a pearl bracelet just like her mother and finished her look with an oversized hair bow - much like the ones Catherine favours. 

Ms James also noted how Prince Louis 'might hero-worship his older brother' as she suggested they 'sat and moved in the carriage on the way back to the Palace in "peas-in-a-pod" poses'.

In a subtle change from last year's Trooping the Colour, Prince Louis swapped seats with his big sister so that he was sat next to Catherine during the ceremonial parade through London. 

As they departed from Buckingham Palace, footage showed Catherine beaming at her youngest child as Louis, eight, as he bashfully waved at the crowds that had gathered to mark the King's official birthday - even though the monarch doesn't turn 78 until November. 

One sweet moment showed Kate laughing with Louis as they were greeted with loud cheers from the crowd, before the princess gushed that her husband, the Prince of Wales, looked so 'handsome' in his military uniform. 

William, who serves as the Colonel of the Welsh Guards, rode on horseback in full military regalia alongside Princess Anne, who is Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Colonel of the Scots Guard, the Duke of Edinburgh, for Trooping the Colour. 

William, riding ahead of Princess Anne and Prince Edward, was striking in red, donning the Full Ceremonial Guard Order of the Welsh Guards regalia.

The uniform, which he wore with a traditional black bearskin hat, was complete with adornments including the Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals, and the Coronation Medal - awarded to him when his father, King Charles III, ascended the throne.

Kate is clearly very close to all three of her children, as lip reader Nicola Hickling seemingly decoded her cheeky comments about Prince William during a lighthearted conversation with Prince George. 

According to Ms Hickling, Catherine remarked to George that William looked 'so handsome riding in his uniform,' before going on to add: 'I think it's gorgeous, George.'

George, who was sitting across from his mother at Saturday's event, might have pushed back on his mother's compliments, as the princess then appeared to joke, 'I'm having fun with you, he looks sharp.'

The mood changed later on when the Princess quietly helped reassure her children as  their Ascot landau drove past a group of anti-monarchy protesters booing and chanting 'Not My King'. 

While thousands of people joined the celebrations in London, a small group of members from the Republic staged a demonstration during Saturday's event, opening umbrellas that spelt out the words 'Stop The Reign'. 

Reacting to the tense moment, Kate wore a steely expression and continued to wave at the crowds before Prince George followed suit, as 'heartbroken' royal fans praised the 'concerned' future Queen for 'protecting' the children. 

'I'm happy Prince George carried on waving, good for him,' one X user reacted to the footage, while another added 'this is not fair on children'. 

Some defended Kate's 'glares', claiming that she was 'only upset for the kids' as they looked 'genuinely confused' during the parade. 

Kate was later seen laughing and chatting with her children, no doubt eager to distract them from the earlier incident as X users said the princess 'behaved perfectly and so did those children'. 

One comment under the widely circulated video read: 'She showed her children that even when people are not nice to you, we must keep our emotions in check and do our duty.' 

As they arrived back at Buckingham Palace for the Red Arrows flypast, Catherine reached over and lovingly stroked Louis' hair during one of her most heartfelt mothering moments from this year's parade. 

The palace balcony has set the scene for many memorable moments between the Prince and Princess of Wales and their young children over the years - and 2026 was no exception. 

Prince George faced a royal dilemma as he felt a sneeze coming just as the national anthem started playing. 

Luckily, George was able to hold the sneeze in until after 'God Save the King' concluded, as Catherine told her typically composed son 'Bless You!' 

The pair then erupted into giggles as George reassured his ever-doting mother 'I'm alright'. 

Catherine, who has attended 15 Trooping the Colour ceremonies since marrying Prince William in 2011, also brought order to her house during their famed balcony appearance. 

While the number of royals on the balcony has dwindled from 44 at one point to just 14 this year, Catherine ensured her children were standing in their correct positions after cheeky little Louis strayed from the Waleses while watching the flypast. 

The family gathered to watch the climax of Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration marking the monarch's official birthday.

The aerial display swept over Buckingham Palace in ten waves, featuring Typhoon jets, Chinook helicopters, C-17 transport aircraft and, to the delight of crowds lining The Mall, the Red Arrows trailing their trademark red, white and blue plumes across the London sky.

The festivities followed a grand military parade involving more than 1,000 soldiers and hundreds of musicians.

The eight-year-old, whose face-pulling antics once again delighted royal fans, stepped away from his siblings during the grand finale of Trooping the Colour - with Louis seemingly getting swept up in the action of the flypast. 

At one point, he was photographed, mouth open in awe, leaning far away from the rest of his family as Louis seemingly tried to get a better look at the approaching jets - but not for long. 

Catherine gently ushered Louis back to his position alongside his older sister Charlotte as the celebrations continued. 

A lip reader also revealed the moment she issued a firm directive to Louis as the national anthem started playing, with Catherine reportedly telling him: 'Louis, stand.' 

Standing nearby on the balcony were King Charles and Queen Camilla, joined by senior working royals including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

The pared-back line-up reflected the King's vision of a streamlined monarchy.

The family gathered to watch the climax of Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration marking the monarch's official birthday.

The aerial display swept over Buckingham Palace in ten waves, featuring Typhoon jets, Chinook helicopters, C-17 transport aircraft and, to the delight of crowds lining The Mall, the Red Arrows trailing their trademark red, white and blue plumes across the London sky.

The festivities followed a grand military parade involving more than 1,000 soldiers and hundreds of musicians.