Loving Aunt Sophie: Duchess of Edinburgh Shares 'Touching' Bond With Princess Charlotte and 'Playing Key Role' as Kate Middleton Battles Cancer

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, has reportedly developed a bond with her niece, Princess Charlotte, 9. The regal pair were spotted on shopping excursions as Kate, Princess of Wales, 42, has been moved by the "touching" relationship between aunt and niece as she continues to battle cancer.

This charming news was confirmed by a source close to both the Wales and Edinburgh households who stated, "There is a really warm connection between Sophie and her great-niece, which is very touching."

They added that the future queen "loves the fact that Charlotte gets on so well with her older relation."

Additionally, Sophie's daughter Lady Louise Windsor, who is studying at Kate's alma mater the University of St Andrews in Scotland, reportedly "adores Charlotte too, but doesn’t see as much of her as she is mostly away in Scotland."

In all honestly, who doesn't? At one of her first royal outings without her brothers, the young princess sat tall in her chair with her hands folded demurely in her lap. Echoing her mother, she shook hands with well-wishers and listened attentively as they spoke. At 9, Charlotte, Kate’s middle child with Prince William, is becoming more of a mama’s girl.

For the queen-in-waiting, who grew up in a middle-class British family, emulating the close-knit home life she knew as a child has been extremely important. She hopes to balance her children’s royal titles and privileged life with wholesome morals, a sense of gratitude, and a deep feeling of connection and belonging within their family.

Kate’s childhood was shaped by her mother’s love and her tight relationship with her younger sister, Pippa, 40.

"She realizes that Charlotte doesn’t have a sister to confide in or do things with, so she tries to do fun things with her," said the insider.

"Mother and daughter have attended the London ballet and even enjoyed a sleepover at a hotel together. It was just the two of them," they confided. "They ordered room service and watched movies together while eating candy."

While Charlotte, whose parents sometimes call her Lottie, physically resembles her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, she is very much her mother's daughter.

Although Charlotte’s not afraid to get dirty with her brothers, Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, 6, she has a feminine side as well. She likes baking with her mother and doing arts and crafts. "They enjoy making homemade gifts for the neighbors for the holidays," added the insider.

While it’s hard for them to go shopping together like a typical mother and daughter, Kate likes to include Charlotte in her fashion choices.

"Kate always shows her sketches before her special event clothes are made, to try and involve her in the process," said the source, who added that they enjoyed wearing complimentary ensembles to King Charles’ coronation last May. "There aren’t many times that they can match, so Kate decided to go all out."

GBN reported on Sophie's new bond.