Kate Middleton Just Received a Royal Honor Usually Reserved for the Queen

The honor is usually given to Queen Elizabeth, but she did not make an appearance this year. Kate was the sole member of the royal family to attend the event, which not only showcased the British Army but also included a tribute to the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

No one pulls off a coatdress like Kate! She paired the cream-colored dress with Gianvito Rossi pumps, Cassandra Goad earrings and the Irish Guards gold shamrock pin. She added a clutch and pulled her hair back into a chignon.

Kate has been taking over many of the Queen's responsibilities over the past few years, such as becoming the official patron of the Wimbledon Tennis Club. It's also been reported that Queen E has been taking her granddaughter-in-law "under her wing," and in April, she even awarded the duchess the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Royal expert Rebecca Long dished to Us Weekly earlier this year: "Kate's been taking on new responsibilities little by little over the last few years, so it won't be a shock when the time comes. William and Kate are the favorite royals to take the crown in many generations, so the people of the U.K. are very excited about it."

Another source revealed, "She's really taken Kate under her wing. The two of them will often spend hours discussing royal life and the future of the monarchy."

Especially considering that she is more popular than Prince Charles' wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles. We have a feeling that Kate will take on a more public role than her mother-in-law, and we're going to be seeing her making more and more appearances like this in the coming years.