Why Kate's low-key appearance at Sarah Everard's vigil was anything but subtle

The Duchess of Cambridge has made a non-so-subtle political statement by visiting a memorial to a woman murdered while walking home.

Kate was among hundreds of mourners to visit a growing shrine to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common, in south London, on Saturday just days after a police officer was charged with her alleged murder.

The duchess arrived with a bouquet of yellow daffodils, taken from the gardens of Kensington Palace, and laid them at the site.

The future queen "remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night before she got married", royal sources close to Kate said in the wake of her visit.

Before marrying Prince William, Kate lived in a flat in Chelsea that she shared with sister Pippa.

Kate worked at clothing store Jigsaw before her life dramatically changed by marrying their heir to the throne.

When her engagement to William was announced, Kate was given security and she now has round-the-clock protection.

But not all women are so lucky, and the Duchess of Cambridge knew her presence at the London shrine would be seen by the countless cameras covering the growing unrest at Everard's death.

She also knew the weight her appearance would carry to politicians and lawmakers following the story.

Kate's actions are now being compared to something the Queen did in 2014 that went against royal protocol.

At the time, Scotland was heading to the polls to vote in a referendum for independence.

The Queen – who must remain politically neutral – was staying at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and after attending Crathie church one morning, told one well-wisher that she hoped "people will think very carefully about the future" when they voted.

The seemingly-innocent comment was later revealed to have been scripted by the Queen and Buckingham Palace aides, despite initial claims the Queen had not breached her duty of impartiality.

Her Majesty had made the comment to just one person in the crowd who later shared it with reporters asking what the Queen had said.

Kate's appearance at the memorial comes one week after her sister-in-law gave a tell all with Oprah, with Meghan claiming she had been treated poorly by the British royal family, forcing her and Prince Harry to flee to the US.

The Duchess of Cambridge appeared in jeans, gum boots and a green parker, with little security around her.

Her visit – which was reportedly advised against by royal aides – came hours before the candlelight vigil turned violent as police arrived and arrested protesters and issued fines.

In Kate's 10 years as a member of the British royal family, she knows the power of public perception and her presence at the memorial undoubtably was done to send a message: the assault and harassment of women needs to stop and women in London, and around the world, have a powerful ally in the Duchess of Cambridge.