Why Duchess Kate and the Queen both look so gloomy in the royal carriage

Any keen-eyed royal observer will have noticed that Kate Middleton is hardly beaming from ear-to-ear when she finds herself seated in a royal carriage.

While many suspected the Duchess of Cambridge was simply not overly fond of huge public engagements, it turns out she suffers from the same debilitating illness as the Queen herself.

A royal source revealed to The Sunday Mirror that Kate’s visible unease is really an attempt to conceal the extreme discomfort she suffers every time she takes a jostling turn in the royal wheels.

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The Duchess suffers from crippling motion sickness, which is no doubt exacerbated by the movement of the carriage.

“The truth is the Duchess of Cambridge gets very seasick and doesn't enjoy the rocking motion of carriages,” the source said, adding the stress of trying to control the illness adds to her pallid expression.

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“Worrying she may be ill on such an important occasion as Trooping the Colour added to her stress,” they said.

Unfortunately for Kate, there’s no way around the horrible journeys, the royal carriage ride is an age old tradition that can’t be done away with.

"Protocol meant she had no choice but to go by state carriage," they explained.

The illness is not unique to Kate however, the Queen is also a sufferer and opened up last year about her own harrowing experiences in the uncomfortable vehicle describing a two hour procession on her coronation day as ‘horrible’.

The illness is so powerful it’s reported that the Queen has even suggested Kate take medication, but the well-known side effect of drowsiness means its an unlikely solution.

Turns out even royalty gets a bit car sick.