Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, made a surprise appearance at a Buckingham Palace garden party yesterday, as she joined her husband Prince William at the event and made a surprising nod to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, despite their strained relations with the Royal family
Kate Middleton’s choice of hat has been interpreted as a nod to Meghan Markle (Image: (Photo by Phil Noble-WPA Pool/Getty Images))
The Princess of Wales subtly tipped her hat to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with an elegant detail on her recent appearance. Astonishing the attendees, Kate joined Prince William at a Buckingham Palace garden party—her first in two years.
The princess, who is in remission after battling cancer, had to skip the entire 2024 garden party season due to treatments during what William termed as a “brutal” year. Kate’s appearance, which was kept hush-hush unlike the usual public pre-announcements for such events, featured her in a graceful butter yellow attire by Emilia Wickstead complemented by a Philip Treacy hat.
The hat she donned, adorned with yellow blossoms, bears a poignant link to her brother-in-law Harry and his spouse Meghan—it’s identical to the one Kate wore for their wedding, despite Prince Harry reportedly making a ‘bougie’ criticism of the Middleton family.
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Coincidentally, this nod came mere days following Harry and Meghan’s seventh wedding anniversary, with Meghan sharing touching family snapshots on Instagram. The same hat graced Kate’s ensemble at Trooping the Colour in 2019 as well.
Kate talks to guests as she wears an Emilia Wickstead dress and Philip Treacy hat (Image: PA)
Similarly, yesterday’s dress selection by Kate, which radiated in what’s been called the hue of the season, wasn’t a debut; it made its previous appearance at a St Paul’s Cathedral service for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, reports the Mirror.
Even the princess’s diamond studs were a familiar sight; they’re from Robinson Pelham, the very pair that she cherished on her own wedding day in 2011—a present from her parents.
At yesterday’s gathering, William and Kate interacted with guests from various patronages, military affiliations, and passion projects they support, including Homewards, Action for Children, Ty Hafan, as well as Duchy of Cornwall tenants.
Among the attendees was the family of budding photographer Liz Hatton, who tragically passed away in November due to an aggressive cancer known as desmoplastic small round cell tumor.
The 17-year-old, hailing from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, had been photographed receiving a hug from Kate at Windsor Castle just weeks before her death after being invited to capture images of William at an investiture.
Kate has emotional reunion with Vicky Robayna, Liz Hatton’s mum (Image: PA)
Also present at the event were William’s cousins, Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall. Kensington Palace stated that the prince and princess had specifically invited the younger generation of the Royal family to join them.
Other guests included Holocaust survivor Steven Frank, who was photographed by Kate in 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, and young fundraiser Tony Hudgell.
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Ten-year-old Tony, a double amputee who previously met Kate at the Evelina London Children’s Day Surgery Unit, missed a garden party last year due to traffic delays en route, prompting a renewed invitation from the Palace this year. Kate’s most recent appearance at a Royal garden party was in May 2023, just days after the King’s Coronation, when the social event was held in honor of the historic occasion.
Around 7,500 guests enjoyed the spring sunshine on the impeccably groomed lawn of the Royal residence this Tuesday. William, Kate, and other Royal family members gathered on the West Terrace for the National Anthem.
This official event signifies another milestone in Kate’s steady return to public duties following her cancer recovery.
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