The Prince and Princess of Wales were all smiles as they welcomed guests back to the beautiful, luscious Buckingham Palace gardens for the second soirée of the season.
Prince William and Princess Kate stood in for King Charles III, welcoming thousands of guests to the lawns of the palace on May 8.
The royal couple was joined by William’s cousin Zara Tindall, and William’s uncle and aunt, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, according to People.
“Attending today’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace 🌸” a May 8 Instagram post from the royal couple reads.
Prince William and Princess Kate arrive at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 8, 2026.
A few days prior, King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the first garden party of the season at Buckingham Palace in London on the third anniversary of his coronation, per People.
According to the royal family’s official website, “Garden Parties are an important way for members of the Royal Family to speak to a broad range of people from all walks of life, all of whom have made a positive impact in their community.”
From left: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 8, 2026, in London.
Kate returned to garden party scene in 2025 after cancer battle
The royal couple attended a garden party in May 2025, their first in nearly two years. The two had previously attended a garden party that followed King Charles’ 2023 coronation.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William, Prince of Wales, during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 8, 2026, in London.
Happy anniversary, Prince William and Princess Kate! The royals in photos
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Prince Harry, left, and Prince William, center, and the former Kate Middleton, right, cheer on the English team during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between England and Italy at Twickenham on Feb. 10, 2007, in London.
Kate had largely lived a private life following her cancer diagnosis. In early 2025, she revealed she had completed chemotherapy and what she could do to stay cancer-free.
“As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead,” she wrote in a January 2025 Instagram post.
Since then, she has slowly eased back into the public eye.
She recently celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary and shared a family photo of the couple lying on the grass alongside Princess Charlotte, 11, and their two sons, Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, 8.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prince William and Princess Kate make Garden Party descent: See photos