The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to celebrate Christmas in Norfolk as usual this year and that could bring them face-to-face with the Sussexes. Prince Harry and Meghan might spend the holidays in the US but after everything he's said about wanting to "work it out" with the royals, Christmas at Sandringham isn't off the table.

Even if they aren't there on Christmas Day, a visit would be a big step in the direction of a reconciliation and a chance for King Charles to see more of Archie and Lilibet. It would also put William and Kate in a tricky position, though woman&home magazine's Royal Editor, Emily Andrews, thinks one thing might help.

The future King and Queen uphold all the big royal traditions around Christmas but also have some of their own - and one is not actually staying at Sandringham House.

"Certainly, an invitation to spend a couple of days at Sandringham with the rest of the Royal Family - some of whom Harry is still close to - would force the issue of a fraternal reconciliation," Emily writes in our December issue. "It would be helped by the fact that the Prince and Princess of Wales do not stay at Sandringham House."

After all, why would they need to? The couple have owned Anmer Hall since 2011 and it's only a five minute drive away. Reports have claimed Sandringham House can fit 16-18 people sleeping there, so it makes sense for William, Kate and the children to go back to Anmer instead of taking up rooms that could be used by other relatives.

The tradition of staying at the hall is something William and Kate are unlikely to change at this point and they wake up there on Christmas morning.

The BBC's former royal correspondent Jennie Bond has previously suggested they, George, Charlotte and Louis "do stockings and presents and then go over to the big house for the more formal celebrations."

This separation means they can enjoy the best of both worlds - private time together as a family of five and the excitement of the full Royal Family Christmas. If Harry and Meghan did come to visit at any point, the reunion might be easier, as Emily suggests, since William and Kate could see them for a certain amount of time and then go home to Anmer.

It could help take pressure off and according to the royal expert they often have Kate's parents Michael and Carole, siblings James and Pippa and their families, to visit at Christmas too. The Middletons would be an extra source of support and having guests to stay is a reason for the Prince and Princess not to spend much time with the Sussexes if they don't want to.

It'll be up to King Charles whether or not to invite Harry and Meghan and it would spark a lot of discussion if William and Kate completely missed Christmas at Sandringham just because the Sussexes might go. Emily says His Majesty "knows that Christmas is a time for family, forgiveness and harmony", so perhaps his sons could find a way to come together this festive season, if only for a short while.

Read Emily Andrews' full feature in the December issue of woman&home, out now.

The Princess of Wales is Prince William's biggest cheerleader but she might be cheering him on from the side-lines once again this November when the Earthshot Prize travels to Mumbai. The Prince of Wales will be there for several days and Kate's joined him for the awards ceremony several times before, though right now her attendance for this year's event isn't confirmed.

We last saw her walking the 'green' carpet in Boston in 2022 and sadly I think it's looking increasingly unlikely that she'll be going to India. Speaking recently during a visit to East Anglia's Children's Hospices' Café 98, Kate apparently made a remark about her children that - to me - suggests she'll be missing Earthshot again.

As reported by Hello!, after a child told the Princess it was his last day of school before October half-term, she replied, "My children break up tomorrow and I can't wait to have them all home."

The future Queen is said to have been particularly excited about seeing 13-year-old Prince George after his first month boarding at Eton. Denise Ashton, who met Kate at the café, claimed afterwards, "She said she's looking forward to George coming home - she's missed him."

The Prince and Princess of Wales usually pause royal duties during school holidays and although half-term will be over when the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony takes place, this is a reminder of how committed the couple are to being hands-on parents. Prince William has openly said they're his "priority" and he and Kate try as much as possible to ensure one of them is home.

In 2023, she didn't go with William to Singapore for the awards and it's widely believed this was because she wanted to be at home to support George, who was taking exams.

The next year the Princess had only just completed cancer treatment and in 2025 it was reported that she stayed behind again to be with the kids. Her comments at Café 98 reinforce how hands-on Kate is and how much she loves being a mum, so it's hard to imagine her flying halfway across the world for several days, leaving Charlotte and Louis in Windsor.

They're still probably getting used to life without George at home and according to royal commentator Katie Nicholl, the Princess wants trips to work for the whole family.

"She likes to do the school run and all those things," she alleged earlier this year. "From my conversations with aides, once a royal trip or engagement is planned, the first thing they ask before looking at the itinerary is, 'How does this work for us as a family?'"

"Being a royal mother has changed dramatically. For women like the Princess of Wales, family now comes before everything else, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are growing up in a totally different age," the expert continued.

The Earthshot Prize is Prince William's project and they've already proved it works well for her to remain in the UK with the children whilst he attends the awards in person. The rest of the family can watch at home and he'll be joined by plenty of famous faces, including Academy Award winning actor Rami Malek, Bridgerton's Simone Ashley and Earthshot Ambassadors Robert Irwin and Nomzamo Mbatha.

The Prince and Princess of Wales often like taking a range of photos to mark special moments and holding some back to share later. This is what they did when Kate completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in the summer and we've now been treated to another family portrait in honour of Mountain Rescue Awareness Day.

The royal couple and their children got to meet local mountain rescue teams and thank them in person for all the work they do to help keep walkers and climbers safe all year round. They all posed for the picture which was shared alongside a heartfelt message from Kate and William.

This is the first photo of George since he started at Eton and although it looks relatively candid, there are clues that suggest otherwise. The Prince and Princess of Wales's way of presenting their children to the world is thought-out - and for a good reason.

Even if you only quickly glance at the picture you'll notice how coordinated Prince George, Charlotte and Louis are. The Princess and her younger brother are dressed in navy jumpers and Adidas trainers, though there are tie-ins with George's outfit too.

His Gola trainers have a similar rubber sole and although his knit is grey, it's got a button-up style like Louis's does. All three Wales kids are also wearing straight leg jeans in the same mid-blue wash, creating a sense of cohesion between them that photographs beautifully.

Perhaps George, Charlotte and Louis did naturally gravitate towards these pieces and the coordination was a happy coincidence. However, since plenty of photos were taken I think it's more likely that thought went into how the family would look together.

Writing in her new book, Catherine & Diana, royal expert Ingrid Seward suggests the future Queen is particularly focused on shielding her kids from the media attention William once faced.

"In return for photographers allowing the children a measure of privacy, the Waleses have ensured that images of George, Charlotte and Louis are released on a regular, predictable basis, but always on their terms, and always when and how Catherine chooses to showcase them," she says, adding, "The difference now is that Catherine controls the lens herself, or whatever professional she might allow."

Ingrid went on to remark, "The resultant photographs are her way of presenting the children as she wants them to be seen, unthreatened by the circus that once engulfed their father."

She also reflected upon how traditionally the children were dressed when they were younger, claiming that this choice served as a "reminder that these are small children, not public property". Perhaps there is still something they consider when George, Charlotte and Louis are dressing for occasions when William and Kate know they're going to be photographed.

Each picture of the family we see is carefully thought-out, even if it is more low-key, and this makes sense if the Prince and Princess of Wales are wanting to protect their kids from public scrutiny and not reveal too much. That's not to say that snaps like the new one don't come across as relaxed, just a bit more measured.

After all, it is technically an official photo posted as part of Kate and William's work, as they thanked everyone in the mountain rescue community for their "unwavering commitment, courage and service".

The Princess of Wales is best known for using clothes to make a statement, particularly at big events like the recent State Visit of the Sultan of Oman, where she wore green as a nod to the Omani flag. However, she also does this more subtly through her jewellery and I think she might've just done it again in East Anglia on 22nd October.

The future Queen visited The Treehouse in Suffolk to see the exceptional care provided by her patronage, East Anglia's Children Hospices and later met volunteers at Café 98 which raises vital funds for EACH. Kate dressed simply but stylishly for these important engagements, opting for a Victoria Beckham olive suit and grey turtleneck.

She added a touch of sparkle with green amethyst pear drop earrings which she wore in one of her most moving appearances.

In September 2024 the Princess of Wales announced she had completed cancer treatment in a video shot by Will Warr and in certain scenes she can be seen walking in the countryside wearing these earrings and her floral Veronica Beard dress. Green amethysts are associated with renewal, growth and harmony, making these earrings the perfect, meaningful choice.

Given how much thought goes into everything Kate wears, this might not have been coincidental. Royal author Ingrid Seward suggests in her new book, Catherine & Diana, that the Princess has been wearing "healing" stone jewellery even more since 2024.

"Particularly since her year battling cancer, she has frequently chosen gemstone jewellery with 'healing' stones, including lapis lazuli, blue topaz and red garnet - her birthstone," she notes.

Shop Gemstone Jewellery

Each of these have meanings traditionally associated with them and whenever Kate wears these stones it could be seen as a special nod to her focusing on positive, calming and rejuvenating things at this time in her life.

The Princess has particularly loved green amethyst for many years and owns several pairs, including one that she allegedly received from Prince William as a present when Charlotte was born in 2015. Perhaps the drops she wore in East Anglia make her feel a similar connection to her daughter as well as to the renewal symbolism and reminding her of the milestone of finishing treatment.

The morning was spent meeting children, families, staff and volunteers at The Treehouse as she learnt how EACH supports them through different stages.

Then at Café 98 Kate saw the welcoming space that has been created to bring local people together and both visits were all about family, support and community. These things have always been incredibly important to the Princess of Wales, but particularly after such a challenging 2024.

She and Prince William have been prioritising family time more than ever and she's eased back into a full schedule of engagements. Sending a message with her jewellery as she undertakes these duties is something that might not be intentional, though Kate knows the positive impact her style can have and likes using fashion in this meaningful way.

The colder it gets, the more layers I reach for and this can sometimes leave me feeling like my outfits don't have a huge amount of shape. The same can be true with cosy jumper dresses and yet there's an easy way to accentuate your waist and it works for so many different looks.

The Princess of Wales and Zara Tindall just stepped out within days of each other and both used the same trick to enhance their style - a waist belt. The future Queen has been loving the brown colour trend recently but she switched things up and wore a gorgeous emerald midi on day 1 of the Sultan of Oman's State Visit on 20th October.

This Norma Kamali dress was high-necked, long-sleeved and had a wide built-in belt above the flowing midi-length skirt.

Shop Belts

Shop Built-In Belted Pieces

A chunky belt like Kate's immediately draws the eye and creates that smooth cinched-in look, even if it's only loosely fastened. However, you can also achieve this waist-flattering effect with a more delicate belt and this is exactly what Zara did at Qatar Racing British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse on 17th October.

She championed one of her favourite British clothing brands, Fairfax & Favour, and wore their Sennowe suede belt over her Sybil tweed jacket. This design is more streamlined and minimal than the one on the Princess of Wales's dress, but it still added a lovely amount of definition.

The colour contrast helped with this too, as the equestrian royal chose a deep chocolate belt over a lighter beige jacket. Shade-matching your belt to your outfit can be tricky if the accessory isn't part of the actual design, though it does look incredibly polished.

Alternatively, I'd recommend going for a neutral tone like black, brown or tan which will complement the widest variety of shades. That way you can get a lot of wear out of them and the beauty of belts is that they're one of the most affordable types of accessories. Kate particularly loves pairing hers with thicker coats and this is where the extra structure can be most needed.

In the past she's gone for chunky black buckle belts that will fit neatly over the top whilst Zara tends to always reach for slim belts like her Ascot one. Whichever width you prefer, leather and suede accessories bring textural contrast and you can easily adjust the fit to ensure your belts sit at the perfect point when worn with different pieces.

Earlier in October in Belfast the Princess of Wales cleverly used an old favourite Ralph Lauren belt to subtly conceal the point where her ruffled white blouse was tucked into her Emilia Wickstead tartan skirt. There were no handy belt loops on the waistband so the positioning was immaculate and it made everything feel put-together.

Although it looks so chic, styling belts with separates like this can take a bit more time and I'm personally more into the idea of throwing on a belt with thicker fabrics and looser silhouettes. That way you still get the cosiness and comfort, as well as a waist-defining shape.

The Prince and Princess of Wales started a new tradition of taking a pre-State Banquet photo together last year and they didn't disappoint this time around as the royals welcomed the Sultan of Oman to Britain. This time, the future King and Queen's portrait was taken by photographer Greg Williams and it showed them standing in the centre of a magnificent staircase.

For a moment I wondered whether this could've been our first tantalising glimpse of Forest Lodge, but it was actually snapped at Frogmore House. Since the banquet was at Windsor Castle this would've meant going to Frogmore first and it's interesting that they chose to take this extra step rather than be photographed at home.

All these residences are on the Windsor estate so it wouldn't have taken loads of time, though it shows that Prince William and Kate aren't messing around when it comes to privacy. Outside of a few videos filmed in specific rooms during the pandemic, they've never shared pictures of their home and they're standing firm on this.

It makes sense, as they spend so much of their time being photographed and scrutinised and Forest Lodge is a safe haven away from all that. The Prince and Princess have drawn a clear line between their public roles and their private family life and although State Banquets are undeniably glamorous, they are part of their work.

Taking a pre-banquet picture at home would blur those lines. Prince Harry and Meghan have been vehement about wanting privacy for their own family, but also share quite a bit of their home life on her Instagram page, sparking a lot of discussion about this balance already.

There's another subtle link to the Sussexes in this new picture, as Frogmore House was where they had their wedding reception. Earlier this year, the Duchess posted snaps from their big day taken by Chris Allerton and now William and Kate have taken an official portrait there.

It couldn't have looked more regal too, as the Princess was wearing the Lover's Knot Tiara and she and William had on their respective honours and sashes. This is a powerful image that screams royalty, duty and tradition.

They could've chosen to take their photo at Windsor Castle if they didn't want to show their home, so going for Frogmore House instead feels significant. It could remind people how much has changed since Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding and that William and Kate are still here as working royals.

Even though it takes us behind-the-scenes before a State Banquet, it doesn't reveal too much and is low-key yet still poised. This epitomes the Waleses' approach, as they respect long-standing customs whilst taking steps to modernise the monarchy.

Emily Andrews, woman&home's royal correspondent, described the future Queen's skill at not oversharing during an episode of her Catching Up With The Royals podcast earlier this year.

"The public Catherine is quite reserved and quite formal and very warm with the kiddies…but she's not going to give you too much," she told co-host Revd Richard Coles. "The private Kate is quite different. Very warm, very friendly, and got a great sense of humour."

The Princess of Wales had already dazzled in one colour from Oman's national flag ahead of the State Banquet on 20th October, so I was fully prepared to see her step out in a gorgeous white or red gown to continue the theme. Instead, Kate took her style in a totally different direction and attended the event in a lemon yellow Elie Saab frock.

The flowing cape sleeves, fitted bodice and graceful high neckline are all classic Kate details, but this was the first time she's ever worn yellow to a State Banquet before. It was so striking and she accessorised with a glimmering gold Anya Hindmarch clutch and her favourite Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara.

The Princess's bright gown seemed to glow in the opulent surroundings of Windsor Castle and had a similar effect as when she wore her purple dress to the Digger film premiere. Both times, she sent a subtle message to the Sussexes on where things stand.

The State Banquet for Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman was held the same evening that Prince Harry's latest interview discussing the royals was released. In it, the Princess's brother-in-law told GQ that "with everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile".

Although Kate probably wouldn't have known about the interview in advance, her choice of outfit was nonetheless very powerful. Yellow is associated with happiness, optimism and confidence and she seemed totally at ease at the banquet, exemplifying the image of a future Queen.

In a recent issue of Woman magazine, Royal Editor Emily Andrews remarked on how the Princess's purple evening gown at the premiere was equally regal - and significant.

"While at first sight it may have seemed like a standard royal engagement - William and Kate attending the Royal Film Performance, a charity fundraiser - this, alongside a significant uptick in public appearances, sends a secret message to Meghan and Harry," she claimed.

A source also alleged that the Prince and Princess of Wales are "of course" sending a message - "This is how you do real royalty, so back off with your pale imitation."

Even though Prince Harry's interview with GQ has received some attention, it's William and Kate at the Oman State Banquet that has arguably stolen the show. Her outfit is already much-talked about and stepping out in a dress that radiates happiness, a tiara that was once loved by Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth's Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings is peak regal.

Attending State Banquets is part of the job when you're a working royal and she undertook her duties with poise. Prince Harry and Meghan have never been to one together and as they're no longer working royals they're unlikely to be invited, so this was a clear reminder once again of how much things have changed and where things stand in terms of their royal positions.

Read the latest issue of Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

In the lead-up to one of the biggest moments in their relationship, the Princess of Wales was blissfully unaware of what Prince William was planning - and risking. The couple marked their 15th wedding anniversary this year and several reports have claimed it was on 20th October that he actually popped the question in 2010.

William and Kate publicly announced their engagement a few weeks later and before proposing on a private holiday to Kenya, the future King made two bold choices. For a start, he didn't do the traditional thing and ask for her father Michael Middleton's permission beforehand.

When he was questioned about his approach in the couple's engagement interview, William explained that he was "torn" but then the "realisation that he might actually say 'no' dawned upon [him]."

The Prince continued, "So I thought if I ask Kate first then he can't really say no. So I did it that way round. I managed to speak to Mike soon after it happened really."

The Royal Family and the Middletons are both quite keen on tradition so it's interesting that William switched things up and got Kate's "yes" before reaching out to his father-in-law-to-be. Michael clearly didn't mind at all and seemingly kept the news a secret from Carole, who only found out later.

However, the Prince of Wales's way of doing things led to an "awkward" moment with his mother-in-law. The Princess admitted, "We had quite an awkward situation because I knew and I knew that William had asked my father but I didn't know if my mother knew."

Apparently she didn't, because Kate went on, "But it was amazing to tell and obviously she was very happy for us."

It wasn't just the way he proposed that Prince William took a risk with, but the ring too. He decided to propose with Princess Diana's iconic sapphire and diamond ring and he'd been taking it everywhere with him for weeks until the right time.

"I had been carrying it around with me in my rucksack for about three weeks before that and I literally would not let it go," he said. "Everywhere I went I was keeping hold of it because I knew this thing, if it disappeared I would be in a lot of trouble".

This piece is world famous and incredibly expensive, though it's also sentimental so the possibility of losing it would've been terrible on so many levels for the future King. Thankfully, Prince William managed to keep it safe until he popped the question and the risk was worth it as he said the proposal went "really, really well".

According to royal expert Russell Myers in William & Catherine, the couple "agreed to savour the moment" and decided to "keep the news out of the public domain until they returned home". Almost a month later the news was announced and Queen Elizabeth was said to be "delighted".

Privately, the late monarch seems to have been hoping for this happy news for quite a while. At a reception held at Windsor Castle the same afternoon, the Queen was congratulated by a guest and allegedly responded, "It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time".

After wondering when we'd finally get some autumn weather, the UK's temperatures have plummeted and although I could do without the rain, I'm loving reaching for knitwear. The royals are clearly thinking the same and the Princess of Wales debuted a new Fair Isle jumper in a special video on 16th October, made by one of her favourite British clothing brands, ME+EM.

Kate announced a new project for the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, supported by founding partner, The Duchy of Cornwall. The future Queen has commissioned the Foundation Centre to take forward new work which examines how nature can help support the development of babies and young children.

Unsurprisingly, the Princess spoke about this project whilst outside in nature herself and the jumper kept her cosy. It was a deep chocolate brown tone with hints of steel blue, camel and white in the traditional Fair Isle pattern.

Shop Kate's Outfit

Shop More Fair Isle Jumpers

Brown is autumn's must-have colour and various shades are trending right now, from espresso to latte. Kate's outfits have been incorporating these hues for months and her ME+EM knit was mainly dark brown, which made it incredibly versatile.

When you're styling traditional patterns like Fair Isle and Argyle, it can be a bit daunting if there's a lot of different colours to balance. Picking a design which has a neutral base makes things easier and looks more understated. The Princess of Wales has a few different Fair Isle knits and they all have a cream, white or brown base.

This particular piece from ME+EM had a delicate, small pattern which accentuated the low-key feel. It's sadly almost out of stock now, though the brand still makes an alpaca-wool blend Fair Isle sweater in charcoal grey with pops of brown.

There are also so many other options out there right now and because brown is having a moment, a lot of designs feature this colour. In Cornwall we saw Kate wearing her jumper over the top of a monochrome polka dot shirt with the piecrust collar poking out at the top.

This gave her ensemble a preppy, polished edge and she loves layering her knitwear like this. If it's not for you, then you can still add extra warmth by wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt or a vest underneath.

The Princess of Wales added her Barbour Defence jacket over the top and the khaki-brown shade complemented the chocolate sweater perfectly. Earthy tones work beautifully together and Kate finished off her outfit with the same navy Johnstons of Elgin x Le Kilt skirt she wore in Scotland in January (also with a Fair Isle-inspired item).

It tied in with the blue in the Fair Isle pattern and the Princess would've wanted to look polished and smart-casual for this big announcement. However, a traditional Fair Isle knit looks stunning with a simple pair of blue or black jeans and ankle boots as a more relaxed outfit.

Something about the traditional, heritage feel of the pattern screams autumn/winter and although it can be tempting to go for brighter shades these can end up looking festive. Neutral knits are great throughout the colder months as well as for Christmas and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kate wear this ME+EM one a lot more this season.

She may have been the UK’s longest-serving monarch, but she was a grandmother first - and it was seeing how Prince William’s future in-laws treated her grandson that really enamoured the late Queen to the Middleton family.

Ailsa Anderson, a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, revealed how important it was for the Queen to see her "children and grandchildren happy" and she recognised how Michael and Carole Middleton "welcomed [William] with open arms into their family".

The late monarch was also reportedly comforted by another aspect of the Middleton family dynamic - how they "stuck together through thick and thin", giving William and Kate a role model when the Queen had been left "distressed" by three of her own children going through a divorce.

Speaking to HELLO!, Ailsa shared, "The Queen always wanted her children and grandchildren to be happy, and she recognised what a huge support Carole and Michael Middleton were to William and how they welcomed him with open arms into their family."

"She clearly saw all the qualities that the Middletons provided for Catherine and William. She had three out of her four children divorce, so I think she liked the fact that her grandson was marrying into a really close family who have stuck together through thick and thin."

She added, "Carole has never put a foot wrong - she’s been a steadfast presence as a loving, supportive mother and grandmother to those grandchildren."

Royal author Robert Hardman has also suggested the Queen was left "distressed" by her children’s divorces in the past, echoing the sentiment shared by Ailsa.

In his book, Queen of Our Times, Robert alleges, "It distressed her much more than she let on" and that a staffer told him for his book "one shouldn't underestimate the pain she's been through".

The source reportedly told the author that Her Majesty once even proclaimed, "'Three out of four!' in sheer sadness and exasperation".

Of the Queen’s four children, King Charles, Princess Anne and the former Prince Andrew have all been divorced. Charles, in what is now arguably one of the most famous separations of all time, and Princess Diana ended their marriage after 15 years.

Princess Anne divorced her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, after 18 years of marriage. And Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor divorced Sarah Ferguson after 10 years of marriage.

Now, with the late Queen gone, her trust in the Middletons seems well placed, with royal author Ingrid Seward describing how much of a support Carole has become to the future King and Queen.

She told HELLO!, "Carole is a really helpful, practical and unflappable mother and grandmother. Rather than ask what she can do, she just gets on with it; she's very proactive.

"When William went back to royal duties after Catherine’s diagnosis, she was doing the school run and probably doing things like filling the freezer with the kids' favourite foods.

"Looking after the three kids would have been absolutely no problem for her whatsoever, and Catherine would have been able to relax in the knowledge that her mother's hand was on the wheel."

Both women have held the same title, but Catherine, the current Princess of Wales has one “striking contrast” from the woman who held it before her, Princess Diana - Diana had to face it on her own.

This is the claim made by royal biographer Ingrid Seward, who suggested that “it’s one of the tragedies of Diana’s story that she was adored by millions, yet emotionally denied by the few who mattered most.”

Her opinion is that, despite both women having to deal with their own hurdles and burdens holding such a senior title in the Royal Family, Kate has the support of both Prince William and the Middleton family, whereas “Diana faced it alone”.

Ingrid made the claims on HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast, sharing that she believes “that is where the contrast” between Diana and Kate “is most striking”.

While acknowledging that Kate’s “life is not perfect, it is rooted in a shared understanding with William, her husband, Diana’s son.” And it’s not only having the support of her loving husband that has helped Kate comfortably take on the senior role.

From her closeness to her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, to her supportive siblings Pippa and James, Ingrid believes Kate has “something that Diana didn’t have: an incredibly close-knit family, and a very ambitious mother”.

Then, of course, there’s also the benefit of hindsight. Ingrid suggests that Kate has also cleverly learnt what not to do by observing what Diana went through so publicly.

“Catherine took lessons from Diana,” the royal author said. “She saw that Diana gave so much of herself to people, but it exposed her too much. Catherine learned from that: just give enough, but don’t give too much, because you’re too vulnerable that way, and people are going to strip you bare if you do that.”

“Being a Princess of Wales is not just about acting as a decorative accessory,” she added. “The title and rank can be a force for good, employed by both Diana and Catherine to champion big issues, using their celebrity to shine a light on often overlooked but critical challenges”.

A shared title is one thing, but the one thing that truly connects the two, per Ingrid, is their shared affinity for children.

“They both absolutely had [and have] a magic with children, and I think they would have talked about that,” she said. “Diana’s legacy is her sons and the way she changed the face of royal engagements, and Catherine has completely taken up the mantle [on that].”

Comparisons to Princess Diana - her late mother-in-law who passed away tragically young in 1997, before Kate had ever met her - were always going to be inevitable. And it's why she was reportedly reluctant to accept the Princess of Wales title to begin with.

"Kate found all such talk stressful,” royal author Robert Jobson wrote in Catherine: The Princess of Wales: A Biography of the Future Queen.

"Indeed, it got to the point where she felt she might follow Camilla (who opted to become Duchess of Cornwall) in refusing - when the time came - to be known as HRH Princess of Wales.”

Ultimately, when the time came in September 2022, Kate accepted the title "with good grace, out of respect for her husband and the king. Enough time had passed to make the title more palatable, and Catherine had been on the world stage long enough to be appreciated for her own qualities."

For many, the thought of facing the crowds of a busy capital city on the weekend can be enough to make you decide to stay at home, so commuters were in for a real surprise when they spotted royalty on a busy public train.

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte enjoyed a mother-daughter day of bonding in central London on Saturday, October 10, and had no qualms hopping on board the Elizabeth Line underground train during the busy rush.

As first reported by The Sun - who have videos of the princesses on board - passengers on the same rail as the future Queen and her daughter described the moment as "surreal" - but it proves that Prince William and Kate are walking the walk when it comes to their hope of fostering as normal a life for their children as they can.

Describing their day as a "very ordinary girls’ day out", the outlet also shared that Kate and Charlotte had a "low-key security detail" but the pair were unfazed sitting with other members of the public and they weren’t "hassled".

Kate and Charlotte were reported to have taken the Elizabeth Line - the newest addition to London’s underground network and named in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II when it was opened in May 2022 - and disembarked at Tottenham Court Road.

While it’s not known where they went after - and the outlet reports a spokesperson declined to comment on private family time - Tottenham Court Road is easily accessible to plenty of shops, West End theatres and the British Museum.

It’s also not too far from the Royal Ballet and Opera, and it’s known that the two share a love of ballet, having attended performances together in the past.

The ease in which Kate took her daughter on the very busy underground system - which sees over three million journeys per day - is another example of the ways in which they’re trying to give their children a sense of normalcy.

Widely discussed in the past, William and Kate have implemented many measures to help their three children - Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte - have a sense of a normal childhood.

Speaking to OK!, royal expert Duncan Larcombe suggested that the Prince of Wales is recreating the ‘Middleton model’ as he and Kate raise Prince George, Charlotte and Louis.

He shared, "Although there are some similarities, George is being raised in a very different way to Prince William. William has based his children's upbringing on the Middleton model - three children, affluent, but hardworking parents and lots of love in the house."

Having not been brought up as a royal, it’s been suggested that Kate is bringing more of the Middleton way of doing things to their family.

For the Channel 5 documentary Prince George: How To Make a Monarch, psychotherapist Lucy Beresford also explored the ways in which the future king and queen are raising their children to have a grounding sense of reality.

She claimed, "I think William and Kate, making sure that George, Charlotte and Louis have these normalising experiences where they just interact with really normal people, actually gives them that grounded sense that they are human beings like the rest of us.

"They're not rarefied, they're not elevated and it could hopefully dilute that sense of 'I'm invincible’".

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Belfast on Friday, and while Kate's outfit was made up of a few royal repeats, she did treat her fans to a statement new addition to her wardrobe.

She made the Emilia Wickstead Kensie Tartan Skirt the focus of her outfit, pairing it with the Knatchbull Cascade Ruffle Blouse, a pair of Cartier Trinity Earrings and a tailored Catherine Walker coat.

With the new series of The Celebrity Traitors well underway, we're embracing all things Highland-inspired at the moment, and this flattering midi skirt fits the bill perfectly. In fact, swap the Gianvito Rossi heels for chunky boots, and it's actually a very Claudia Winkleman-coded look. The pleats moved beautifully when Kate walked, plus it feels like exactly the kind of piece the late Queen Elizabeth II would have worn, only styled in a modern way.

Shop the look

What exactly is the heritage trend I hear you ask? Think reassuringly timeless items like cosy knits, checks, tweed, tailoring and autumnal colours. Focus on one key piece like Kate's skirt, and you can afford to keep the rest of your look simple. Easy, right?

For anyone who hasn't worn much tartan before, trying the print in earthier shades of green and brown or darker neutrals like navy can be a more subtle way to work the print into your autumn outfit ideas than striking shades of red.

In fact, Kate already owns a red tartan skirt by Emilia Wickstead, which she's worn on several high-profile engagements. Adding this similar but fresh skirt works to ensure her wardrobe is cohesive and familiar. It also proves that tartan is a trend that will come back year after year, so buying a similar style now is a sound investment.

A midi skirt is an easy swap for your favourite jeans this season. They're also a bit more flexible styling-wise than dresses, and the longer length will help elongate your frame. Pair yours with a shirt or light knit and ballet flats when the sun is shining, switching to your best cashmere jumper and boots when winter really kicks in.

Now it's finally getting colder, we can enjoy getting cosy, whether that means styling great UGG boot alternatives or chunky coats. I've personally been longing to wear my jumpers and even though many of them are neutral, I've been tempted to try something else.

The Princess of Wales has some gorgeous colourful jumpers and I was recently reminded of one she wore in January 2020. Kate often chooses to wear blue in Scotland as a nod to the national flag and this roll-neck knit was a misty pastel colour.

It kept her warm as she visited the Social Bites Café to meet members of the local community for her Early Childhood survey. The ribbed trims were a neat touch and it fell to just below her waist. The best jumpers are those that have a simple, timeless design as it means they can work with so many different skirts and trousers.

Recreate Kate's Look

A more classic style also helps to balance out a bolder colour, though the Princess's sweater was already quite subtle. Pastels aren't as popular at this time of year compared to rich, deep shades like chocolate and berry - both particularly big autumn/winter fashion colour trends for 2026.

However, the future Queen showcased in Scotland that we should never overlook them. Her soothing pale blue jumper might be more striking than a plain black or brown design but it also brought softness and brightness.

Kate paired her knitwear with black skinny jeans and black heeled ankle boots. Skinny jeans aren't for everyone though their fitted shape is perfect for tucking into boots and creating a streamlined, leg-elongating effect. Matching the colour of the jeans and footwear made this even stronger and the blue jumper lifted the colour palette.

When she arrived at the Social Bites Café the senior royal was wearing the Reiss Delaney coat in an even paler shade of blue than her sweater. Having two pastel items layered over each other immediately draws the eye because of the big colour contrast and then this actually emphasised the sleekness of the jeans and boots even more.

The Princess of Wales has used this trick multiple times, like in Northern Ireland in October 2022. On this occasion she wore a longline baby blue coat with a matching blouse and then kept the rest of her outfit navy.

She also went for navy trousers and flats when she wore a pastel blue houndstooth blazer in Windsor in June 2023. Even if blue isn't something you typically reach for, you can still take inspiration from the Princess's ensemble and go for another pastel like sage green or blush pink.

They would also work well against dark blue or black denim. In Scotland back in 2020, Kate finished off her style with gold fern earrings from Catherine Zoraida. These added some subtle sparkle but meant she still looked relatively relaxed.

This was perfect for a poignant engagement where she met with Social Bites Café employees, volunteers and customers who have experienced homelessness. The Princess was there to hear about how experiences in the early years of life can have a significant impact on later life.

The Princess of Wales is one of the most photographed people in the world so it's no surprise that she's become an expert at looking elegant and poised at almost every angle. This goes right down to how she drinks her tea and although most of us will never have thought about this that deeply, the future Queen reportedly "knows exactly" what she's doing.

In episode 3 of Channel 5's new series, Buckingham Palace: A Year in the Life, one of Britain's leading etiquette experts, Laura Windsor, revealed Kate's clever trick and it couldn't be easier.

"When you're drinking tea, try and look inside the cup because it looks more elegant. There's nothing worse than sipping your tea with googly eyes," she explained. "So always look into the cup and Princess Catherine does this beautifully. She looks inside the cup, she knows exactly what she's doing and that is all about elegance."

The Princess's simple method is discreet but there are still plenty of occasions over the years where you can spot her looking down at her drink in pictures. It's not just something she does with cups of tea either. Kate also looks inside glasses when she's drinking champagne or wine at receptions, or smoothies at engagements.

There are inevitably going to be times when she doesn't follow her own tip, though it's interesting to see Laura demonstrate it in the documentary. She's right when it says it looks "elegant" and the Princess of Wales uses it to create this sense of sophistication in real life as well as in pictures taken of her at different occasions.

Kate has got to grips with being photographed all the time and is very aware that eye placement matters, thanks to a helpful piece of advice from Prince Philip.

The late Duke of Edinburgh reportedly told her, "'If you believe the attention is for you personally', he warned her, 'you're going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you're supporting."

"It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the royal family. That's all. Don't look at the camera," he added, as per his biographer Gyles Brandreth. "The Queen never looks at the camera. Never. Look at who you're talking to."

There are no doubt loads more tips and tricks where that came from and the Princess of Wales had to master them quickly after she became a member of the Royal Family. Just getting in and out of the royal cars wearing dresses or skirts without accidentally revealing a bit too much can be complicated for her.

Like the late Princess Diana famously often held her clutch bags over her chest for modesty when she was exiting a vehicle. She also used to press her knees together and swivel towards the door to avoid any wardrobe mishaps and her daughter-in-law can be seen doing this nowadays too.

All episodes of Buckingham Palace: A Year in the Life are available to stream on C5.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are already making small moves to modernise the monarchy but when they become King and Queen Consort, this could be taken to another level. The couple will suddenly have the run of the vast royal property portfolio, including the iconic Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

However, royal author Ingrid Seward believes that Kate, perhaps inspired by her mother Carole's upbringing, could persuade her husband to tone things down.

"[Will they] stay small in Forest Lodge, or go the whole hog and decide to keep Sandringham, Balmoral and all the other smaller houses light and warm and staffed through the long winter nights?" she asks in Catherine & Diana. "The voice of Catherine, whose mother was brought up in a council flat, in William's ear might suggest that keeping things relatively modest is in tune with the times."

Carole Middleton has previously spoken about watching her father Ron, a builder, and mother Dorothy, who worked part-time in a jeweller shop, toiling "extremely hard" to "make ends meet and give [their children] a lifestyle". She believes she's passed that same work ethic to her kids and we can see that Kate, Pippa and James's upbringing was far more ordinary than William's.

The Prince and Princess of Wales currently already own Forest Lodge, Anmer Hall and Tam-Na-Ghar Cottage but keeping multiple official residences staffed is another matter and Ingrid thinks Kate's grounding gives her an "immense, not to say unique, value as a queen consort". Although the author believes his destiny as King is "drilled into his DNA", she adds his feet are on the pavement.

"All the signs point to William wishing to downsize the grandeur of the royal family - not to lose its tradition or its panoply of grandeur but to bring it in line with people's expectations," she claims.

Traditionally we'd expect the King and Queen to spend time at different residences throughout the year, like Sandringham at Christmas and Balmoral over the summer. I'd be surprised if they abandoned that completely but they might choose to actually stay at Anmer and Tam-Na-Ghar after hosting the family at the main homes.

Windsor Castle hasn't really been used as a residence since Queen Elizabeth's reign and they might still use it for audiences or meetings like they do now. Instead of staffing so many homes all year round, they could just be staffed as and when.

This would be seen as more economical and "in line" with modern expectations but Forest Lodge works so well as a base for them too. It's easy for them to travel from there to London and it's not far from the Middletons' home in Bucklebury.

The Princess of Wales's family are just as important to Kate and William as the royals - and the Prince recognised how close they were from the start.

"Kate's got a very, very close family. I get on really well with them and I'm very lucky that they've been so supportive," he said in the couple's engagement interview. "Mike and Carole have been really loving and caring and really fun and have been really welcoming towards me."

The Princess of Wales is one of the most photographed women in the world, is always meticulously dressed and lives in a historic royal property on the Windsor Estate. However, behind closed doors, Kate is comfortable with things being a lot more low-key and used to go on trips that involved far less glamorous routines.

According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, the future Queen inherited her down-to-earth approach from her dad, Michael, who "frequently took the family on adventure holidays" to the Lake District. They owned a cottage there and the expert claims in Catherine & Diana that they "would bathe in tin baths and gather logs for fires".

It’s all very humble and these holidays couldn’t be more different to many of the luxurious trips her husband Prince William went on growing up - or even the visits to Mustique that the Middletons have also enjoyed in the past. It paints a picture of a side of Kate that fans will never really get to see and shows she’s never been afraid to get stuck in and get things done.

Her uncle Gary Goldsmith (Carole’s younger brother) has directly said his niece isn’t "precious", claiming to fashion writer Claudia Joseph that she "quietly gets on with the task at hand". Ingrid also believes that the Princess of Wales is "more like" Michael than "feisty" Carole, insisting that she’s "never sought" the spotlight even though she’s constantly under it because of her royal role.

It’s the small moments that matter most to her and the Princess is eager to encourage her own children to get outside and make memories.

During her appearance on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast in 2021, Kate was asked to complete the sentence, "I’m happiest when…" and promptly responded, "I’m with my family outside in the countryside and we're all filthy dirty".

She spends so much of her working life being perfectly poised and professional, so it perhaps makes sense that she’s more understated in her personal life. We get to see her relaxed side in the anecdotes she tells at engagements, particularly if they’re about George, Charlotte and Louis, but Woman&Home’s Royal Correspondent Emily Andrews believes there’s definitely a difference between the Princess of Wales in public and in private.

Speaking on an episode of her and Reverend Richard Coles’ Catching Up With The Royals podcast earlier this year, she declared, "The public Catherine is quite reserved and quite formal and very warm with the kiddies…but she's not going to give you too much. The private Kate is quite different. Very warm, very friendly, and got a great sense of humour."

The royal expert also suggested that the Princess of Wales loves practical jokes too and played a rather surprising one during her and William’s official visit to Australia in 2014.

"Her and William had to stand in a specific place and it had been marked out on the floor with a plastic spider. So she crept round the back of the sofa to where one of her aides was sitting and she knew that he didn’t like spiders and she kind of drops it into her aide’s lap. I mean he nearly hit the roof! I mean everyone thought it was very funny - including, I should say, the aide," Emily claimed.

The Princess of Wales's signature style is always polished but you can tell how much she loves spending time in nature and her outfits for outdoor engagements are what I can imagine her wearing in her daily life. They're also very easy to recreate and Kate's jeans and boots combination for a visit to the Lake District in September 2021 ticks that box.

She stepped out in plain black skinny jeans and her trusty See by Chloe lace-up boots, styled with a simple oatmeal knit and a belted jacket. This look blended practicality with style and it needed to be cosy and comfortable, as she was heading out on Lake Windermere as well as visiting the Jetty Museum.

Shop Boots Like Kate's

Complete The Look

The future Queen went for her go-to denim silhouette here and although I personally much prefer wide-cut jeans, skinny jeans look so sleek tucked into the top of boots. There's no bunching of the fabric and the final look is so streamlined that it's very leg-elongating.

If you're not sure about incorporating skinny jeans into autumn outfit ideas then straight-leg styles are a more relaxed alternative and they drape beautifully over ankle boots. Kate's jeans were black rather than classic blue and darker jeans are always popular in the colder months.

Black denim in particular tends to feel smarter as there's not a lot of variation in the wash, so they're so useful for those occasions where you want to be comfy yet still look polished. The block neutral tone also works well with pretty much any other colour, including some of the fashion colour trends for 2026 like berry and chocolate brown.

The Princess of Wales's boots were a dark brown and she often wears this See by Chloe style when she's outdoors because the cleated sole provides extra grip. Black boots and black jeans complement each other especially well as they seamlessly blend into one another, though her dark brown boots were a softer alternative.

The lace-up design added some detail and flat ankle boots like this are perfect for the daytime when you're doing a lot of walking. To take an outfit like Kate's from day to night, you can swap out a crew-neck jumper for a shirt or roll-neck and add a blazer over the top too.

She didn't dress quite that smartly in September 2021, but still looked put-together in her beige sweater and a Really Wild green tweed jacket that added a countryside feel.

This was an understated style choice for this engagement, where the Princess went out on Lake Windermere with Ike and Arek, two of the "Windermere Children" - a group of 300 child survivors of the Holocaust who came to the Lake District in 1945.

Kate's an expert at adjusting her outfits to ensure they're appropriate for different occasions and her jeans and ankle boot pairing wasn't too fancy or too casual. It highlighted her approachability during this poignant visit, during which she also went to the Jetty Museum and heard about the Lake District Holocaust Project's work documenting and educating the public about the experiences of the 'Windermere Children".

The Princess of Wales's high heel collection is something so many shoe lovers would envy but it's her practical footwear that's inspiring my own autumn/winter wardrobe. She has a few staple styles that she reaches for whenever she's undertaking engagements in the rain, mud or snow and her Sorel ones might be the most useful.

Kate owns an older version of the brand's iconic Torino boots and they're waterproof and lined. She wore them a lot during her and Prince William's 2018 visit to Norway and Sweden and hers are the black colourway. This year Sorel is selling them in a range of different shades, including black and brown, which is still a major fashion colour trend for the season.

Shop Kate's Style

Shop More Cosy Boots

The chunky cleated soles provide excellent grip and woman&home Digital Fashion Ecommerce Editor Caroline Parr described the fleece lining as being “like a hug for your ankles” in her full Sorel Torino Boots review. The Princess would've no doubt appreciated this level of comfort too, as she wore these shoes to play some Bandy hockey and walk around in the snow, all while being pregnant with Prince Louis.

Although many of the best wellies are stylish as well as functional, a pair of waterproof, warm boots is a must-have for the colder months. Kate cleverly went for a neutral colour that will go with everything and because her Torinos are ankle-height, they're easy to tuck trousers into.

In Norway when the Waleses visited Holmenkollen she stuck to black ski trousers but for the Bandy hockey match in Sweden, the future Queen opted for black skinny jeans instead.

Even if you're not someone who usually loves fitted jeans (me neither!), this shape is perfect for neatly tucking into boots. Straight-leg jeans are a slightly comfier alternative and if you want an ultra leg-elongating effect then go for a close colour match.

Black jeans, leggings or trousers and black boots seamlessly flow into each other, though lighter boots and blue denim is another great option. Sorel and many other brands sell waterproof snow boots that come up higher, though shorter styles like Kate's are just a bit more versatile and understated.

You could easily wear shorter boots day-to-day as well as for hikes or snowy weather, compared to taller footwear which can look a bit out of place if you're not actually walking in deep snow or torrential rain.

I have plenty of pairs of leather and suede boots that I love for autumn/winter but this year I'm tempted to invest in some that are specifically made to keep feet dry and warm.

The Princess of Wales has proved that they can still be chic and although we haven't seen her stepping out in her Sorel Torinos publicly for a while, who knows how often she reaches for them in private when she's heading out in the countryside around the Waleses' Norfolk and Berkshire homes.

Easy, everyday autumn outfit ideas tend to be what we wear the most but sometimes we just want to feel a bit more put-together. That doesn't mean you have to overcomplicate your style as simple pairings like a jumper and jeans can be elevated.

Adding some jewellery can work wonders and I still can't help but admire the way the Princess of Wales's dainty charm necklace looks with knitwear. She debuted this Alex Monroe Paleontology Nugget necklace in 2020 and wore it twice that November, both times with a knit and blazer.

I particularly love the way it looked against her pink jumper in a video she filmed to tease the announcement of the 5 Big Questions survey results. Compared to a lot of Kate's other pieces, this necklace is very dainty and understated, with a single gold chain and tiny charms spaced out along it.

Shop Kate's Necklace

Shop Jumpers Like Kate's

These are etched with different motifs, from botanicals to an ammonite and the Alex Monroe iconic bee design. This design is part of the brand's Natural History collection and it's made from gold plated solid silver, as are a lot of pieces in the Alex Monroe autumn jewellery collection.

The Princess layered it over her knitwear and the glint of the gold added some subtle sparkle without being too much. A necklace like this that sits below the neckline of a jumper is so chic and hers really stood out against the pastel pink behind it.

The bigger the colour contrast, the more it becomes the focus so if you really want your jewellery to steal the show I'd recommend going for a black or a white knit. The first time we ever saw the Princess of Wales with this necklace on was in a video thanking participants in her Hold Still community photography project and she styled it with a lightweight white knit and red blazer.

Once again the necklace sat beautifully over the top of her jumper and caught the light. Both of Kate's jumpers were plain block colours so having the sparkle and the individual charm details added some extra detail and a sense of sophistication.

If you're someone who tends to reach for roll-neck jumpers then you can still take a leaf out of the Princess's book but I'd advise going for a slightly longer necklace or a fitted sweater to ensure the jewellery sits nicely over the top. A dainty design will be easier to incorporate into different outfits day-to-night, as will necklaces without any stones or colours.

The Princess went for a plain gold Alex Monroe necklace and the same Paleontology Nugget design also comes in silver. Metallics go with everything and versatility is key when you're trying to find the perfect daily necklace. Even though Kate has a vast collection of jewellery it's often the simplest items like this that she reaches for most often for engagements.

She saves the jewel-encrusted pieces for big events or to send a sentimental message. The Princess of Wales also goes through months and years gravitating towards certain necklaces more than any others for public appearances. Although we haven't seen her Alex Monroe one for a while, that doesn't mean that she isn't wearing it at home to jazz up her jumpers.

The Princess of Wales's cancer diagnosis sent shockwaves around the world but it's hard to truly imagine how devastating it was for those closest to her. Prince William has described 2024 as "brutal" and now it's been suggested that the news of his wife's illness brought back the "sudden, sickening" fear he'd felt as a teenager when his mother died.

"When Catherine fell ill, it wasn't just a medical crisis. It was the reopening of an old wound he had spent decades learning to live around," claims royal expert Ingrid Seward in Catherine & Diana. "The shock of the diagnosis announced by Catherine in an emotional video filmed at Windsor carried with it the unmistakable scent of déjà vu."

She believes that Prince William experienced the same "sense of being thrust into a story he had never chosen, one that had already taken too much from him".

According to Ingrid, the future King did "everything in his power to shield" his wife from the world and although he resumed public-facing duties a month after she made her diagnosis public, his schedule was significantly scaled-back. He wanted to be there for her and their children and ensured that work was fitted around his family.

"The thought that he might lose her was intolerable to William, so he made sure he wouldn't - by being there at every turn," the expert alleges.

This was an incredibly tough time for the Wales family and the idea that the Princess's diagnosis might have also brought back the helplessness he felt as a 15-year-old losing his mother is heartwrenching.

William has said 2024 was the "hardest" year of his life and he's been equally open about how the family wouldn't function without Kate. After describing his wife as an "amazing" spouse and mother on Heart Breakfast in May, he added, "Literally our family couldn't cope without her, so she's been absolutely stunning really."

Her illness and what Princess Diana went through are incredibly different, though for William it makes sense that he'd be especially protective of his wife after losing someone else so integral to his life at such a young age. Prince Harry has also expressed fear about "history repeating itself", comparing the media's treatment of Meghan to what his mother faced.

The Princess of Wales announced she was in remission in January 2025 and she and William have re-focused more than ever on each other, their children and causes very close to their hearts.

Kate has eased back into royal duties, undertaking her first solo overseas trip since her diagnosis shortly before William's radio appearance. The future King has also been open about how "the most important thing in [his life] is family" and he and Kate continue to be hands-on parents arranging work around George, Charlotte and Louis.

All of them were also there to congratulate the Princess when she completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in June to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The Prince and Princess of Wales have always faced everything together and even though her illness might've opened "old wounds" they're stronger than ever.

The Princess of Wales always looks so polished and professional at royal engagements but it seems she has her disorganised moments like any of us. Surprising as it might sound, Kate has admitted she often forgets something crucial - her handbag!

The future Queen revealed her habit of misplacing her accessories as she travelled in the West Sussex Minibus with 94-year-old Stella Drewett on 30th September. The Princess was visiting to learn more about this volunteer-led community transport service which helps people across West Sussex stay connected to the people and activities that matter to them most.

Taking her seat next to Stella on the bus, she reportedly joked, "Everyone always runs after me [shouting], 'You forgot your handbag".

Shop Burgundy Bags Like Kate's

Shop Royal Favourites

You'd think a handbag carrying your day-to-day essentials is something you'd never misplace, especially when they're as beautiful as hers are, but apparently not. Kate carried a beautiful burgundy design by Smythson for this visit and it had the structured shape and top handle straps that her go-to styles from handbag brands like Aspinal and Strathberry also have.

These elements just make a bag feel more formal, which is exactly what she wants for a work day, though the Princess also often brings a tote with her and passes it to one of her royal assistants when she arrives. Perhaps that's one of the reasons for her forgetfulness, as it's possible her actual handbags don't have much in them.

When she and Prince William visited Jamaica in 2022 there was a viral moment where Kate looked like she was going to leave her handbag on a chair after a welcoming ceremony. At the last minute she remembered and calmly went back for it but it shows it's easily done when you're chatting to people at these kinds of occasions.

Handbags aren't the only thing the Princess of Wales needs to be reminded about either. Speaking to The Times earlier this year, host of the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, Giovanna Fletcher, claimed, "She told me that she was notoriously bad at keeping an eye on her phone. She always loses her phone."

According to her, "all of [Kate's] Christmas presents" in 2019 were related in some way to helping her with this. It sounds like it's all very good-natured and the Princess is also on hand to remind Prince George, Charlotte and Louis about important things too.

As per The Mirror, on the minibus journey to the weekly lunch club at Pulborough Village Hall, the Princess of Wales explained she has to remind her children to put their seatbelts on in the car. She and William regularly do school pick-ups and drop-offs and are generally either driven or drive themselves to events in cars.

It was quite a contrast to see the future Queen aboard the West Sussex Minibus and she looked very relaxed as she spent time with attendees and volunteers at the lunch club. She heard how different opportunities to come together can forge friendships, reduce isolation and build stronger, connected communities.

Prince William and Princess Catherine have reportedly let go of any anger and hurt towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the myriad claims made against them in interviews and memoirs.

Instead, royal sources have reportedly shared that the pair are taking a “very old-school royal approach” and will simply focus on getting the job done, perhaps an indication of their leadership style when it comes time for them to be King and Queen.

Per the Express, a royal writer for People has been told by Palace insiders that the couple have decided to "take a very old-school royal approach to Harry and Meghan's return: ‘Keep calm, carry on, do the job’".

The source continues that, as of right now, Harry and Meghan are "not a priority" and the Prince and Princess of Wales are "very much looking to the future".

In support of this claim, Omid Scobie, a royal author who has written books including Finding Freedom about the Sussexes and the Royal Family, has suggested that Kate in particular has taken a step back when it comes to handling the feud between the princes.

"There’s always this talk of Kate potentially being the peacekeeper, the one that could bring the two brothers together," he said in a new interview for the IMPACT x Nightline documentary, Harry & Meghan: The Return of the Prince.

He added, "If I’ve learned anything over the years from covering them, it’s that Kate has very little to do with that relationship between the brothers".

Previously, in a piece published by The Sunday Times, sources close to William have added that he has indeed decided to focus on bigger priorities, with Harry occupying less space in his mind.

A friend of William's reportedly told the outlet, "What has struck me the most recently is that he just doesn’t mention it at all. It used to be that the family stuff was taking up a lot of space in his head; it was a very close relationship, and he was very upset.

"But he’s not letting it get to him at all anymore. It is a change. It’s sad, but it’s a much healthier space for him to be at".

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former private secretary to William, Kate and Harry hailed this as a sign of William’s leadership ability, also telling the outlet, "I think it has demonstrated William’s character and his courage - he’s had to take the whole thing in his stride and shown that he won’t be pushed around."

William and Kate’s stance is aligned with lessons they no doubt observed from the late Queen Elizabeth’s historic 70-year reign. Famous for her commitment to duty above all, the late monarch would rarely respond to rumours and headlines.

In the book My Mother and I, there are even suggestions the ability to compartmentalise personal emotions was something she had "trained" herself to do.

Former politician Douglas Hurd told Ingrid Seward, the author of the book, "The Queen trained feelings out of herself in order to avoid any confrontation."

Ingrid also wrote in the book, "The Queen's former press secretary, the late, enigmatic Martin Charteris, who started working for her when she was Princess Elizabeth, agreed" with his suggestion.

Martin told her, "The Queen is not good at showing affection. She'd always be doing her duty."

The Princess Royal isn't about to swap her trusty riding boots for running trainers anytime soon - and she didn't hold back with her feelings about this high-speed sport. The no-nonsense royal gave her verdict on running after meeting with former rugby player, Sir Kevin Sinfield, ahead of his attempt to run seven ultra-marathons in seven days to raise money for charity.

When discussing his incredible challenge, Sir Kevin said that people mistake it for a "fun run" when they see it on the television. Princess Anne isn't going to make that same error, quipping, "Fun run is a contradiction in terms".

The Princess Royal added, "I can run, but I don’t do it for [fun]…no, I’m past that stage" and was polite but firm when Kevin told her she was "welcome to join".

"No thank you! I will stick to horses," she quipped in typical *her* fashion. So we don't imagine Princess Anne joining the Princess of Wales for a brisk run anytime soon.

According to reports, Kate used to run frequently as part of her fitness routine and built up quite a reputation for her skill within the Royal Family. During an appearance on the House of Rugby podcast, Mike Tindall previously revealed Kate would be on his "dream team" because she could "run all day" and described her as an "engine".

The Princess of Wales's fitness runs are a very different prospect compared to Sir Kevin's endeavour. His involves running the seven ultra marathons (races that are longer than the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles) to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) charities and keeping well-fuelled is key.

Princess Anne showed genuine curiosity, or concern, asking Kevin how he was finding time to eat. He explained that he gets supplied with sports drinks during the marathons, and that he had been filling up on bacon sandwiches for fuel.

Joking that he might not be able to resist if someone put a bowl of pasta in front of him, Anne replied with a smile, "Stick to the bacon butties."

Princess Anne’s interest in his marathon was later praised by former England Rugby Captain Lewis Moody, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2025. He is a friend and former teammate of Anne’s son-in-law, Mike Tindall, and said, "She was really knowledgeable... We were just chatting, talking about the space itself and the energy that has been brought to it by the individual that Kev is."

He added, "Princess Anne is an incredible spirit in her own right and I think kindred spirit recognised kindred spirit and I think she sees that in Kev. To have her energy and presence here today is just a fantastic thing for this community. To be able to have someone of her stature... to recognise the work they are doing, because it is tough at times."

The Princess has been patron of the MND Association since 2008. She thanked Sir Kevin for his work for the charities, telling him, "This research is so important. We've never had funding to do that. When I first joined, there was no research.

"Thank you. A lot of people have been doing this for a long time but people like you have made such a difference."

I never thought I'd be wanting it to get cold but now we're in October I'm longing to incorporate more coats and jackets into my autumn outfit ideas. Outerwear is a staple in anyone's wardrobe and as well as being practical, they can also add elegance.

The Princess of Wales's coat collection ticks that box and she seized the opportunity to wear a gorgeous grey one in Sussex on 30th September. This Maxi City Coat by British clothing brand Jigsaw is back this season in khaki and navy, and is made from wool.

Just like linen and cotton in summer, wool is a very breathable material and it's perfect for keeping you warm without overheating. Kate usually wears crisp, tailored designs but this piece is a little more relaxed and it balanced her smart outfit underneath.

Shop Kate's Coat

Complete The Look

The deep charcoal colour would go with pretty much any other shade and it's a softer alternative to a black coat. Chocolate brown has a similar feel and is still an autumn/winter fashion colour trend for this year if you prefer warmer undertones.

The future Queen has been loving grey a lot more in recent years and her Reiss silk blouse and Ralph Lauren trousers were very on-theme. Her trousers almost exactly matched the coat whilst the shirt was a softer, silvery hue. Everything about this ensemble was cohesive and although Kate's outerwear had formal details like the notched lapels and flap pockets it wasn't fitted.

She also chose to wear it unbuttoned and this gave it a more low-key edge. A coat with this kind of silhouette is so versatile as it's smart enough to go with tailoring and dresses and can also be paired with jeans and jumpers.

Although the Princess of Wales's signature style tends to be more elevated, for certain engagements she often adjusts this to avoid looking too corporate or unapproachable. Kate was in Sussex to visit the volunteer-led West Sussex Minibus service and spent time with the volunteers and attendees at their weekly lunch club at Pulborough Village Hall before travelling in the minibus herself.

She learnt more about how small everyday gestures can help build more connected communities and her outfit for the day was the perfect mix of chic and understated. The Princess will have thought about it carefully and royal author Ingrid Seward believes Kate's coats "are her armour, her shorthand, her fashion weapon".

Writing in Catherine & Diana she said the royal wears, "Crisp military lines for solemnity, sweeping capes for ceremony, mannish double-breasted cuts for brisk walkabouts in unforgiving weather."

The Princess of Wales wasn't battling "unforgiving" conditions in Sussex but it has started to get colder and since a coat dominates autumn/winter outfits it makes sense to have one in a neutral colour like hers that you can get plenty of use out of.

Kate was first seen wearing her Jigsaw coat last autumn when she and Prince William visited Southport and she'll likely style it again over the coming months.

When she's not dressing for formal occasions the Princess of Wales loves keeping her outfits simple and that includes her jewellery. She usually only wears one or two pieces besides her wedding ring stack for engagements and for her visit to the home of Leeds Rhinos rugby team on 29th September, she chose earrings with a special link to Princess Charlotte.

Kate's most-worn earrings throughout the past few years have been her Cartier Trinity ones but she's been mixing things up recently and chose her Empress Diamond Drops. These have been in her collection for a lot longer and the first time we ever saw the Princess wearing them was back in 2015 for Charlotte's christening.

Recreate Kate's Outfit

They were made by British jewellers Mappin & Webb and the floral-like cut-out design takes inspiration from the brand's archives. The future Queen also owns the matching necklace and she wore the pair for her daughter's christening but just the earrings at AMT Headingley Stadium.

This makes sense as the rest of her outfit was minimal and the occasion was poignant, as she and Prince William learnt about how the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and club are changing lives through sport. The full set might've been a bit much, though the drops added some subtle sparkle and acted as a sweet reminder of Charlotte.

Given that the eleven-year-old's christening wasn't exactly a quiet family event and was heavily photographed, it won't have passed Kate by that these earrings have a strong connection to her daughter's big day.

Perhaps she even draws comfort from having this small link to Charlotte with her, as the Princess also wore the Empress earrings when she visited The Royal Marsden Hospital earlier in September. On that occasion she was there to see how efforts through her National Three Peaks Challenge help with cancer for cancer patients.

The Princess raised money and awareness for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity with the challenge and was spotted wearing what looks like a friendship bracelet - which Charlotte is known to make for her family - when she completed it.

During important discussions or deeply meaningful visits she often incorporates jewellery that links to her children or Prince William like this, so I wouldn't be surprised if that crossed her mind when she was picking her outfit for her time in Leeds.

It also doesn't hurt that the gorgeous white gold and diamond design works beautifully with a huge variety of tones and doesn't overpower an outfit. Kate re-styled her Ralph Lauren green blazer from the Wales family's day at the Commonwealth Games in August and paired it with plain black wide-leg trousers and a black top.

If you're never quite sure how to style bold colours like emerald, I'd recommend following in the Princess of Wales's footsteps and going all-neutral with the rest of your look. It balances everything out and lets the statement shade to do all the talking.

Although Kate wore all-black with her green blazer, you could also go for more of her favourite hues like charcoal or chocolate, which is a big autumn/winter fashion colour trend. Other colours like camel or cream would also look stunning with a vibrant blazer, jumper or accessories.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have proved the old adage 'actions speak louder than words' as the bitter feud with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex enters a new phase.

The Prince and Princess of Wales carried out their first joint engagement since the summer break to mark World Suicide Prevention Day at the home of Everton Football Club in Liverpool.

The visit caught attention for a number of reasons - not least because Kate decided to join her husband at what was expected to be a solo outing for the prince.

While to many casual onlookers this may have been interpreted as just another official engagement carried out by the two most popular members of the Royal Family, in reality this was the regal equivalent of flexing their combined muscles in a show of solidarity that sent a message to the Sussexes.

William and Kate clearly want to ensure they take centre stage as they brace for Harry and Meghan to make their next move.

By joining her husband at the event, Kate was in effect throwing down the gauntlet to her brother- and sister-in-law, now that they have returned to the UK.

It is often the subtle signs that count for so much when observing the actions and behaviour of members of the Royal Family. And on this occasion there is little doubt that the couple were determined to make a statement.

Kate is rumoured to be accompanying William to Mumbai in November for The Earthshot Prize ceremony, a trip that would mark their first significant joint overseas official engagement in four years.

It's another sign of a strategy that appears to signal the next stage in the war of the Windsors.

So far William and Kate have avoided saying anything publicly about the years-long feud with the Sussexes. But they are clearly keen to meet the challenge posed by Harry and Meghan head-on.

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Boots are my favourite type of footwear so I've been struggling on what shoes to wear in this mild September weather. White trainers are a staple but they're not right for every occasion and so I can't help admiring the Princess of Wales's gorgeous loafers.

They've become a go-to autumn shoe for the future Queen and she's been swapping her court shoes for flats a lot more often in recent years. We first saw her wear the Nya Penny Loafers in February and she just styled them for a visit to The Forward Trust to mark Addiction Awareness Week.

The exact oxblood colour Kate owns isn't still available but we can always rely on this British clothing brand to bring back classic designs and the £119 brown leather versions are very similar. They're flat and have a scalloped detail on the vent.

Shop Kate's Boden Loafers

Complete The Look

Otherwise they're very minimal and this makes them especially versatile. The Princess of Wales tends to wear loafers with tailored trousers and she did that at The Forward Trust, wearing a dark cocoa-brown straight-leg style by Joseph.

She paired them with a matching dark brown knit and added a monochrome houndstooth blazer over the top. The pattern added some contrast and definition to the pared-back ensemble. It was a more relaxed take on her favourite suits and the knitwear and flats softened it even more.

This is exactly what she wanted, as she was outside for a lot of the visit and got stuck in with planting as part of a gardening session. Kate is Patron of The Forward Trust, which supports people as they recover from addiction and helps them rebuild their lives.

Going too formal would've been impractical and looked out of place. The beauty of loafers is that they are naturally quite smart with their structured design but because they're flat they're never going to look too corporate.

The first time we saw the Princess wearing these specific loafers was when she went to Castle Hill Academy to mark Children's Mental Health Week in February when the weather was rather autumnal. She's also worn a different pair of tan suede loafers by Pretty Ballerinas to visit the Natural History Museum in September last year.

Both times, she stepped out in cigarette trousers, a shirt and a neutral blazer. This is a winning style formula, though I think loafers work just as well with dresses or skirts, or with jeans for a smart-casual look.

They can be sleek so they don't stand out too much with feminine, flowy silhouettes but if you want an edgy feel with dresses then go for chunkier styles. Either way they're a flat shoe that works for the daytime or evening and I think Kate's been very clever with her choice of colours.

The loafers we've seen her wear are a very dark oxblood colour that looks brown in a lot of lights, and tan. Chocolate tones are a big autumn/winter fashion colour trend for 2026 and brown shoes are also slightly easier to style with a wider range of items compared to plain black shoes.

Black loafers, especially smooth leather ones, can look quite stark against blue jeans or lighter trousers or skirts. Brown and tan are a bit gentler and not as much of a contrast.

The Princess of Wales picked her outfit for the world premiere of Tom Cruise's new film Digger with the same precision as State Banquets and it was deeply meaningful as well as gorgeous. She walked the red carpet with Prince William wearing a floor-length flowing gown by one of her go-to British clothing brands for events, Jenny Packham.

This deep purple colour isn't something she styles a lot and as berry is a big autumn/winter fashion colour trend, it felt seasonal and was definitely a statement. Purple is associated with royalty and she faced the world on the same day as Earl Spencer's memoir, Swan Song, was published wearing equally regal jewellery.

The Princess often uses her outfits to send a message and she chose Princess Diana's Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings and the Queen Mother's Amethyst Sautoir Necklace.

Shop Berry Tones For Autumn

The necklace in particular is hard to miss and has a huge heart-shaped amethyst suspended from the chain which has smaller stones set at intervals. We last saw this heirloom piece in public when Queen Camilla wore it to the Skyfall premiere in 2012, creating a strong association between Kate's stepmother-in-law and this item.

The Queen Mother was also incredibly close with King Charles and Their Majesties still live at her former home, Clarence House. She could be seen as the matriarch of the "Old Guard" of the Royal Family and was a stickler for traditional customs and protocol.

Princess Diana couldn't have been more different and helped to usher in a new era for the royals with her hands-on parenting and her down-to-earth style at engagements.

Prince William and Kate have followed in her footsteps and it's now totally normal to see the royals hugging members of the public or signing off messages with just their initials. By wearing Diana's earrings and the Queen Mother's Camilla-linked necklace the Princess of Wales has effectively reunited these two sides of the family and two approaches.

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Digger premiere to support the Film and TV Charity the day of Swan Song's release and the memoir hasn't painted King Charles in a particularly positive light. Following Earl Spencer's allegation that the monarch told him "we'll forget her soon enough" after the Princess' death the Palace issued a rare response.

"His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss," it declared.

The Prince and Princess of Wales haven't commented on the memoir but Kate's outfit showed her true allegiance, which is ultimately to her husband of 15 years. She honoured both Prince William's parents with her jewellery and to the Royal Family he'll one day lead with the purple.

Given how many options she has in her wardrobe I don't think the final ensemble was a coincidence. The purple is particularly beautiful and something we could perhaps see her wearing more of this autumn. It goes especially well with tan and brown tones which the Princess also loves and would reinforce her message.

The Prince and Princess of Wales haven't been to a premiere together since Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 and tonight they're once again getting glammed up and walking the red carpet in honour of one of Tom Cruise's films. The couple are attending the global premiere of Digger, which highlights the dangers of an environmental disaster, to support the Film and TV Charity.

However, the event falls during yet another turbulent time for the Royal Family and it's possible there could be slightly more behind their decision to go. According to Woman's Guest Royal Editor Duncan Larcombe The Firm is reportedly "nervous" about what Prince Harry and Meghan could do to "overshadow the working royals' important campaigns".

In the latest issue the royal expert also noted, "Even stepping out on the same day as, say, Kate and William at a separate event will cause a headache for those behind the scenes at the Palace, with (no doubt uncomfortable) stories suggesting they are competing for attention."

This is a dilemma for working royals like William and Kate, who are also well aware that Harry and Meghan are fond of attending big events like premieres, galas and awards. Right now, the Prince and Princess of Wales are choosing to carry on with their engagements as normal and haven't commented on the Sussexes' return.

Additional public appearances could be a welcome reminder that they are the working royals and perhaps going forwards it's less likely that Prince Harry and Meghan will end up being invited to big events like this.

Maybe even in the back of their minds there's a concern that if they don't accept, the Sussexes could get asked? We'll never know for sure but Harry and Meghan moving back to the UK has put the Prince and Princess of Wales in an even trickier position when it comes to direct comparisons being made.

Duncan claimed the "Palace is in turmoil over what to do next" as the Royal Family "essentially sit and wait for the Sussexes' next move".

Prince William and Kate attending the Digger premiere not only makes a public statement and supports an important charity, but will give the Royal Family a positive publicity boost on the same day as Earl Spencer's new book came out.

He's said William and Harry "won't be surprised" by the allegations in Swan Song, but it's made serious allegations about their father. This includes the claim that King Charles sounded "giddily elated" when he called after Princess Diana's death in 1997.

Buckingham Palace responded swiftly to extracts, stating, "While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss."

This new wave of coverage in the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan's return is putting the royals under pressure and Prince William and Kate are two of the most popular family members. Many fans will be excited to see them at the Digger premiere, reuniting with Tom Cruise.

Alongside meeting with him, the future King and Queen are also being welcomed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and senior representatives from the Film and TV Charity.

Read royal biographer Duncan Larcombe's full feature in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Queen Elizabeth was no ordinary granny and one decision she made about Prince William could've changed the course of history. The Prince and Princess of Wales were friends first at university before romance blossomed and according to royal expert Ingrid Seward, the monarch soon found herself facing a "dilemma".

Writing in the Daily Mail, Ingrid suggested the Queen's "own beliefs were firmly anchored in the 'no sex before marriage' ethic", claiming that it "ridiculously, applied only to women". When William and Kate's relationship "deepened" he naturally wanted to live with her and it looked possible she could become his future wife.

"Could [Queen Elizabeth], as head of the Church of England, be seen to be permitting her ultimate heir to break the rules that had existed for centuries?" Ingrid pondered. "There could be no future Queen Catherine without her say-so."

As we know, William and Kate did go on to live together before getting married, first whilst they were at St Andrews University and then later in Anglesey which was their first official home as a couple. The royal expert believes that the Queen gave her grandson her blessing for this.

"In the end, after fighting a battle with herself, the Queen came to a view that altered everything: she sanctioned her grandson to go ahead and 'live in sin', thus allowing him to develop a profound and lasting relationship at his own pace," Ingrid alleged.

This was a very different experience to the one his parents had, as King Charles and Princess Diana had only met around 13 times in person before they tied the knot. This marriage was sadly not a royal success story like William's and Kate's has been and the modern way it began might have played a major part in this.

Unlike Princess Diana, Kate had the chance to really see what life within the Royal Family was like before becoming part of it. The Prince of Wales spoke in their engagement interview about wanting to give her that opportunity.

"Her and her family, I really want to make sure that they have the best, sort of, guidance and chance to see what life has been like - or what life is like - in the family," he said. "That's kind of almost why I've been waiting this long is that I wanted to give her a chance to see and to back out if she needed to before it all got too much."

As well as reportedly sanctioning them living together, Queen Elizabeth also gave her official consent to their marriage. To this day the top six royals in the line of succession must receive the monarch's permission to marry - and this included Prince Harry.

In Spare, he recalled his grandmother's memorable response when he asked for her approval to marry Meghan, "Well then, I suppose I have to say yes."

We don't know what she said to Prince William, though she and Kate forged a close bond and the Queen apparently gave her guidance at their first solo meeting in 2010.

Royal author Russell Myers claims in William & Catherine that Queen Elizabeth "looked to comfort the young woman she hoped would successfully shape the institution for the next generation" and "offered words of encouragement to Catherine regarding her future role as a senior member of the family".

The Princess of Wales and Prince William are focused on giving Prince George, Charlotte and Louis as much of an ordinary upbringing as possible, but they do treat them to experiences that many could only dream of. These range from attending Wimbledon to visiting the Strictly Come Dancing set and Kate helped make another outing particularly special for her daughter.

She reportedly once took George and Charlotte to see the West End production of Mary Poppins in 2022 and according to the show's star, Zizi Strallen, the Princess had a request in store for her.

"Kate brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see Mary Poppins," Zizi claimed recently to Hello!. "They came backstage, and she said to me: 'Would it be OK for Charlotte to have a cuddle with Mary Poppins?' I was like: 'Yes!' She wanted to hug me, which was really cute."

The West End star was nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of the titular nanny and she clearly got the royal stamp of approval too. Charlotte's wish for a "cuddle" with Mary came true and perhaps Kate was more open to asking directly because she'd met Zizi back in 2019.

She was dressed in the full Mary Poppins outfit and got to chat briefly with the future Queen backstage at the Royal Variety Performance. According to Zizi, her reaction was "awkward" because she was so overcome with awe.

"There's a video of me meeting Kate at the Royal Variety Performance in 2019; I'm dressed as Mary Poppins, and as she walks away, I do the most awkward little-girl wave. I was bowled over by how tall, statuesque and stunning she was, and she and William were so normal," she said.

Although this was a memory-making trip for both George and Charlotte, the Prince and Princess of Wales also plan outings with each of their children individually. In 2022 only Prince George went to Wimbledon and his mum apparently explained, "It's George's treat today."

Two years later it was just Princess Charlotte who enjoyed the Wimbledon final with Kate and according to royal expert Ingrid Seward, this was due to a "promise".

"It was a long-held promise that Kate would take Charlotte to the finals as a special treat," claimed to The Sun. "Kate felt guilty she hadn't been able to spend as much time as she would have liked to be with the kids because of her exhaustion after her treatment."

Since then Charlotte and Louis also allegedly enjoyed several outings with Kate as a trio too, including a trip to the ballet in July this year. The royals were reportedly spotted at the Royal Ballet School attending a performance to mark the institution's 100th anniversary.

Soloists from the Royal Ballet performed at the Princess of Wales's carol service in 2024 and Louis helped keep this a secret from his ballet-loving big sister. Kate was supposedly heard discussing this with singer Paloma Faith at the concert, revealing that he'd kept it a surprise for "nearly two weeks".

"And then this morning he said, 'Mummy, please can I tell her - I'm bursting.' I did drop off and he really wanted to tell her. I think - hopefully - he's kept it," she added.

The Princess of Wales has styled some stunning autumn looks over the years but I can't remember one grabbing my attention instantly quite like what she just wore in Scotland. She and Prince William travelled to the Isle of Bute on 17th September and Kate ditched tailoring for a chocolate brown trench coat, roll-neck jumper, jeans and Chelsea boots.

Usually she either goes for full-on outdoorsy outfits or smart-casual. This combination is still polished and I can imagine so many of us wearing it for coffee dates with friends and autumn walks. It's easily one of my favourite seasonal looks I've seen her wear and Kate's brown trench is the first piece of this timeless outfit puzzle.

Shop Kate's Outfit

The checked lining gave it away as a Burberry trench coat at once and we saw it as she waved to people after arriving at Bute Shinty Club in Rothesay. This British clothing brand makes incredibly luxurious trenches, though there are so many other great options available at a more affordable price too and brown is back in a big way.

It was hugely popular last year and it's an autumn/winter fashion colour trend again. This is great news if you love neutrals and a dark brown trench is a softer alternative to black and still works beautifully with darker colours. It also doesn't tend to show stains or marks as much as tan.

The Princess of Wales wore her coat open to give a glimpse of her clothing underneath which consisted of a green roll-neck jumper and brown Jodhpur jeans from Holland Cooper. The knit was ribbed and fitted, creating a streamlined silhouette and making it so easy to tuck into her trousers.

The finishing touch was her boots and it's rare to see Kate in flats. She opted for suede Chelsea boots and since the Waleses are on the Isle of Bute to celebrate connection, community and volunteering, their outfits had to tick boxes for functionality.

She wore the boots to play some shinty and whilst she and Prince William helped with beach clean-up activities at Ettrick Bay. They were clearly very comfortable to wear and the cleated sole likely helped with grip in the drizzly weather too.

Later on in the day the future Queen also put on a baker boy hat for some extra coverage and the moss-green hue tied in with her jumper. Sticking to a colour palette of brown and earthy green for her entire outfit gave it a sense of minimalist sophistication.

These shades are also very seasonal and the longline trench with the streamlined jeans and fitted jumper all created a frame-elongating effect. If you aren't a fan of skinny jeans like the Princess of Wales, just go for whatever your favourite denim or trousers style is and drape them over the top of your Chelsea boots.

The combination will still look stunning and there's scope to add extra warmth with gloves and a scarf. Kate's hat would've helped her and she also buttoned up her coat when she and William were on the beach facing the sea breeze.

This is the couple's first official trip to the island and to the coastal town of Rothesay, which has a sweet link to them, as they're known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland.

Coming up with autumn outfit ideas for this unseasonably warm weather is a challenge but you can still enjoy knitwear without overheating if you ditch jumpers for something lighter. The Princess of Wales loves knitted vests for mild days and in October 2023 she wore a dove-grey design over a crisp white shirt for a visit to Vsi Razom Community Hub.

Sleeveless and crew-neck, this Cerfinn vest is such a versatile layering piece and Kate has been favouring soft greys and chocolate browns so much more in recent years. Neutral knitted vests are easy to mix and match with different outfits without worrying about colour-clashing so there's a lot of styling potential.

Although the future Queen wore hers with a shirt, you could wear a vest as a top in its own right depending on the weather. I also love pairing my sleeveless knits with either a short-sleeve or long-sleeved T-shirt which are a bit more relaxed and not too thick.

Recreate Kate's Autumnal Look

Shop Knitted Vests

Kate layered hers over a crisp white shirt and she arranged the collar over the vest's crew-neckline for a seamless look. The long sleeves were slightly puffed and they ended in exaggerated cuffs that switched up the otherwise very timeless aesthetic.

I particularly love this detail as it made the whole outfit feel a little more contemporary and chic. Vests and shirts are a classic combination and can look quite preppy, so if you want to tone this down I'd go more casual with the rest of your ensemble and pick a great pair of blue jeans and some white trainers.

Alternatively, you can lean into it even more like the Princess did with tailored trousers. Hers were a soft grey that complemented her knitted vest and tied everything together. Sleek suits are a go-to for Kate and she owns several in autumn/winter fashion colour trends like berry and chocolate, but this is a lovely alternative.

Going for trousers and knitwear in a similar colour looks stunning and creates an illusion of a co-ord whilst still having a lot of texture and softness. If your chosen combination is a muted tone like dove-grey you can have so much fun incorporating a pop of colour with your shirt or accessories for some contrast too.

The Princess of Wales, a long-time fan of tonal dressing, stuck to the grey theme instead and finished off her outfit with suede heeled pumps and a blue and yellow ribbon pin in honour of the Ukrainian flag. She was at the Vsi Razom Community Hub to hear about the work the organisation was doing to support people who had arrived in the local area from Ukraine.

Kate's ribbon was a subtle way to show her support for the country and community, without being overtly political as the royals are traditionally supposed to stay entirely neutral. Keeping the rest of her outfit so understated with the grey and white could also be seen as a respectful move, as well as an elegant fashion choice.

Prince Harry once famously described the Princess of Wales as the sister he never had "and always wanted" - and he wasn't about to let his birthday party go ahead without her. According to reports, the Duke of Sussex's 30th birthday celebrations in 2014 were supposed to involve a Kensington Palace dinner attended by close family and friends.

Prince William and Kate apparently played a big role in organising Harry's special event but he's said to have called it off at the last minute. The Princess was pregnant with Princess Charlotte and the Palace confirmed she was once again suffering from Hyperemesis gravidarum - a severe form of morning sickness.

"Harry was in no doubt that the party should be postponed, even though 30 is an important milestone," a source claimed to The Mirror. "Kate had been very involved in organising Harry's party, and once she fell ill he felt it wrong to let the event go ahead."

Vanity Fair later alleged that the party happened another time, but instead of Kensington Palace, where Harry and the Waleses lived, it was supposedly hosted at Clarence House. The reported postponement of his milestone party shows just how much Prince Harry wanted his sister-in-law to be able to enjoy the occasion she'd helped organise.

Their bond was once incredibly close and even after the Sussexes stepped back as working royals, Kate still thought of Harry when it came to a particular occasion. In December 2022 she became Colonel of the Irish Guards and could wear military uniform or a military-inspired outfit for events like Trooping the Colour.

However, she never has. More than that, author Christopher Andersen claimed in his biography Kate! that she "declined" the suggestion of wearing one when the Irish Guards trooped their colours in 2023.

"'No,' she replied, 'I wouldn't feel right... not if Harry can't do it,'" the author wrote. "Instead, Kate opted for a green outfit, matching broad-brimmed hat, and her signature gold-and-emerald shamrock brooch."

Prince Harry served for ten years in the British Army but lost his military patronages and honorary titles in 2020. Now he's no longer permitted to wear military uniform to big ceremonial events. It says a lot that the Princess of Wales was apparently still making choices with him in mind in 2023, even after the Sussexes' Oprah Winfrey interview and the release of Spare.

However, that's not to say that there's been much noticeable progress in terms of the "reconciliation" Prince Harry is hoping for. He and Prince William are said to have not seen each other face-to-face in several years now and the same for Harry and Kate.

This year the King's younger son will be celebrating his 42nd birthday in the UK on 15th September now he and Meghan have moved. The Prince of Wales will be undertaking engagements in Princetown and although the Princess's plans aren't known, she will no doubt want to be at home to pick up Charlotte and Louis from school.

Prince Harry could just spend the day with Meghan at their new home as the world continues to wait and watch for how things might go for the Sussexes and the Waleses now they're back on the same side of the Atlantic.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are one of the most popular power couples in the Royal Family and whilst William is the future King, it's Kate who often gets the most attention when they're out together. This could easily trigger some envy, but former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond has noticed how this couldn't be further from the truth.

"William and Catherine definitely have the wow factor that Diana had - and which spawned Di-mania," she explained recently to The Mirror, adding "People today are equally mesmerised by the new Princess of Wales, so tall, so elegant and so chatty, but William just seems to purr with pride that his wife is such a star."

Jennie noted that he "is also pretty dashing and gets his fair share of crowd worship", though she's still struck by how different William's reaction is compared to King Charles. During the monarch's marriage to Princess Diana, photographs would clamour to get pictures of her and this apparently didn't go down well with him.

The late Princess commented on this in her 1995 Panorama interview with controversial journalist Martin Bashir. Diana recalled a royal visit to Australia in 1983, explaining, "We'd be going round Australia, for instance, and all you could hear was, 'Oh, she's on the other side.'"

"Now, if you're a man like my husband, a proud man, you mind about that if you hear it every day for four weeks," she claimed. "And you feel low about it, instead of feeling happy and sharing it."

Princess Diana suggested it caused "a lot of jealousy" and "complicated situations arose because of that". However, Prince William has got a very different stance on things, with Jennie commenting, "Luckily, William doesn't seem to suffer the same jealousy that his father did when Diana was the darling of the crowds."

Whenever the Prince and Princess are seen out together or if Kate launches a new project or initiative, he's always the first to praise her or be pictured beaming at her. Earlier this year when he was on Heart Breakfast he dedicated time to talking about the Princess of Wales's recent solo trip to Italy and how he was "very, very proud" of her.

The public sees them as an equal partnership and woman&home Editor Hannah Fernando believes that the future King is thrilled to see his wife excelling at royal life.

"These two seem very much a team. Catherine has no wish to eclipse him. She is coming into her own because she is actually brilliant," she said on True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat in 2023.

Hannah added, "She has taken on this life, opened her arms to it, and learned along the way what she needs to do. I think he is delighted by that, and I don't think he is worried about her eclipsing him."

Part of the reason William waited before proposing all those years ago was to give Kate time to see what royal life was really like and decide if it was for her. So it's no surprise really that he's happy to see the Princess excelling at her role even if the attention is sometimes more on her.

Bold tailoring has become a signature style for the Princess of Wales but when she wants a more casual autumn look there's a trio she always comes back to. Chunky boots, skinny jeans and a thick jumper are Kate's go-tos in cooler weather and I can't help admiring one of these outfits from January 2019.

The future Queen visited King Henry's Walk Garden in London wearing her beloved See by Chloe combat boots in chocolate brown suede. Military styles are a big autumn/winter fashion trend for 2026 and though we're seeing this come through with jackets, combat boots tick that box too.

I have a pair from Dune in my collection and the cleated sole offers extra grip that is very helpful in cold, rainy weather. Mine are leather for extra durability though suede boots like the Princess's are a softer and more relaxed option.

Shop Kate's Style

She styled hers with another wardrobe favourite - skinny jeans. Kate tucked the hems seamlessly into the top of her ankle boots and this is something you can only really achieve with streamlined silhouettes. I personally prefer looser, more comfortable jeans like wide or straight-leg styles and these can work as an alternative too.

They're flowy enough to completely drape over the top of your footwear without bunching up. The Princess of Wales likes her ensembles to feel polished and neat, so even though she has worn chunky boots with flares before, she picks skinny jeans more often.

Tucking them into the boots is also a clever way to create a leg-elongating effect and choosing a longline jumper and jacket adds to this and helps to balance out proportions. For her visit to King Henry's Walk Garden, Kate opted for a J.Crew mock-neck sweater with ribbed trims.

You could just see the neckline and sleeves peeping out from underneath her Dubarry of Ireland Bracken Tweed Jacket. The burnt-red tone couldn't have been more autumnal and it's one of the reasons I particularly like this version of her outfit formula.

If you tend to keep your outfits neutral then going for a slightly more colourful jumper is an easy way to add a seasonal twist. The texture of knitwear helps to soften a bold hue like red and it's only a small part of your overall outfit.

The Princess's khaki-brown jeans, brown boots and green jacket all mellowed things out and also allowed the burnt red to pop. Chocolate tones are an autumn/winter fashion colour trend and they complement the warmth in dark red particularly well.

Her tweed jacket finished off her outfit beautifully and the countryside design tied in with the chunkiness of the boots. I'm sure many of us have slightly more casual day-to-day styles and jeans, chunky boots and a thick knit would also work with a timeless puffer jacket instead.

The Princess of Wales showcased this combination when she took part in a land yachting session in St Andrews in 2021 and you could also go for a structured blazer or trench to bring an elevated edge.

As the royals gathered in Balmoral for their annual summer trip to Scotland, there was only one thing on the discussion list - the then-imminent return of the wayward Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

With King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton all in one place for some downtime, I'm told that the surprise (and urgent) summit led to them coming up with an interesting - and potentially explosive - idea between them: the possibility of having a face-to-face meeting with Prince Harry.

My source tells me, 'William is extremely concerned about what Harry's return to Britain will mean for working members of the family. It may well be too risky for them to just sit back and let Harry make the next move.'

‘There are suggestions that they feel they have no choice but to ask the Duke of Sussex for a face-to-face meeting to discuss the future and lay down, or at least reiterate, some of the rules.

'Whether Harry will agree to meeting them all is up for debate, but it is felt that the King and William have little option but to try.'

I'm told that William feels he has been pushed into a corner and is now in a position where he has to invite his brother to talk about what's next, similar to the meeting Queen Elizabeth II organised at Sandringham in January 2020.

Cast your mind back and you will remember that Harry was told in no uncertain terms that not only could he and Meghan no longer use their HRH titles, but they could not expect to be half-in, half-out members of the family.

Arguably, they have flouted both conditions, with their titles still used on paperwork, and the pseudo-royal tours they have often made headlines with.

Effectively, the late Queen saw the dangers of Harry quitting life as a full-time working royal, yet still cherry-picking causes he could still promote without consulting the Firm.

Now that the Sussexes are back in Blighty, it's likely that King Charles and his heir will have major concerns about what exactly they are planning going forward. The damage they inflicted on the family from thousands of miles away was bad enough, but courtiers have warned that with them on home soil the dangers are far greater.

While a meeting may well be useful in rebuilding some kind of relationship between William and Harry, it would be fraught with risks.

If it goes badly, there is a real possibility that the Duke of Sussex may turn to his trusted media to reveal secret details about what went on, something I'm told understandably really worries William. Any meeting between the royal brothers is likely to be at the very least frosty, and at worst a full-on confrontation.

William remains angry with his brother for the string of high-profile interviews and a book that betrayed the family and the very institution that sought to protect him. In an ideal world, William would be able to use the meeting as a way of airing his disappointment, and get assurances from Harry that the days of dropping bombshells on the family are over.

For his part, Harry would benefit from building bridges with William, not least because of what revenge he could and may likely take once he becomes King.

My source added, 'Harry may be many things but he is not stupid. He knows that if he remains at war with his brother, when the time comes for William to take the throne the consequences for him could be severe.'

Some royal watchers have claimed that William may well strip his brother of the title of Prince when he becomes King, in the same way his father stripped Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his title. This would be a bitter blow for Harry and would surely hamper any efforts to make money out of his association with the Royal Family.

Then there is the issue of the Sussex children. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet could become the innocent victims of any move by William to disassociate himself from his brother.

However, the fact still remains that the Sussexes' surprise move back to the UK has blindsided the family, and I understand they have real concerns about why the pair have made this move after making it clear how they felt about leaving.

Prince Harry is still involved with charity WellChild, of which he is patron, and next year he will hold his Invictus Games, for wounded servicemen and women, in Birmingham. These are both high-profile organisations that will deflect attention from the day-to-day work of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

William and Kate simply cannot risk Harry and Meghan being loose cannons, able to pick and choose engagements with impunity as if they were working royals in all but name.

And while the move back to the UK perhaps makes sense for Harry and his children, what about Meghan? After all, if she is to be believed, she was living her best life in the city where she grew up - so why the sudden change?

Either way, there is no doubt that with this surprise return, Harry could be forcing the hand of William, who hasn't spoken to his brother for a very long time, but may now. I predict interesting times ahead.

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Prince Philip was known for getting straight to the point and he didn't hold back when it came to his first impression of the Princess of Wales either. According to the late Duke of Edinburgh's biographer and friend Gyles Brandreth, he was "relieved" when Kate came into his grandson's life as a "potential bride" and shared his short verdict.

"The Duke of Edinburgh was, he told me, 'relieved to find her such a level-headed girl', Brandreth claimed in Philip: The Final Portrait. This was high praise from the formidable Prince, especially because he had apparently been "worried" about the late Princess Diana's reaction to popularity.

The biographer alleged, "One of the things that saddened - and worried - the Queen and Prince Philip about Diana, Princess of Wales, was not that she was popular, but that she allowed her popularity to go to her head."

Therefore Prince Philip's description of Kate as "level-headed" could be seen as an even bigger endorsement of her as Prince William's then-girlfriend and possible future Queen. His opinion was also massively respected by the rest of the Royal Family and counted for a lot.

"Different generations had leaned on him for personal guidance and his acceptance, or rejection, of others brought into the fold by marriage was seen as a moral compass by those navigating life within the confines of the monarchy," writes royal expert Russell Myers in William & Catherine.

The Princess of Wales clearly wholeheartedly accepted by the Duke of Edinburgh, though he also reportedly "warned" William against proposing too quickly. Myers suggests that he'd been influenced by seeing the marriages of three of his four children - King Charles, Princess Anne and Andrew - ending in separation and divorce.

He apparently "backed him in taking his time while he considered whether he had absolute confidence in his relationship with Catherine before making the biggest decision of his life."

In 2011 William and Kate tied the knot and she went on to forge a close relationship with her grandfather-in-law over the years. He's said to have sympathised with her as an outsider marrying into The Firm and one of his former aides told Myers that Philip was very "fond" of the Princess.

"[He] thought she was the best thing to happen to the Royal Family since he came along," the aide added with a smile.

It was also the Duke of Edinburgh who is understood to have given the future Queen a very valuable bit of advice about handling the press and photographers. As a "level-headed" person, Kate has never let this go to her head and according to Brandreth, Philip thought, "If you believe the attention is for you personally, you're going to end up in trouble.

"The attention is for your role, what you do, what you're supporting. It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That's all."

As Britain's longest-serving royal consort Prince Philip knew what he was talking about and it's perhaps why you rarely see the Princess of Wales looking directly at the photographers or seeming to be even aware they're there.

While there are certainly many upsides to being a member of the Royal Family, this position also comes with a lot of pressure. For those born into it, like Prince William and King Charles, they have a lifetime to prepare. Others, like the Princess of Wales, have to find their own way - and fast.

In his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, royal historian Tom Quinn suggests Kate’s "very intelligent and intuitive" skillset as the reason that she’s become such an important asset to the monarchy.

According to him, a former Kensington Palace employee claimed, "Kate was always happy to accept advice both from the lower staff, with whom she got on very well, and from the courtiers, even though some of them were initially very snooty about her."

They went on to share how they see the Princess operating within the royal system, alleging, "Kate is someone who slowly and carefully absorbs the atmosphere of a place, the relationship between people and the rules."

"She doesn't jump in straight away and try to change everything to suit her way of thinking," the source added. "She bides her time and is very intelligent and intuitive about other people."

This skill could be a key reason why she’s become such an important figure to both the wider Royal Family and to Prince William. In the excerpt from the book, the source continued, "I don't know where William would be without Kate - she hasn't had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious."

This is not the first time Kate’s ability to quickly adapt to the royal way of life has been discussed. Royal biographer Catherine Mayer previously suggested Kate has followed in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth with how she conducts herself in public.

Speaking on HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast, she said, "She has done such a clever job of finding a way to adapt to the institution. That does not mean that I think she has it easy. [But she's done] very little speaking and almost no confessional spilling of anything about who she is. She's quite enigmatic."

This skill for fostering connections while not oversharing is something the late Queen was widely celebrated for throughout her 70-year reign. Her Majesty seldom shared her own personal viewpoints.

It’s perhaps telling, therefore, that Kate singled out this quality when talking about Her Majesty on the ITV documentary, Our Queen at Ninety. In it, the Princess said, "Everyone feels like they've had some quality time with Her Majesty and, also, a real personal connection and I think that's a real skill."

Body language expert Judi James has also noticed Kate “perfecting” the same sort of body language that Queen Elizabeth showed. As per The Sun, Judi shared, "Kate has spent years perfecting the body language of sustainability and is now at no risk of looking bored or showing any negative emotions."

Comparing this to that of the late Queen, Judi added that Her Majesty was "always able to present the sweetest of smiles under the most difficult of circumstances".

The Prince of Wales was once photographed heading to swanky London nightclubs but nowadays the dad-of-three's evenings look very different. We know very little about his and Kate's lives behind closed doors, but according to royal biographer Robert Hardman, there's a TV show that the couple can't get enough of.

"The King is the one who still enjoys sitting up writing letters into the night, whereas Prince William's idea of a fun evening, says one of his team, is to 'sit down with the Princess in front of The Traitors'," the author claims in Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story.

Since it first started the Claudia Winkleman-fronted BBC series has become a cultural phenomenon and now it's got the royal seal of approval. It's hard to imagine the future King and Queen watching a reality show, but as the BBC notes - The Traitors is an "ultimate reality game of trust and treachery."

The show wouldn't be the same without the mind games and competition and if there's one thing William and Kate love it's being competitive. Watching other people taking on the challenges and outmanoeuvring each other isn't quite the same as doing it yourself, but it still probably appeals to their personalities.

Now I'm secretly hoping for two rather special guests on a future Celebrity Traitors series and if the rumours are true we could be just a few weeks away from the next instalment of the spin-off. Perhaps the Prince and Princess are already looking forward to incorporating it into their "fun evening" plans for autumn.

Having an unmissable TV show to watch together might also help take their minds off things as they adjust to everyday life without Prince George. The 13-year-old started at Eton on 8th September and Forest Lodge might feel very different for William, Kate, Charlotte and Louis now.

The Traitors isn't the only BBC programme that's a big hit in the Wales household though. Strictly Come Dancing will be kicking off soon (minus Claudia following her and Tess Daly's exit as hosts) and Kate once took Charlotte and Louis to the studio as a special treat, where they got to meet head judge Shirley Ballas.

Prince William has also seen Strictly before and told Claudia at a charity gala in 2019, "I have watched the show a couple of times. Catherine is a huge fan and my mother-in-law loves it."

Before long the Prince and Princess of Wales will also have a lot of films to add to their to-watch list too. William has been President of BAFTA since 2010 and he and Kate try to watch as many of the short-listed movies as possible before the awards every February.

At the 2026 BAFTAs, the mum-of-three also revealed that watching films with George, Charlotte and Louis can help to spark challenging but important discussions as a family.

"The children are starting to get interested in films and it's a really great way to have some of the hard conversations with them," she explained, adding that sometimes the movies are a tough watch for her too.

Although she found Hamnet "very powerful", as a mum Kate admitted it maybe wasn't the best choice of film for her (the plot includes the death of Shakespeare's son), saying she "ended up with very puffy eyes" from crying watching it.

The Princess of Wales would've chosen her outfit for Prince George's first day at Eton very carefully - not only because this is a big moment, but because she wouldn't want to overshadow the excited teen. However, I still couldn't help admiring her style and was surprised to see her ditching delicate necklaces for something more statement.

Kate wore the Laura Lombardi Portrait chain in gold and the chunky design was a fun contrast against her very sleek and formal dress. The frock was by Emilia Wickstead, one of her go-to British clothing brands, and it was a deep emerald green.

Traditionally silver jewellery is thought to work better with cool-toned colours and I generally stick to silver and green together. The Princess's duo was more of a contrast and proved that not only does gold and emerald look great together, but that we shouldn't worry about these "rules".

Shop Chain Necklaces

Shop Emerald Green

The gold necklace was made up of delicate circle links and it immediately drew the eye, whilst the squared neckline of the dress framed the future Queen's jewellery perfectly. It's surprising how much of a difference a slightly bolder necklace can make.

As we head into colder weather and start wearing more knitwear with jeans and skirts, having a hint of sparkle adds some extra dimension and glamour. Dainty chains might tend to get a bit lost in layered looks so something chunkier like Kate's Portrait necklace is a clever choice.

The warm undertone of the gold brought warmth to the Princess of Wales's overall outfit in a way that cool-toned silver just wouldn't. It actually felt slightly more daytime appropriate too, as a bright silver statement necklace would catch the light even more.

Emerald and forest green are generally considered cool colours and the gold chain was a soft contrast against them. Because she already had one warm-toned element, Kate could also easily incorporate more of these shades with her other accessories.

Her shoes for George's first day at Eton were dark brown suede court heels. She has plenty of green heels in her collection that would've coordinated, though not going for a strict colour match made her overall ensemble a little less formal.

It also meant that the necklace wasn't the only warm shade in the look and since chocolate is a big autumn/winter fashion colour trend for 2026, I suspect many of us will be reaching for brown boots very soon. The Princess of Wales has shown that mixing different undertones together like she did on 8th September can be so beautiful - and not as tricky as we thought.

I've even been swayed to not stick so rigidly to silver with green and I think the key to mixing cool and warm colours in a Kate-esque way is to pick one as the focus and add in a few elements of the other. Gold jewellery is such an easy way to bring in warm hues and a lot of handbags have gold hardware to tie in.

Prince George might've hoped for slightly better weather for his first day at Eton College but the rain didn't look to have dampened his spirits. The thirteen-year-old was accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales on 8th September as he arrived wearing a smart suit and tie ready for his next chapter.

We shouldn't be surprised that this pivotal moment played out in front of the cameras. The Wales kids are used to their milestones being marked publicly and many fans will have been excited to see George as he prepares for the start of term.

He's following in Prince William's footsteps at Eton and the choice of school was seen as inevitable by many. However, royal expert Emily Andrews believes the key reason for William and Kate picking it was something rather surprising.

Back when it was first announced George was heading to Eton, Emily claimed to woman&home that "one of the deciding factors was that Eton is all boys". This seems totally at odds with their approach up to now, as the Prince and Princess of Wales have consistently sent their children to co-educational schools like Lambrook.

It's often been said that they've been very modern by choosing to have Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis educated together.

Eton College is a return to the royal mould and Emily alleged that "in the world of smartphones and social media" George being at an all-boys school "gives any nascent teenage angst a little more protection".

The future King and Queen are strict about their kids not having mobiles and are concerned about how smartphone use can lead to disconnection and isolation.

They might end up relaxing their rule now George is living away from home, though it's interesting that they could've partly picked Eton to protect their son's emotional wellbeing and minimise "angst". Protection in the more traditional sense is incredibly important too and it's likely that the media will take a similar stance as they did with Princes William and Harry.

While they were at school their privacy was respected in return for occasional, official pictures. Like his dad and uncle, George will also be boarding just a short distance from his family. Prince William famously used to go for tea with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle during his time at Eton and the Waleses live close by at Forest Lodge.

Emily Andrews thinks that this was another huge factor that made Prince William and Kate pick the Berkshire boarding school.

Knowing his mum and dad aren't too far away might make the "big transition" for George a little less daunting as although he's been boarding at Lambrook during the week, this will be his first time permanently living away from his parents and siblings.

He looked confident and happy as he arrived and will soon be kept busy when term officially starts on 9th September. The sweet pictures of Kate, William and George together at Eton will inevitably become one of the iconic snapshots of the 13-year-old's life and could be one of the rare times we see him publicly during this new chapter.

James Middleton has left his sister the Princess of Wales in no doubt about his trustworthiness and the signs are subtle but consistent. Unlike Kate, James is a free agent with his own personal Instagram account and whilst he does share family pictures, he's very careful about it.

He'll happily post sweet snaps of his wife Alizée and their son Inigo (without showing his face), but there are almost no photos of Kate - or their sister Pippa. James didn't share a photo for Pippa's birthday on 6th September or for Kate's birthday in January.

On the rare occasions he does post the Princess on his page, it's usually only after she's shared something similar herself like when she completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in June.

Kate undertook this challenge to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and awareness of the importance of holistic healthcare. She was clearly happy for pictures to be shared if it would help towards either of these goals, so James posted several of the family congratulating her after finishing.

When the Princess first made her cancer diagnosis public in 2021, James also supported her publicly by sharing a throwback picture of the two of them with the caption, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too".

Once again, he followed her lead in sharing something and was incredibly respectful and minimal with what he said. There were no new details for people to analyse, just a special tribute to his big sister and the commitment to being there for her.

Other than these posts, the businessman has occasionally shared a snap of Carole Middleton for Mother's Day but that's about it. To me, it's a clear sign of how James is mindful of Kate - and their wider family's - privacy. Whilst she probably really appreciates this now, his discretion will be even more important when she's Queen.

Knowing who to trust is something the royals have to carefully consider and the Princess's brother has proved to her and the rest of the Royal Family that he isn't an over-sharer. The Middletons have kept some of William and Kate's biggest milestones entirely secret until they were ready to share - from the couple's engagement to the Princess's pregnancies.

Royal author Russell Myers claimed in William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story that Kate's family had "become a constant presence" in their lives and were particularly "crucial" when the kids were young. According to him, the Prince of Wales loved their sense of normality.

"William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance," he claimed, adding that William apparently told an aide his in-laws gave them "more room to breathe".

"Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family," Myers continued.

Knowing that Michael, Carole, James and Pippa can be relied upon in a world where scrutiny and speculation follow the royals everywhere is no small thing for Kate and William. Whilst they have public-facing roles as Prince and Princess of Wales, their family helps the couple keep their personal lives blissfully private.

When they became parents, it was inevitable that Prince William and Kate would find themselves learning new things, but the Princess of Wales might not have thought she’d have to teach her husband quite a common childhood game.

Exploring the royal couple’s personal lives and just how they continued to learn new things about one another years into their relationship, royal author Tom Quinn claimed that Kate had to show Prince William what a piggyback was - something he rather sadly revealed he’d never experienced himself as a youngster.

In his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, Tom suggests a maid told him, "[Kate] had to show him how to give the children a piggyback, for example. William said very quietly, 'My father never gave me a piggyback.'"

He added, “Kate had to explain many of the things that parents outside the royal family do with their children as a matter of course.”

The insider went on to suggest, “I don't know where William would be without Kate - she hasn't had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious.

"She said he sometimes has to be treated as her fourth child."

This isn’t the first time it’s been suggested that William experienced a whole other way of being thanks to Kate, and his in-laws. In fact, one royal source has previously suggested William was actually influenced by this less formal way of life he picked up from the Middletons.

Previously reported in the Daily Mail, a royal source claimed, "That the Middletons had to nip to the shop for food, ensure there was enough bread in the house, empty their own bins and put out the recycling on the right day were all refreshing".

They suggest that "William found the informality eye-opening" and something as trivial as “laying a tablecloth was a struggle” at first for the future King. But it was thanks to this that allegedly helped William and Catherine as they lived together for the first time in Anglesey. The couple were there during William’s time working as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot.

When William was first sent to the supermarket “his first experience of a big shop following Carole’s detailed lists was apparently mind-boggling”.

Now, as a result, it could be why the pair have "introduced a lot of relative informality into home life” at their Windsor Great Park home, Forest Lodge. The couple are thought to make their three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - do their own chores like any other children, and they enjoy a level of informality that’s closer to Kate’s upbringing than William’s.

Indeed, one rule that they are reportedly adamant on is no live-in staff at their home. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward has previously shared, "William and Kate have never wanted live-in staff; I think that’s the modern way.

“Since William was a little boy, he’s seen all the staff at the late Queen’s homes, and he never wanted that. It’s not something Kate grew up with either."

We're finally entering jacket and coat season, but it's still not cold enough to be bundled up in thick layers, making trenches our new best friend. They're lightweight, often water-resistant and the classic structured style instantly gives autumn outfit ideas an extra level of sophistication.

The Princess of Wales relies on them a lot and one of her most beautiful coats was her Burberry Littleton wool-blend trench from March 2011. She wore it for a rainy day of engagements in Belfast and with the forecast very showery in the UK for the foreseeable future, I'm definitely taking some inspiration from her.

Kate didn't let the weather dampen her spirits and she looked chic in this stone-toned coat, which had all the traditional details you'd expect.

Shop Timeless Trenches

It featured epaulettes on the shoulders, belted cuff straps and a gun flap on the front. All of these elements are what gives trenches their distinctive, polished look and the Princess's also had a frill on the bottom hem.

The contrast between the femininity and the structure was stunning and although Kate favours longline outerwear now, this coat fell to her knees.

She styled it with a black dress the same length, tights and knee-high boots. This was a clever move and the key to styling a trench coat with dresses is to try and roughly match the hemlines. For example, if you're wearing a midi or maxi-length frock then a longer coat will echo this streamlined, leg-elongating shape.

Shorter pieces tend to work better with shorter coats as everything again looks very cohesive. If you're someone who prefers wearing jeans or trousers then this isn't so much of a factor, as both cropped or long trenches pair well with them.

Belted designs are great for accentuating the waist and also bring more of a formal edge. The future Queen's signature style is smart-casual anyway and she was undertaking engagements with Prince William, so wanted this elevated feel.

Kate's coat was made from a wool blend, though plenty of trenches are either fully waterproof or water-resistant and this is a practical feature worth keeping in mind if you're looking to add one to your collection. In Belfast, the Princess carried an umbrella when the rain started and she kept her trench fastened for warmth.

This stone colour is one of the most popular shades for trench coats alongside camel, though a plain black design is equally versatile. Neutrals go with everything and with jackets and coats, this is even more important because you want to be able to mix and match them with a variety of ensembles without worrying about clashing.

Minimalism is a big autumn/winter fashion trend and the Princess of Wales's 2011 trench fits this to a tee. The rest of her outfit was also pared-back, but you could also go for rich autumnal colours with a beige coat, like burgundy or olive green.

The Princess of Wales's popularity is at an all-time high, as she almost single-handedly provides the sparkle the Royal Family so desperately needs.

Blessed with stunning good looks and the ability to be elegant, whether in a ball gown or rolling up her sleeves to play table tennis with a group of underprivileged youngsters, Kate has cemented her place at the top table.

In recent years, she has enjoyed unrivalled popularity with the public both here and overseas. But her cancer diagnosis and the cruel way she was forced to silence the conspiracy theorists and online trolls about being unwell - and therefore out of the public eye - have simply served to prove that she's in a league of her own.

Having to sit down and calmly explain that she was being treated for cancer not only silenced her critics but also made those who love her reach a new level of infatuation.

Thankfully, she is in remission, but the moment anyone is told by a doctor, 'It's cancer,' remains one of the most frightening scenarios a human can face.

She might have married into the Royal Family, with all the trappings that come with that, but her relatability is just what's needed in this turbulent time for the Firm.

I first met Kate in 2005, when little - if anything - was known about the beautiful St Andrews undergraduate who had caught the eye of our future king. At the time, she had been told that if journalists or photographers approached her, she needed to simply smile and act as though she was pleased to see them.

My conversation with Kate during a ski trip in Switzerland that year was brief, and instead I ended up speaking to Prince William as she quietly slipped away.

But in our encounter I was struck by how sincere she seemed to be, and someone who had her head well and truly on her shoulders. For some, a royal encounter is too much to contemplate, but Kate has always taken it in her stride.

The truth is that Kate has turned out to be a natural. Someone the late Queen would have been extremely proud of and recognised as a huge asset.

In his recent book, the royal expert Russell Myers reveals something that, to me, simply shows what an exceptional person Kate really is.

Myers claims that Kate had instinctive and grave concerns about inheriting the title Princess of Wales. Not only were Princess Diana's enormous shoes to fill, but Kate was also concerned about detracting from the legacy of her husband's much-loved mother.

It was, according to Myers, something that she had even spoken to her husband and her father-in-law Prince Charles (as he was then) about.

In his book, Myers writes, 'Catherine had privately expressed to William and to Charles her reservations about taking over the title, conscious of the British public's exceptional feeling for, and connection to, Princess Diana even 25 years after her death.'

How incredible that someone about to inherit one of the most iconic titles in the world would be modest enough to raise her concerns. I would say that is a sign, if not proof, of Kate's star quality.

Kate, you are more than worthy of the title of Princess of Wales and will one day make a wonderful queen at William's side.

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have officially moved back to the UK now, and are ready to enrol Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in schools ahead of terms starting next week.

The Sussexes return follows suggestions that things were improving between Harry and his father, King Charles, who met at Highgrove earlier in the summer. However, it’s suggested that not every royal is as optimistic about their return, with a source claiming it’s come as a "massive shock" to the Princess of Wales.

The source revealed she is prioritising "the stability of the family and the monarchy" over her personal feelings, but the fact that Meghan has "freedoms" to say what she wants in the press might be "bringing unresolved issues back to the surface."

Unnamed insiders revealed to Heat World, "Kate fears seeing the family dragged back into another cycle of accusations, briefings and public fallout. She can’t see how it’s all going to work, and it has left her reeling".

The unverified insider allegedly added that one of the biggest obstacles potentially preventing the Waleses and the Sussexes moving forward is the lack of trust.

They suggest, "So much has happened, and trust has been lost. How do you rebuild a relationship when you’re no longer confident that what happens privately will remain private?"

They continued, "Meghan also has freedoms that Kate doesn’t. Kate has protocol and a royal diary, whereas Meghan can give interviews, use social media and choose her own public appearances.

"Meghan can also speak out in a way Kate and William simply cannot respond to. There have already been serious allegations, which caused enormous damage and scrutiny, and Kate knows just how quickly another revelation could reopen all of that."

Since quitting life as working royals in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan have made several allegations against the Royal Family and their staff - with many stories involving Prince William and Kate.

In his memoir, Spare, Harry wrote about "an awkward moment" between the pair when Meghan asked to borrow Kate’s lip gloss and she "grimaced"... an experience which "left a little mark."

In the book, Harry also pins the blame on William and Kate for his decision to wear a Nazi costume in 2005, when he was 20-years-old.

He recounted, "I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought [about his costume choices]. ‘Nazi uniform’, they said. I rented it, plus a silly moustache, and went back to the house. I tried it all on. They both howled."

Other allegations have included Harry claiming William physically attacked him and Meghan suggesting Kate made her cry in a disagreement over bridesmaid dresses.

True to form for the royals, they’ve rarely responded. The only riposte came in March 2021, following the Sussexes explosive Oprah Winfrey interview. In a rare move, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II issued a public statement on accusations made against the family which declared, "Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

We're used to autumn/winter fashion colour trends featuring rich browns and burnt oranges but this year there's another huge contender in the mix - poppy red. This is good news for the Princess of Wales, as this fiery tone is one of her go-tos for outfits.

That in turn is great news for those of us who maybe aren't as confident styling bright colours, as she's already shown us plenty of ways to do it. I particularly loved Kate's boucle blazer and ballet flats from September 2023 and even though the rest of her outfit was quite formal, we can easily take some tips from this look.

The future Queen attended a Portage Session for her Shaping Us campaign and the blazer was a Zara double-breasted design.

Shop Flats Like Kate's

Shop Poppy Red

Tailoring and bright colours might sound like a very bold combination, but a jacket like Kate's is also the focal point of an outfit. The rest of her clothing was entirely neutral and this kept everything in balance. She opted for a beige knitted top, plain black cigarette trousers and then black shoes from Boden.

The Princess regularly steps out in pieces by this British clothing brand, though she rarely wears flats. This is maybe why this particular look stands out to me so much and the pumps had pointed toes and a buckle decoration on the front. Pointed toe footwear creates a lovely leg-elongating effect and you can get a subtler form of this from almond-toed shoes too.

Square-toe flats are another great option and they feel a bit more contemporary and fashion-forward compared to rounded designs. No matter which shape suits you best, a pair of classic black flats like Kate's are so handy for autumn outfit ideas.

When it's mild like it is now, it's not quite the season for boots. However, trainers can be a bit too casual and ballet pumps or loafers are comfy yet elevated. The Princess of Wales wore hers with crisp trousers, though you could recreate a similar look with blue or black jeans and a red blazer would then finish things off with a pop of colour.

Alternatively, go for a poppy-red jumper, cardigan or shirt and this still brings in the trending shade but in a more relaxed way. The important thing is to stick to classic shapes and keep the rest of your outfit quite minimal.

This will help ensure that the bright red isn't overpowering everything else. We've often seen Kate do this when she wears scarlet to engagements like the Portage Session. There are occasions when she goes all-out in head-to-toe red, though she tends to do this more for ultra formal events such as the Commonwealth Day service or welcoming dignitaries for a State Visit.

Otherwise, this formula of picking one main red item is her go-to and she likes the contrast of red and black together. Black makes the poppy tone stand out and her black ballet flats are the kind of style that could be re-worn time and time again, compared to red accessories.

Late summer and early autumn outfit ideas often revolve around pieces that are easy to layer and the Princess of Wales's white shirt is an elegant example of this. She was pictured heading to Crathie Kirk during the royals' Balmoral holiday on 23rd August and wore a timeless, high-necked design from British clothing brand Holland Cooper.

The Audley blouse has a Victorian-inspired feel about it, with frilled cuffs and lace detailing. Kate is a fan of statement collars and traditional elements but even if these aren't for you, a white shirt is still hard to beat for versatility. There are so many variations to choose from and they're autumn's answer to a basic white T-shirt.

Shop Kate's Outfit

Complete The Look

As she was sitting in a car on the way to church we didn't get a glimpse of everything the Princess wore with her Audley shirt, but she did pair it with a tweed jacket. It looked to be a blazer and the structured silhouette complemented the crisp white blouse perfectly.

Neutral, checked designs are a great way to add some dimension to an outfit without going too bold with it. The future Queen matched her hat to the rich brown tones and re-wore her Lock & Co pillbox hat she's owned for several years.

Perhaps as a nod to being off-duty and on holiday, Kate sported large, multi-drop earrings rather than the more minimal pairs she usually reaches for when she's working. They added some sparkle and glamour, though all together, this was a very simple, chic look and the white blouse was the useful basic at the heart of it.

At this time of year you can put shirts to good use as a base layer. They look great worn under knitted vests or jumpers when it's cooler, especially if you have a collared or high neckline that can poke out the top. This gives a polished effect and we've seen the Princess do this multiple times over the years.

In October 2023 she stepped out for a visit to the Vsi Razom Community Hub in a white shirt with statement cuffs, a dove-grey vest and matching wide-leg trousers. Structured, oversized shirts tend to give a more contemporary feel to an outfit whilst designs like Kate's with lace or frills are an ultra-feminine alternative.

For the most classic, preppy look, I'd recommend going for a fitted white shirt with a neat collar and minimal detailing. No matter which style you're drawn to, they all have a place in an autumn capsule wardrobe and can be made more relaxed with blue denim or dressed up with tailoring.

The Princess of Wales usually sticks to wearing skirts or dresses when she's attending church with the royals, so even though we didn't see it, she was probably wearing a midi skirt - perhaps even a tweed one to match her jacket.

I personally prefer jeans with white blouses and this is how I'll be getting the most use out of this seasonal staple. It's a throw-on-and-go combination that works best for everyday and strikes the perfect balance between being smart and casual.