The Princess of Wales is gearing up for a busy week ahead with Doanld Trump’s state visit to the UK, where she will play a huge role – and it seems it will mark the start of a significant period for the princess
With the summer holidays now firmly over, the Princess of Wales has sprung back to work with a bang. And it seems that the mum-of-three also has plenty on the horizon over the coming months, both at work and at home, as she continues to make a gradual full-time return to public life.
Just last week, Kate accompanied Prince William to a Women’s Institute meeting in Berkshire to remember the late Queen on the third anniversary of her death and made two solo visits celebrating the British textiles industry.
And the week ahead is set to be one of the most high-profile in months, with Kate playing a key role in US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, which will see the princess team up for an outing with First Lady, Melania Trump.
This, coupled with a house move to Forest Lodge, as well as several personal milestones in the coming months, means it will be a “time of change”, according to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, as Kate focuses on her next steps.
She told the Mirror: “With the children now back at school, there will be all sorts of activities and, no doubt, homework to keep the family busy.
“She and William will both be on duty for the state visit by President Trump. Then William has the Earthshot Prize in Brazil to attend, and Catherine is now probably deeply involved in planning for her Christmas carol concert. I’m sure there will also be other engagements to do with Shaping Us and early years development.
“Also a new home beckons and a new school for George is now just one year away. The princess is also one year on from the end of her cancer treatment, and she and William are not far off celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary.”
Of course, during these exciting months for Kate, at her side will be William as well as their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
And for Jennie, the difficult times of the past year is what has spurred on a seeming new lease of life for the princess. She added: “Cancer has given them both a new perspective on life and love, family and the healing values of nature.
“I think the ‘brutal’ months they have gone through have deepened their love for one another and strengthened their family unit. I think they’ve shown that they are a team and, whatever life throws at them, they will get through it together, supporting one another in every way and giving their children as much stability, confidence and love as is humanly possible.”
While Kate and the Wales family are now almost certainly looking forward, they did take a moment to look back when they remembered the late Queen last week.
In a surprise appearance, Kate joined William at Sunningdale WI, an organisation that was much-loved by the late monarch, on the third anniversary of her death.
There, they swapped stories about the late Queen over tea and cake and lifted the lid on what really goes on at home when it comes to their children.
When it was pointed out that George appeared to be the sensible one whereas Louis was “a bit of a character”, William said that there was “five years between them” and joked that while George knew how to behave in public, “behind closed doors it’s a different story”.
However, pointedly, Kate and William did not cross paths with Prince Harry, who was also in the UK last week and was just a 15-minute drive away from them as he paid his own tribute to the late Queen at her grave in St George’s Chapel.
But Jennie explained: “What a wonderful surprise it must have been for the Sunningdale women to find they had not just one, but two, royal stars as visitors! It’s been lovely to see William and Catherine joining forces recently, and this was of course, a very special day.
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“I think the Princess’s decision to join William was a heartfelt tribute to the late Queen — and a gesture of loving support for her husband.
“Perhaps it was a last-minute decision because we are at the start of a new school year: children can be unsettled by the change, and you never quite know how the ‘getting ready for school’ mornings are going to pan out.
“Also, Catherine is still listening to her body and limiting her public engagements. Obviously, though, all was well on Monday, and the Princess chose to honour the late Queen by visiting an organisation that meant so much to Elizabeth. She loved the WI and in her later years she even took part in a Pointless quiz organised by the Sandringham WI.
“I think Catherine carries a great deal of the dignity of the late Queen with her, but she mixes it with an informality that makes royalty more relatable and modern.”
Days later, Kate then indulged her passion for textiles by carrying out a series of visits to manufacturing mills. In a chic suit, she toured Sudbury Silk Mills in Suffolk, followed by dropping in on Marina Mill in Cuxton, Kent, the same day.
It said Kate has “long been passionate about the importance of the British textiles industry and its role as part of the UK’s cultural and creative voice”. The princess’ paternal ancestors were the owners of the woollen manufacturer and merchant William Lupton & Co, which was based in Leeds.
During the visits, Kate rolled up her sleeves, tied back her hair, and got stuck into the manufacturing processes of making fabrics.
It came ahead of this week, where she will play a key part in the high-profile US state visit to the UK, designed to indulge Mr Trump’s well-known love of the British royal family.
Kate, along with William, has been tasked with the initial royal meeting of Mr and Mrs Trump in the grounds of the Windsor estate, when they will accompany them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.
The princess will also carry out a joint engagement with the First Lady the next day when they head to Frogmore Gardens to meet Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme as they learn about nature to achieve their Go Wild badge.
And Jennie added: “I’m quite surprised by the number of engagements she is carrying out. It does suggest that she is feeling stronger and more confident about her recovery.
“I think she is still keen to reserve the right to take things slowly when she feels the need and to prioritise her health and her children. But that’s OK. She is hugely popular and we all want her to take the time she needs before cramming her diary with royal duties.”
