But the most eye-catching detail? Undoubtedly the Greville chandelier earrings dazzling at her ears
Samir Hussein
More recently, however, they have enjoyed a new royal admirer: the Princess of Wales, who has chosen these dazzling diamond for a number of black and white tie occasions. Among the most memorable outings was the 2023 Diplomatic Corps reception, when the Greville jewels proved the perfect accessory for her glittering Jenny Packham gown and Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara.
When the couple missed last year’s awards ceremony, there were questions over whether the date clashed with the half-term holidays of their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Prince William has attended the awards show on eight occasions since being appointed President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in 2010. His most recent appearance was in 2024 – a ceremony that was missed by Kate Middleton as she recovered from surgery. In 2021, Prince William missed the show as it was held the day after the death of his grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The Prince of Wales is always dapper in his tuxedo but all style mavens know it is the Princess of Wales who brings the glamour. As the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate first graced the red carpet in 2017 in a bespoke Alexander McQueen gown and wavy-cut Prada sandals. She returned for outings in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2023, returning to McQueen for all but one of these outings: in 2018, while pregnant with Prince Louis, Kate Middleton wore an emerald green creation by Jenny Packham.
The 2026 appearance marks the Princess of Wales’ first BAFTA outing in Gucci and a rare turn in the designer for the royal, who tends to re-wear a handful of key British labels, like McQueen and Packham.
It is set to be a starry evening. The singing voices behind the global phenomenon, KPop Demon Hunters, will perform their chart-topping hit “Golden,” and award-winning British singer songwriter Jessie Ware will perform a special tribute during the ceremony’s In Memoriam.
BAFTA is a leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally.
A year later, both skipped the awards, a move widely seen as an acknowledgement of the family’s decision to scale back public appearances as the Princess of Wales recovered. But on Sunday, the couple returned to the BAFTAs red carpet for the first time since 2023.
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales
Samir Hussein
The couple was rosily coordinated, with William wearing a burgundy velvet jacket the same shade as the belt around Princess Kate’s waist. Her dress, a dusty rose Gucci gown, is a rewear: she was last seen in it in February 2019, at the 100 Women in Finance Gala. Seven years later, she appears to be carrying the same velvet clutch and glittery pumps that she wore then. While outfit recycling isn’t new for Kate, the outfit coordination is—the pair are rarely gimmicky. One could see the matching theme as a desire to present a united front.
Gracie Abrams and Paul Mescal. Getty Images for BAFTA
After three awards shows, all in Los Angeles, Hollywood’s A-list is heading across the pond. Yes, it’s time for the BAFTAs, the annual ceremony that honors the best in British and international cinema. Presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the BAFTAs are once again taking place at Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank Centre tonight, Feb. 22, but with a new host. This year, Alan Cumming is taking over duties from David Tennant, who hosted the ceremony for the past two years.
Fifteen years ago this year came arguably the greatest royal wedding in recent memory: that of Prince William to Kate Middleton, now the Prince and Princess of Wales. The couple sent the nation—and the world—into a love-filled fantasy, complete with an heirloom tiara, lace bridal gown and royal carriage procession. Now, those bright-eyed newlyweds are proud parents of three beautiful children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
In Europe, the 2000s brought a golden era of royal weddings, including Prince Felipe of Spain and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (now King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia). The loved-up couple looked impossibly chic on their wedding day, setting the sartorial tone for their enviably stylish reign.
Of course, royal weddings are also prime territory for forging bridal fashion trends: Queen Rania of Jordan’s custom Bruce Oldfield gown—a gold-embellished confection with a bold collar and belted waist—helped consolidate her status as a global style star; while Princess Angela of Liechtenstein’s striking bateau-neck dress (her own design) was a precursor to the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding gown, created by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller for her wedding to Prince Harry some 18 years later.
So, as the world celebrates love this weekend, there is surely no greater time to celebrate the 11 most iconic and romantic royal weddings of all time.
Ever since Kate Middleton gave birth to her third child, Prince Louis, there has been speculation about whether she and Prince William would have more kids. That’s, in many ways, the way of royalty. People are always interested in lines of succession and things like that. It’s the uncomfortable reality that comes with the position. But, with Middleton battling cancer the past few years, speculation about them expanding the family has mostly died down.
Now, we’ve got confirmation that Prince William and Kate Middleton’s family has indeed grown, but they have not welcomed another baby, but a dog. The Princess of Wales visited a pair of Welsh businesses on Tuesday, February 3, and while at the Hiut Denim factory in Cardigan, she took special notice of a cocker spaniel named Barney, which had her chatting about her own dogs.
“She had a rather long chat with my fiancée about our dog, about how she also has cocker spaniels and that hers is the same age as ours,” Hiut CEO Johann Von Loeper shared with People. “It was a nice moment that broke the ice.”
Hello! reported that Kate confirmed rumors that she and Prince William have a new dog. Reportedly, while talking about Barney, she said, “So we’ve got a little puppy, he’s only 8 months, and Orla’s 5.”
Speculation about the new puppy has been around for a while. Orla, who was a gift from Kate’s brother, James Middleton, welcomed a litter of puppies last year. This was confirmed with a photo released to celebrate the Prince of Wales’ birthday that featured the puppies and mentioned them in the caption.
Rebecca English of The Daily Mail reported at the time that caring for the puppies was “something fun” for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and that the couple planned to keep one of the dogs. But there was no further confirmation on whether they’d actually followed through with that plan.
Then last month, they were spotted with two dogs. Now, we’ve got confirmation that it means the family has indeed grown, and Orla has a new playmate. The name of the puppy, however, has not been revealed.
All of this comes after Tom Quinn, the author of Yes Ma’am: Upstairs Downstairs in the British Royal Family, revealed in an interview with Fox News in 2025 that Prince William and Kate Middleton weren’t planning on having another baby, joking that the Princess of Wales views her husband as her “fourth” child.
“And so, there’s a joke among the staff that Kate treats William as the fourth because he occasionally behaves like one,” Quinn said at the time. These claims were reportedly confirmed by a staff member who chose to remain anonymous.
“She hasn’t had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious,” the report said, with the insider adding that they “don’t know” where William would be without his wife. “She says he sometimes has to be treated as her fourth child!”
When the trailblazing Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement in May last year, the reaction took her by surprise.
“I was overwhelmed by it all,” she says. “It really hit home, the impact that my career has had on other people, how other people got enjoyment, people I don’t even know. “I got a letter from a lady who said: ‘I was crying watching you win a race.’ It’s just so incredible to have had that effect.”
Her career is one for the history books. In 2021 Rachael became the first female jockey to win the Grand National, in the 173rd running of the race. She was also the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival and won the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year.
Today, she is talking to HELLO! during this exclusive shoot at Cheltenham Racecourse, the scene of so much of her success. In 2022, she won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, riding A Plus Tard to become the first female jockey to win National Hunt racing’s blue riband. In 2024, the Queen called Rachael’s win aboard Captain Guinness in the Queen Mother Champion Chase “absolutely fantastic”.
Indeed, she is pictured here in the weighing room beneath her signatures, continuing a tradition unique to Cheltenham whereby the winner of each of the festival’s five championship races signs the wall (Rachael won six times).
Rachael is pictured here in the weighing room beneath her signatures, continuing a tradition unique to Cheltenham whereby the winner of each of the festival’s five championship races signs the wall
It’s clear that Rachael, 36, is still slightly in disbelief at the extent of her own success. She grew up on a farm in County Tipperary, Ireland, and says she can’t remember a time when she wasn’t surrounded by horses and animals. Still, she admits: “I never ever envisioned that I’d actually make a career out of being a jockey.”
She had long planned to balance being an amateur jockey with being a vet, gaining a degree in equine science at the same time as racing and “juggling both worlds”.
She rode her first winner in 2011 and turned professional four years later, when she graduated from college. “Academically, I was never going to cut the mustard,” she admits. “Thankfully for me, the racing picked up. I’d still be trying to get into veterinary college, to be honest.”
“I was overwhelmed by it all. It really hit home, the impact that my career has had on other people, how other people got enjoyment, people I don’t even know.”
When she was 28, she was introduced to the Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead. “That brought my career to a whole new level, because I was exposed to some of the best horses in training in Ireland.” Rachael rode Henry’s horses to victory at both Cheltenham and the Grand National.
Now, she’s able to appreciate her hard work and success. “Racing is always moving forward,” she says. “You win a Gold Cup and you go back next year to try to win it again. It’s very hard to let it sink in when you’re in that bubble, but now that I’m retired it’s not going anywhere. I feel so spoilt when I think about what my most special moments were, because I’ve just been so lucky.”
‘I was overwhelmed,’ Rachael, who was the first female jockey to win the Grand National, says of her decision to retire from racing
Despite her incredible achievements as a female jockey, she was always reluctant to be defined by her gender. After she won the Grand National, she said: “I just hope it shows it doesn’t matter, male or female.”
Today she’s happy to expand on that theme, saying: “I don’t think I’m uncomfortable with it – it’s just that when I was riding it’s not something I ever wanted to highlight, because I didn’t want to be treated any differently. I didn’t see any benefit for me as a jockey, drawing attention to that. I always deflected it, but I’m under no illusions how privileged I am to be the first woman to win these kinds of races.”
Royal racers
She won many fans, including members of the royal family. In 2022 the Duchess of Cornwall, as she was then, visited Henry’s yard in County Waterford and met Rachael and Honeysuckle, one of her most successful rides.
“That was a fantastic visit. [Queen Camilla is] just so passionate about horses. She really knows her horses and it’s fantastic to see. She had such admiration for meeting Honeysuckle and her achievements.”
“That was a fantastic visit” Rachael recalls. “She’s just so passionate about horses. She really knows her horses and it’s fantastic to see. She had such admiration for meeting Honeysuckle and her achievements.”
A particular highlight was sitting in the Royal Box at Wimbledon behind the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children to watch the men’s final in 2023. “She knew who I was and she congratulated me on the success I had. She’s a beautiful person inside and out.”
Does she think that Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte will follow the family’s passion for racing? “I have a feeling when they get into their teenage years, they’re going to want to [go],” she smiles. “Cheltenham is one of the best sporting occasions in Britain. I guarantee you, they’ll be racing in some shape or form when they’re older.”
In her new ambassadorial role as head of Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival in March, she will join Zara Tindall, a non‑executive director of the racecourse. “She’s great fun, really, really nice and obviously an extremely accomplished rider herself.”
Rachael and Zara together at Cheltenham after Rachael won on New Year’s Day 2024
Cheltenham is where Rachael made the decision to retire in 2025 after a tough start to the season – she had missed three months of racing after breaking a bone in her neck.
Leaving the course after the Festival last March “was the first time I thought finishing might be soon,” she says. “It just crept into my head.”
It wasn’t until May that she made her announcement. “To be honest, I didn’t speak to anyone about it, not a soul. I didn’t want anyone else to influence my decision. I didn’t want my parents watching a race, thinking: ‘Oh, this could be her last race.’ They’d be nervous watching.
“I feel like I need some therapy sessions to get to the root of it all, but it genuinely felt like the right time. As a jockey, to finish on your own terms is a big thing. Injury finishes so many people. I was lucky that I got to decide that’s it, but it’s still difficult, it’s still hard when your purpose and job is over. But I feel very grateful that I’ve still got lots of things going on.”
Wedding bells
The new year has brought another big day: her wedding to fellow jockey Brian Hayes.
Sharing the same career was, Rachael says, “very lucky – we live the same lives, which was a big help”. It’s why they chose a January wedding, “when there’s a few days of a bit of a lull” after a packed racing calendar over Christmas.
Rachael, who got married in January, says there were no prenuptial nerves. ‘Someone asked me, was I nervous?’ she says. ‘And I was like, no, I rode Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle. This is not nervous’
The wedding, which took place in Ireland on 5 January, was “definitely on the smaller side” for an Irish wedding, she says – just “a party with family and friends”.
There were no prenuptial nerves. “Someone asked me, was I nervous? And I was like, no, I rode Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle. This is not nervous!”
Now, she’s looking forward to her role as the head of Ladies Day, which is being held again for the first time since 2019. “This year will be so different,” Rachael smiles. “I won’t be able to run into the weighing room and hide! It’s an honour to be back and to help Cheltenham improve the experience for ladies, because I’ve had such fantastic days there. It’s a magical place.”
The itinerary will include a panel hosted by the former Vogue model Rosie Tapner, during which Rachael will share insights and tips. There will also be live music and an after‑racing party.
Sartorial challenge
Cheltenham is known for its high fashion stakes, but Rachael is tight‑lipped about her own outfit plans. “Nothing can be revealed yet. Top secret. Not that much effort usually goes into thinking about what I wear, but I’ve already started thinking I need to have my outfits in order.”
The new ambassador for Cheltenham Ladies Day is tight‑lipped about her own outfit plans. ‘Nothing can be revealed yet. Top secret. Not that much effort usually goes into thinking about what I wear, but I’ve already started thinking I need to have my outfits in order’
Will she miss being out on the course? “I miss the feeling when you win a race,” she says. “That feeling will never come to me again. I miss the competitiveness of it. But I feel so lucky that I’m still getting lots of opportunities on the back of the career I had as a jockey and I’m excited to see where some of those can lead.”
Rachael Blackmore is Head of Ladies Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. Ladies Day takes place on Wednesday 11th March 2026. Tickets are available now.
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Prince Harry will return to his hometown of London next week, but his chances of an awkward run-in with estranged family membersKate Middleton, Prince William, and King Charles III are slim. As the royal scion travels from his California home to the UK for a January 21 court date in his lawsuit against tabloid conglomerate Associated Newspapers, his father, brother, and sister-in-law will be headed out of town, dashing hopes that this visit could spark a reconciliation.
The latest phase of the joint lawsuit pits the Duke of Sussex, Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and others against the publishers of the Daily Mail. The plaintiffs accuse the publisher of engaging in illegal intelligence gathering practices, including the alleged use of private investigators who placed listening devices in the plaintiffs’ proximity. (Associated Newspapers denies any wrongdoing.)
This visit to the UK for a righteous cause might have been a good opportunity for Harry and Charles to build on the brief meeting the father and son had last September. But it is not to be, as Charles—who recently deposed his sister, Princess Anne, as the UK’s hardest-working royal—has an official engagement in Scotland at that time.
Kate Middleton and Prince William will also be hundreds of miles away from the British capital, as the couple has two joint appearances scheduled in Scotland that day: First they will visit the National Curling Academy in Stirling to meet with Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic curling teams ahead of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Then they’ll visit hand-weaving studio Radical Weavers, which serves as an educational charity that teaches the Scottish tartan tradition and therapeutic qualities of weaving, while creating blankets and textiles to donate to those in need.
While Harry and his father interacted last fall, it’s been far longer for the royal brothers. The pair have reportedly failed to speak for more than three years, with the last conversation seemingly held at Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
The family will have another chance to speak this summer, when the Invictus Games—which Harry founded—scheduled to take place in Birmingham on July 10. Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, is also expected to join him for the sporting event, the first time she’ll join Harry in the UK in four years.
The book offers anecdotes of the royal couple traced by numerous palace insiders. A descriptor of the book says that it will include “never-before-told context about the biggest stories to have followed the Prince and Princess of Wales in recent years – including the Sussex departure, the forming of the ‘Cambridge way’, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II – and provides an unprecedented glimpse into the private lives.”
“The result is a truly intimate portrait of William and Catherine; providing not just unparallelled insight into who they are as individuals, but seismic revelations about them as a couple and the world they inhabit,” the descriptor continued. “This biography moves beyond the headlines as it explores love, resilience, and their journey together as they navigate their public duties amid this unprecedented era.”
William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story
The book’s release comes after reports from fromer royal photographer Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News that Kate Middleton’s 2024 cancer diagnosis had brought the couple closer together. “There were ongoing rumors at one time that the marriage between William and Kate may not have been as blissful as publicly portrayed,” Turner said. “William has been known for his outbursts and Kate has found ways of calming the situation down but personally, I feel after the cancer diagnosis and the threat of losing her, the closeness was rekindled.”
He continued, “And that is why decisions were made such as their quieter living accommodation rather than a palace to try and lead a normal family life have become their focus.”
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich also agreed with the sentiment. “Adversity either destroys a marriage or brings couples closer after shared adversity. Certainly, their marriage has resulted in the latter not the former,” she said. “They never stoop down to ghastly gossip, which is most admirable.”
Middleton had made a rare comment about her cancer treatment nearly a year after she announced she was in remission. When visiting Charing Cross Hospital in west London on Jan. 8, she talked with a volunteer who worked with chemotherapy patients. The volunteer spoke about how patients would be in treatment “for hours,” to which Princess Kate replied, “I know,” Hello! magazine reported. “We know,” she then added, touching Prince William’s arm.
After three kids, Prince William and Kate Middleton were widely expected to stop growing their family. Even if their kids are no longer toddlers, three children are still a lot to manage, even for people with as many resources as they have. But it seems like the royal couple still has the time and space to add another member to their family.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte were recently spotted walking with their black cocker spaniel dog named Orla and another, unnamed dog. The two were exiting a helicopter at Kensington Palace, per Marie Claire. In the video shared on social media, Orla and another black cocker spaniel can be seen running around the grass.
Though there’s no confirmation, the dog is likely to be Orla’s pup, as The Sun reported in May 2025 that she had given birth. A source told the outlet, “We always thought the patter of tiny feet in the Wales’s household had ended, so the sound of tiny paws will have to do.”
“Everyone loves a new royal baby news and so new royal puppies run very close,” the insider added. “Everyone is very excited, not least the three children, who adore Orla, and Lupo before,” they continued, a reference to the family’s previous black cocker spaniel who died in 2020.
William and Kate more or less confirmed the news with a birthday picture of Prince William, shared a month later, where he was photographed playing with Orla and the puppies. “Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies! 🐾” the Instagram photo was captioned.
But new puppies are probably the most we can expect from the couple. Tom Quinn, the author of Yes Ma’am: Upstairs Downstairs in the British Royal Family, said in an interview with Fox News in March 2025 that Prince William and Kate Middleton weren’t planning on having another baby soon, joking that the Princess of Wales views her husband as her “fourth” child.
“And so, there’s a joke among the staff that Kate treats William as the fourth because he occasionally behaves like one,” Quinn said at the time. An anonymous staff member reportedly confirmed the words.
“She hasn’t had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious,” the report said, with the source adding that they “don’t know” where William would be without Middleton. “She says he sometimes has to be treated as her fourth child!”
Reports also indicated that both Prince William and his father, King Charles, are “very picky” because they’re used to things being done for them. “People who have everything done for them from childhood tend to be rather spoiled and prone to bouts of irritation because they have no idea how much work is involved in washing and ironing, polishing and sewing when they have never done any of it themselves,” the source said.
One way to break away from that is, probably, having multiple puppies. As long as you’re the one looking after them.
It’s been months since ex-Prince Andrew was stripped of his official titles, but his drama with the royal family isn’t done yet.
A source told Heat World UK in a report published on December 22 that Andrew has “become completely fixated” on Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton as the reason for why he lost his royal titles and was essentially exiled from the family. (Buckingham Palace announced in October 2025 that Andrew would no longer be known as “Prince Andrew” and that he would be moving out of his residence at Royal Lodge. The palace also confirmed that all royal “style, titles, and honours” Andrew previously had would be removed.)
“Andrew has become completely fixated on Kate. He keeps going on about how she’s a ‘silent assassin’ who’s been quietly pulling the strings and whipping William into a frenzy about him,” the insider said. “He’s absolutely certain that major decisions about his future have been run past her and William, but instead of blaming William for getting him forced out he’s turned his wrath on Kate.”
The source continued, “He has this warped belief that William is being controlled by her, that she’s whispering in his ear and turning him against his own blood. He’s saying she’s poisoned the well against him.”
According to the insider, Andrew is especially hurt by Kate because he believed they were on “good terms” before his royal exile. “What makes it sting even more for Andrew is that they used to be on perfectly good terms, she was always very polite and warm, he believed she genuinely liked him,” the source said. “Now she won’t give him the time of day and he’s seeing it as her deliberately freezing him out and using her influence to make sure he stays sidelined.”
The insider continued, “He’s now lashing out and telling anyone who will listen that she’s the reason he’s been booted from his own family. He’s vowing to get back at her, which is not going to go down well with William when he finds out.”
The source also claimed that Andrew’s “bitterness” has led him to find someone to blame for his exile, and that person happens to be Kate. “Andrew is absolutely seething and looking for someone to blame, and in his mind Kate has become the perfect villain,” the insider said. “He’s convinced himself she’s far more powerful than she lets on, that she’s quietly steering decisions behind the scenes while maintaining this serene public image. He’s a very bitter man.”
The source continued, “True to form, Andrew refuses to accept that his own actions landed him where he is now. Instead, he’s badmouthing Kate and, while there are still a few people within the palace that speak to him, he’s been venting to them and warning them not to be fooled by her ‘nice girl’ act.”
The insider also claimed that Andrew feels negatively toward Kate because of her close relationship with his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, which he believes he should have had. “He resents that Kate has emerged as this central, respected figure while he’s been pushed into total irrelevance’” the source said. “In his mind, she’s stolen the authority and standing he believes should have remained with him as the Queen’s son.”
As for Kate, the source denied that the Princess of Wales has been leading a “campaign” against Andrew, though he has been “disgusted” by reports of his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “From Kate’s side, she’s simply not engaging with Andrew. She’s by no means on some campaign against him but naturally she’s disgusted by his behaviour and agrees with the King’s decision.” the insider said. “It’s very awkward for her so she’s avoiding Andrew and saying she’s glad he’s out of her hair. Andrew is so narcissistic he can’t understand why she would want to distance herself.”
The source continued, “Instead of having a shred of self-awareness he’s turned it into this big sob story whereas usual he’s the big victim.”
Kate announced that she was diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer in March 2024. By September 2024, she was cancer-free, and by January 2025, she revealed that she was in remission. Despite rumors at the time of the effect Kate’s illness had on her and William’s marriage, former royal photographer Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News in January that the diagnosis actually brought William and Kate closer together—not further apart.
“There were ongoing rumors at one time that the marriage between William and Kate may not have been as blissful as publicly portrayed,” Turner said. “William has been known for his outbursts and Kate has found ways of calming the situation down but personally, I feel after the cancer diagnosis and the threat of losing her, the closeness was rekindled.”
He continued, “And that is why decisions were made such as their quieter living accommodation rather than a palace to try and lead a normal family life have become their focus.”
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich also told the publication about the way Kate’s cancer strengthened her and William’s marriage. “Adversity either destroys a marriage or brings couples closer after shared adversity. Certainly, their marriage has resulted in the latter not the former,” she said. “They never stoop down to ghastly gossip, which is most admirable.”
Fordwich also explained how William and Kate’s recent move to Forest Lodge also hints at their new dynamic as a couple. “With their move to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, everything there has been seen, by those who know, is really focused primarily on their family stability as well as ever treasured privacy,” she said.
British broadcaster Helena Chard also revealed how Kate has changed as a royal since her cancer diagnosis. “She is keen to strengthen family bonds and create meaningful relationships,” Chard said. “Her commitment to family, community and charitable work resonates with this theme of togetherness. Proof is in the pudding with her personal relationship with her husband. Their relationship is flourishing.”
Chard also noted William’s increased displays of public affection toward Kate as an example of how their relationship has changed. “William is offering an increased emotional openness and Catherine’s gratitude for William’s support during her cancer treatment, their shared experiences navigating turbulent times and their current fresh start has deepened their relationship,” she said. “They enjoy a close bond.”
She continued, “Their relationship, focus on family and each other behind closed doors along with Catherine’s emotional resilience and measured approach to her return to public life has created a calm balance and eased any possible pressure of being future Queen.”
Fordwich also acknowledged William’s different public behavior toward Kate. “In contrast to royals of the past, Prince William has publicly praised Princess Catherine,” she said. “By acknowledging their travails candidly with such openness about their challenges, he is both supportive as well as, importantly, speaking from his heart, rendering him all the more relatable and likable.”
She continued, “Also totally contrary to royal protocol, all his PDA has shown the hands, literally, of a more modern monarchy… Overall, they have a mutual love and respect for each other, and it sure shows.”
The Princess of Wales took to Instagram on 9 January 2026 to signal her birthday with a moving post. The brunette royal, who turned 44 on Friday, confessed that she was “deeply grateful” as she appeared in the final film of her Mother Nature series, which coincided with her big day.
Kate chose to wear a myriad of vintage pieces that she has had in her wardrobe for many years – her ‘Elfie’ jacket by Barbour, which was part of the Alexa Chung collaboration from 2019, and her Penelope Chilvers tasselled boots in ‘Conker’, which she first wore when she was at St Andrews University in 2001.
Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: The Princess of Wales releases personal message on her 44th birthday
The hat is regarded as an ‘It’ girl accessory that dominated cool-girl fashion agendas in the 2010s.
The retro silhouette is a core piece of English countryside fashion heritage, becoming popular in the 1800s and early 1900s. It was later adopted by the upper class for outdoor events like hunting or shooting. Kate was first spotted with a Baker Boy hat in 2013 and has often chosen the style when she has fronted events that take place outdoors.
Kate choosing to rewear her clothes is a sustainability goal
Seeing Kate rewear items from her wardrobe that she has treasured for many years has a positive effect on fashion in a big way. “It sends a quietly powerful message: that style doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet,” fashion journalist and sustainable advocate Georgia Brown tells HELLO!. “With every outfit scrutinised, wearing something that has stood the test of time reframes sustainability as something aspirational, not restrictive.”
Jen Graham, a charity shopper who has presented second-hand fashion segments on This Morning, agrees. “When even the royals rewear, relove, and reshare, it sends the strongest message that sustainability is the future of fashion.”
Kate’s birthday message is different from past years
Traditionally, Kensington Palace releases portraits of the Princess on her birthday, but this year, they broke with tradition to share the moving film. “Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience, and quiet consideration,” Kate says in a voiceover. “Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection. To discover the deepest parts of ourselves.”
To celebrate her 44th birthday, Kate Middleton has chosen to honor Mother Nature. This Friday, January 9, the Princess of Wales shared a personal video, in which she celebrated the healing power of nature.
The video is the fourth and final installment of her Mother Nature series. Each season, she has made a habit of sharing her feelings and thoughts, encouraging those who follow her on her social networks to cherish their connection with the natural world. In this highly symbolic new episode, she appears on screen several times. We see her walking alone in frosty, wooded landscapes, enjoying the view, a ray of sunshine, and running her hand through the water of a river, looking tranquil. In the shots, she’s dressed in a long olive green coat, and accessorizes with a newsboy cap.
“Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience, and quiet consideration,” she says in a voice-over. “Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection. To discover the deepest parts of ourselves, alongside the whispers and the pulse of every living thing. I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease. Fears washed away, cleanse and purify. Come to peace with our tears, and discover what it means to be alive. To be at one with nature. A quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides. In memory, helping us to heal.”
This poetic message echoes the princess’s own healing journey. In 2024, Kate Middleton was diagnosed with cancer following abdominal surgery. She was admitted to the Oak Cancer Centre at the Royal Marsden Hospital for preventive chemotherapy. She announced the end of her chemotherapy in September 2024 and her remission early last year. In another symbolic gesture, she chose to dedicate her first official outing of 2026 to the carers and patients of Charing Cross Hospital on January 8, the eve of her birthday.
The future queen’s message is accompanied by a caption in her Instagram post: “The Mother Nature series has been a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal. But it is also a story about the power of nature and creativity in collective healing. There is so much we can learn from mother nature, as we look to build a happier, healthier world. C.”
According to an aide to the princess quoted in the Daily Mail, the video posted today marks “the culmination of a deeply personal creative project for The Princess, spotlighting humanity’s longstanding connection to nature, as well as nature’s capacity to inspire us and help us to heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.” The newspaper reported that the clip was directed and produced by Will Warr, and was filmed in Berkshire, Cumbria, Gloucestershire, London, East Sussex, and the Cotswolds.
The princess first wore the piece in January 2025, for a Holocaust memorial service at the Guildhall—a particularly poignant choice for the label. “Today marks 80 years since the Holocaust, and as a Jewish owned brand we are honoured that the Princess of Wales chose to wear our necklace for today’s memorial to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day,” the brand wrote on Instagram.
She has worn the necklace on several occasions since then—including for the VE Day 80th anniversary concert at Horse Guards Parade in May, when she teamed it with matching pearl earrings, also from Susan Caplan, and a white bouclé and chiffon midi dress by high street brand Self-Portrait. Clearly, it was an outfit that resonated with her: She wore the exact same look for the Order of the Garter celebrations a month later, this time adding a new, wide-brimmed hat by milliner Sean Barrett. Most recently, she donned the classic necklace for the first day of the German state visit to Britain, which saw her view a special exhibition at Windsor Castle with the president and first lady.
Cartier Trinity collection
The Princess of Wales tends to favor styles that never go out of fashion, making it little surprise that she has a fondness for Cartier’s iconic Trinity collection, in which pieces feature three intertwined bands in 18-karat white, yellow, and rose gold. Kate owns several items from the range, including a pair of hoop earrings she debuted during an engagement at the Royal Marsden Hospital in January 2025—and wore for the Wales family’s recent Christmas card—as well as two other, diamond-accented pairs that she has sported for various royal engagements since 2016.
Kate wore a necklace and a pair of earrings from Cartier’s Trinity collection in Paris in March 2017.
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The princess also has two necklaces from the same collection: one small, pendant style that she first wore in Paris in 2017, and another, more lavish station necklace, which has been in her jewelry box since around 2012. The truly timeless Trinity collection by the French label celebrated its 100th anniversary last year and has had a legion of famous fans: Grace Kelly loved her classic ring, as did Romy Schneider; actor Jacqueline Bisset, meanwhile, was often seen in a chunky bracelet from the range.
Most poignantly, perhaps, Princess Diana was fond of the Trinity collection and owned a classic ring from the range, which she wore on her little finger. Stories abound about the origins of the design. Some point to its ancient Celtic roots, while others claim that the interlocking bands are descended from Russian wedding rings. Whatever the truth behind the fables, the legends persist —and the marriage of the three metals, combining different entities into one, has picked up its own symbolism. Indeed, those three hoops have come to represent endless meanings: past, present, and future, for instance, as well as love, loyalty, and friendship. Fitting indeed for a princess who has made jewelry with a hidden meaning something of her trademark.
