Kate Middleton made a romantic nod to Prince William as the pair held court for a Buckingham Palace garden party on 20 May. The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed guests from the terrace, with Catherine looking a vision in yellow as she wore her custom Emilia Wickstead coatdress and matching Philip Treacy hat – a combination that some royal watchers may well remember from her outing at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
But it was Kate’s earrings that truly stood out as she mingled among the crowds. The Princess of Wales, who is well-known for her subtly symbolic use of jewels, chose to re-wear the earrings that she wore on her wedding day, having last month celebrated her 14th anniversary with Prince William. The custom Robinson Pelham earrings – diamond-set oak leaves with a diamond acorn suspended in the centre – were a gift from her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, according to the Court Jeweller. Not only will these earrings be read as a nod to the Prince of Wales, but they also hold highly personal meaning for the Middleton family: oak leaves and acorns both feature on the family’s coat of arms, which was issued to the clan before the wedding in 2011.
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As for the Prince of Wales, William looked the epitome of English garden party style in a top hat and sharp three-piece suit. The event marked Catherine’s first garden party since she announced her cancer diagnosis in early 2024, and both she and her husband looked in high spirits as they joined a host of royals, including Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
As King Charles and Queen Camilla did not attend the party, it was primarily left to the younger generation of royals to lead the affair. Zara Tindall surely topped the style stakes in a floral dress and sky high heels, while Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, looked characteristically chic in a dress by Beulah and a hat by one of the royals’ favourite milliners, Jane Taylor.
It marks a year since Prince William hosted his previously garden party in Buckingham Palace, just months after the Princess of Wales announced that she would be stepping back from public duties to undergo cancer treatment. Then, like today, he was supported by the younger members of his family – including Mike and Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
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It was a poignant moment, seeing non-working royals gathering around the Prince of Wales in such a difficult time. It was also seen by many as a sign that King Charles might have moved on from his reluctance to rely on wider members of the family for royal engagements. Insiders speaking to MailOnline claimed Charles was ‘looking to bring in some fresh blood and he’s looking to Beatrice and Eugenie. He thinks that they’ve grown into very sensible, lovely women who he thinks could be a real asset. Charles is listening to his public.
‘They have been crying out for that royal glamour that has been missing during a time when his slimmed-down monarchy is in desperate need of bulking up.’
The sisters were joined by Princess Anne’s children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, who are also known to enjoy a close relationship with Prince William. Peter, in particular, is said to have been ‘like an older brother’ to Prince William, according to sources.
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No doubt Prince William was happy to be joined by his family once more, especially now that the Princess of Wales is making such a strong recovery. Outside of the Firm, the Prince and Princess were joined by some very special guests. Among those enjoying their day at Buckingham Palace was the family of Liz Hatton, the teenage photographer who grew so close to William and Catherine before she passed away from cancer at the age of 17.
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer in January, keen photographer Liz started a bucket list – which led to the Princess of Wales inviting her to Windsor to photograph Prince William. Catherine, who has also undergone cancer treatment this year, was photographed embracing Liz, who she described as a ‘talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both’.
After Liz died in November, Prince William and Kate Middleton penned a highly personal message of tribute to the young photographer. ‘We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away. It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman,’ wrote Prince William and Kate Middleton on their social media accounts.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz’s parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo at this unimaginably difficult time.’
The royal couple remained steadfast in their support for the family, with Liz’s mother, Vicky, telling the Daily Mail at a memorial in December that: ‘They are so incredibly kind. They have been in touch throughout. It’s been a difficult time but we have had messages from them. They and their team are often checking in. They have looked after us incredibly.’
And now, in an especially moving moment, the family have reunited with the Prince and Princess at today’s garden party, alongside Steven Frank, a survivor of the Holocaust who met Catherine when she took his photograph in 2020 to commemorate 75 years since the end of the Holocaust.
