Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • NYFW
    • Life In Plastic
    • Cari Champion
    • New Books
    • Postpartum Psychosis
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    All Kate Middleton Wanted Under Her Christmas Tree Was...a Chainsaw?

    The Princess of Wales revealed her unusual gift during a visit to Scotland.

    Kristin Contino's avatar
    By Kristin Contino
    Published 29 April 2025 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Kate Middleton using a power drill
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    The Royal Family is full of unusual Christmas gift-giving traditions, whether it's opening their presents on Christmas Eve or giving silly gag gifts. But during a visit to Scotland on April 29, Kate Middleton revealed what was under her royal tree one year—and it certainly isn't what you'd expect.

    The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on the Isle of Mull, visiting a community center in the town of Tobermory to kick off their two-day trip. Along with chatting to local moms in a new soft play area and cafe, Princess Kate helped a local man create a sign for the center's community food bank fridge.

    Prince William took a stab first before handing a nail gun to Kate and telling her "not to pull the trigger then and there, 'otherwise our trip will be remembered for all the wrong reasons,'" per the Mirror. Kneeling down in her skinny brown pants and See By Chloé ankle boots, the princess grabbed the power tool and casually mentioned she'd "been given a chainsaw" for Christmas.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Kate Middleton holding a nail gun

    The Princess of Wales used a nail gun while visiting a Scottish community center.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Kate Middleton using a nail gun on a sign that says community pantry

    The royal shared that she got a chainsaw for Christmas.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Kate Middleton smiling and waving at a little girl

    The Princess of Wales interacted with local families at a soft play area.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    While the comment leaves a lot of questions, she didn't elaborate on the chainsaw remark or who gave it to her. However, interior designer and TV personality Banjo Beale exclaimed, "What can't she do!" after viewing Kate's handiwork, per the Mirror.

    "That always happens," Prince William said, referring to his multi-talented wife.

    You may like
    • Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at their first day of school at Lambrook Prince William and Princess Kate’s “Hands-On” Birthday Party Plans Revealed By Fellow School Parents
    • Kate Middleton wears a red coat with a black turtleneck sweater and a yellow daffodil on her lapel, she has long brown hair Princess Kate "Pushed Back" on One Aspect of Palace Life
    • Princess Kate wears a hat with a high-neck white shirt and gray blazer to attend church in Balmoral with Prince George and Prince Louis Princess Kate Delivers Vintage Vibes in a Pie-Crust Collar

    The power tool aficionado and her husband moved on to visit a local market, where Kate chatted with beekeeper Sheila Barnard about another one of her hobbies. During their conversation, the Princess of Wales revealed that she's hoping to spend more time at her country house, Anmer Hall, working on her beekeeping.

    "This is my summer project, I’ve only just started," the princess said. "At our home in Norfolk, I’m not there much during term time but during the summer I am hoping to really immerse myself in the process. I find it absolutely fascinating. I’ll have to take your number for some tips!"

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Princess Catherine Prince William
    Kristin Contino
    Kristin Contino
    Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

    Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

    Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

    Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.

    Read more
    Pippa Middleton and Princess Kate attending a wedding in 2011
    Royals Why Princess Kate Is Skipping Pippa Middleton's Party
    By Amy Mackelden
    Princess Kate wears a hat with a high-neck white shirt and gray blazer to attend church in Balmoral with Prince George and Prince Louis
    Royals Princess Kate Delivers Vintage Vibes in a Pie-Crust Collar
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    Pippa Middleton wearing a white dress and sunglasses at Wimbledon
    Royals Pippa Middleton Could Be Offered One Future Role With Princess Kate
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Kate wearing a green dress and holding hands with a cancer patient
    Royals Princess Kate Reflects On the "Huge Difference" One Hobby Made on Her Cancer Recovery
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Princess Diana wears a sparkly white dress and has short blonde hair, while her brother Earl Charles Spencer wears a blue suit and has gray hair
    Royals Diana "Would Have Approved" of Her Brother's New Project
    Queen Elizabeth laying a wreath at the 9/11 memorial
    Royals Queen Elizabeth Broke Tradition With One "Ultimate Sign of Unity" After 9/11
     
     
    Princess Kate wearing a green dress at Royal Marsden hospital
    Royals Princess Kate Trades Fall's Trendy Moss Green for an Old Favorite Emerald Dress
    Princess Kate wearing a green dress and holding hands with a cancer patient
    Royals Princess Kate Reflects On the "Huge Difference" One Hobby Made on Her Cancer Recovery
     
     
    Latest in News
    Princess Diana wears a sparkly white dress and has short blonde hair, while her brother Earl Charles Spencer wears a blue suit and has gray hair
    Royals Diana "Would Have Approved" of Her Brother's New Project
    A still of Taylor Frankie Paul and Ben Lambert in 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.'
    TV shows 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Season 6 Is Already Filming. Here's All the Updates So Far
     
     
    The red color trend on the street style scene at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027
    Fashion Fashion Week's Favorite Styling Trick? Just Add Red
    Queen Elizabeth laying a wreath at the 9/11 memorial
    Royals Queen Elizabeth Broke Tradition With One "Ultimate Sign of Unity" After 9/11
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.