Admittedly, we did not have these items on our royal family bingo card, but it certainly made for an interesting Tuesday: Princess Kate visited a men’s prison today to meet with those struggling with addiction (love this) and brought with her an injured hand and a new hairstyle (we’ll explain). But first, the work: per People, Kate “is highlighting the ways in which addiction and incarceration often intertwine,” and did so by visiting HMP High Down prison in Surrey to learn how inmates and their families are being supported through addiction. (Kate is patron of the Forward Trust, which helps those in the criminal justice system manage and recover from addiction.)
During the visit, Kate was shown what a family goes through during a normal visit to the jail, beginning with the required security process. (Yes, she went through it just like the rest of us would and was searched for drugs by a black Labrador named Penny. Of the dog, Kate said “Amazing. It’s incredible. They are very calm.”) She sat down with incarcerated people whose journey began with addiction, and they detailed the support they receive in prison for their addiction. Kate also spent time in The Clink, a restaurant that trains prisoners in hospitality. Speaking to the kitchen staff—who are also current inmates—Kate said “Well done. It smells delicious.”
High Down has around 1,100 prisoners, and it “has been working to try to ensure that it is a more positive experience, for children in particular,” People reports. (And we know how much children matter to the Princess of Wales.)
Addiction, by the way, is not a new issue for Kate to tackle; it was actually one of the first issues she tackled as a new working royal after marrying Prince William in 2011. “That helped lead to her championing mental health awareness, especially the impact that it has on young children,” People reports. Kate has been working with addiction charities ever since, helping her understand “the complexities of mental health and has informed much of her work on the early years,” her office at Kensington Palace said. “Experiences in early childhood, before the age of five, are proven to have significant impact on adult lives, including resilience and the ability to cope with adversity.”
Per The Mirror, Kate arrived at the prison complete with “a painful injury caused by playtime with her children,” the outlet reports. Perhaps in a nod to Sarah Burton’s pending departure from the fashion house, Kate wore a recycled blue Alexander McQueen suit, a necklace with the initials G, C, and L on it (we don’t have to tell you who that’s for), and—in a less sweet accessory—two fingers on her right hand taped together. “It is said she sustained the hand injury at home while trampolining with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis [editor’s note: there’s your GCL for you]” but that it is a “minor injury, nothing serious.” The injury didn’t stop her from shaking hands with those she met upon arrival at the prison. While speaking with Ken and Brenda Ash from Weybridge—who used to visit their son Mark at High Down—she said the injury was “My own fault. I was jumping around on the trampoline.” She then added “I did put it on [the bandage] just to keep it safe.”
Kate also debuted new bangs, with Hello reporting “the Princess of Wales appears to have succumbed to the latest it-girl hairstyle of the season, having had bouncy ‘70s bangs cut into her Rapunzel-like locks.”
Kate heard stories from four inmates about overcoming drug and alcohol issues and told them that she strongly believes addiction is not a choice. A Palace source added that she found the exchange “incredibly inspirational,” and, speaking later, Kate said “I asked one of the guys, ‘Would you have liked help [with your addiction] earlier?’ And he said ‘Yes, but I didn’t know I needed it.’”
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
The aforementioned Mark Ash—who was sentenced to 40 months in High Down for drug offenses—told Kate about how he kicked his heroin addiction in prison. Of Kate’s visit, Ash said “It is very honorable of her to want to come and step into this environment. What I’ve learned is that your family have to recover from your addiction, too, because your addiction affects the whole family. It’s not just about the addict.”
“The princess thinks it’s important to come somewhere like this—a big, difficult prison,” said Mike Trace, chief executive of the Forward Trust. “This is not all sugar-coated. It’s her first visit to a men’s prison.” He added “The charity gives people the opportunity to change, and it’s great to have a patron who gets that.”
Of Kate’s visit, Emily Martin, who has been Governor of High Down since March 2022, said “It’s very important when a member of the royal family coming to see the realities of life and the mechanics of a prison—what they look like, what they smell like.”
Kate’s visit is ahead of Addiction Awareness Week, which will take place from October 28 to November 4 this year. This year’s theme is “Everybody Knows Somebody,” aiming to highlight the vast array of people across society that are affected by addiction.
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Hilary Duff Welcomes 3rd Child With Husband Matthew Koma
Townes is her fourth child overall.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Upgrade Your Vacation Wardrobe With Summer Staples From Shopbop and Nordstrom Rack
Next stop: The airport.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Well, Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ Might Not Be Completely Done After All
The success of ‘Scoop’ is reportedly prompting the streaming giant’s bosses to bring ‘The Crown’ back in a new, interesting form after the show concluded last year.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Kate Refuses to Be Anything But “Resolutely Cheerful” Around Her Kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, Royal Author Says
More than ever, as she receives treatment for cancer, the hope is to “keep the prevailing mood as upbeat as possible.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Kate Middleton Omitted This Word from Her Wedding Vows to Prince William So That, From the Start, They Would Be Seen as Equals
Her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, had broken tradition and done the same in her own vows to Prince Charles 30 years prior.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William “Has Never Been More Protective” of Princess Kate Than He Is Now—and Will “Make Sure She’s Spoiled” on Their Anniversary Today
To mark 13 years since their royal wedding, the couple released a never-before-seen photo from the big day.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Former Royal Butler Describes What It Was Like to Work for Princess Kate
“I’m really grateful for all those memories.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Kate Makes History with New Appointment from Father-in-Law King Charles
The two have grown especially close in recent months as both undergo treatment for cancer.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis “Are Following Some New Rules” at Home to Help Make Life Easier for Princess Kate
As their mother receives treatment for cancer, the Wales trio is reportedly pitching in and taking on some extra chores around the house.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William Single-Handedly Planned His and Kate Middleton’s Romantic Honeymoon
Kate had no idea where they were headed on their two week luxurious break from reality until after their 2011 wedding.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Kate Reportedly Carries These Four Items in Her Enviable Collection of Handbags
Guarantee we all carry at least one of these items in our own, as well.
By Rachel Burchfield Published