Princess Kate turned a routine royal engagement into a moment of birthday shopping success during a solo trip to Wales on Jan. 30. During an unannounced visit to Corgi, the ultra-luxe Welsh knitwear brand, Kate found herself on the receiving end of an unexpected birthday assist for mom Carole Middleton, who turned 70 the following day.
The surprise moment came courtesy of 12-year-old Cari, whose family runs the prestigious textile company. The pre-teen presented Kate with a cream cashmere cardigan to thank her for her visit, but also presented the royal with a navy cashmere wrap specially chosen for birthday girl Carole.
Per Hello! the Princess of Wales exclaimed, "That's so sweet of you, thank you. I wasn't expecting it."
During her visit, Kate championed British craftsmanship, a cause close to her heart over the years. She toured the factory floor, chatted with the design team and even tried her hand out at making socks and sweaters. It turns out textile manufacturing runs in the royal's own family history—as Kensington Palace pointed out, her paternal ancestors owned a wool manufacturer based in Leeds, England.
Princess Kate took a look at Corgi's cashmere socks during her visit.
Along with having a rather appropriate name, Corgi also possesses some serious royal credentials. The brand has held a warrant from The King (the then-Prince of Wales) since 1989 and the honor was recently renewed when King Charles and Queen Camilla gave out new warrants in late 2024.
Along with Kate's new sweater and Carole's cashmere wrap, another member of the family also owns a Corgi design. The King once gifted a personalized baby blue sweater for a young Prince George, who wore it in a 2014 family portrait with his parents and their beloved dog Lupo, who died in 2020.
As for Carole's birthday, Kate's brother, James Middleton, shared a heartwarming baby photo on Instagram, complete with the simple but touching caption: "Happy 70th Birthday to my darling Mother. My Hero❤️."
-
Kendall Jenner Gives a Paris Jacket Trend Her LA Minimalist SpinIt's chic in any zip code.
-
Why Meghan Markle Sends "Secret Emails" to Archie and LilibetMeghan and Harry's kids will be able to access the emails "maybe when they're 16 or...18."
-
'80s Trends to Bring Into 2025Leave behind the stirrup pants—but keep the animal print.
-
Kate Middleton Is Determined "to Make Sure" George, Charlotte and Louis are "Better" Than Her at This Royal SkillThe Princess of Wales is starting them out young.
-
The One Thing That "Triggers" Prince William and Makes Him "Fly Off the Handle" When It Comes to Kate Middleton"I had never seen her husband, Prince William, so angry," a royal expert explained.
-
King Charles Made an "Awful" Press Comment During Prince William's Awkward 2005 Interview About Marriage"Look, I'm only 22 for God's sake."
-
I Tried Kate Middleton's Surprisingly Simple Morning Routine—Here's What WorkedMy results were hit or miss—but the princess is on to something with one step.
-
Former Royal Nanny Reveals Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Have Such Different Personalities"You see how grounded they really are."
-
Why Princess Kate Will "Never" Try to "Outshine" Prince William, But She's "Hugely Influential" Behind Closed DoorsAccording to royal experts, Kate is often forced to act "as a gatekeeper."
-
Why 4 of Prince William's Ex-Girlfriends Attended His Royal Wedding to Kate MiddletonThe exes were invited "due to a more peculiar upper class British tradition."
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton "Continue to Push Boundaries" When It Comes to This Aspect of Royal Life"They definitely have a different dynamic compared to other royal couples."
