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❤️."
-
Sofia Richie Grainge Styles Zebra Pants With Flip-FlopsNext stop on the tour: her elegant wedding venue in the South of France.
-
Gigi Hadid Pairs Metallic Track Pants and Mesh FlatsThe controversial shoe trend is most definitely gaining steam.
-
Body Language Expert Says Kate Can't "Mask Her Emotions""We also saw William...mirroring the same emotions as Kate."
-
Body Language Expert Reveals Kate Middleton Can't "Mask Her Emotions" at Trooping the Colour 2025
"We also saw William...mirroring the same emotions as Kate."
-
Kate Middleton's Trooping the Colour Outfit Features a Special Tribute to Queen Elizabeth IICatherine made sure the late monarch's presence was felt at the prestigious event.
-
Yes, Prince Louis and Prince George Are Having a Ball at Trooping the Colour 2025Their matching outfits are simply the icing on the cake.
-
Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte Showcase Their Mother-Daughter Style at Trooping the Colour 2025The little princess twinned with her mom in the best way.
-
Kate Middleton Channels Princess Diana in a Catherine Walker Coat Dress at Trooping the Colour 2025The Princess of Wales even wore the same designer as her late mother-in-law.
-
This Vintage Clip of Kate Middleton Apologizing to Prince William After Beating Him in a Boat Race Is Going Viral on TikTok"We were sabotaged," Will joked after Kate beat him not once, but twice.
-
Princess Kate Embraces the Déjà Vu Blue Trend For Surprise Appearance—And Her Necklace Is On SaleAnd her necklace is on sale.
-
The Unexpected Attribute Kate Middleton Has Been "Teased" About by Other Members of the Royal FamilyIt turns out she takes after The King.
