As modern royal parents, Prince William and Princess Kate frequently talk about the active role they play in their kids’ lives, preferring to schedule royal events around school schedules and bringing their kids on trips abroad whenever possible. Although they have a longtime nanny, the Prince and Princess of Wales are much more involved in Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’s day-to-day lives than royals of the past—but there are two surprising members of William's family who shared a similar philosophy to his.

Although Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were loving parents, they put duty first and were frequently absent from their children’s lives while traveling on royal tours around the world. It seems the Queen Mother and King George VI took a different approach with Elizabeth and Margaret when they were young—and it’s one that is surprisingly similar to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In Gyles Brandreth’s book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, the author and friend of the Royal Family spoke with people who knew the late Queen the best. Sonia Berry, who was friends with the late Queen from the age of five, told Brandreth that she used to play together with her London neighbor Princess Elizabeth back when the Queen Mother and King George VI were known as the Duke and Duchess of York. She described the Yorks as “noticeably hands-on” given “the standards of their time and class,” per Brandreth.

“The Duchess, having had a very happy childhood herself, was all the more determined that, because the children were royal, they should have an ordinary childhood,” Berry told the author.

She described the future King George VI, who suffered from a severe stutter, as a fun, active father who wasn’t afraid to run around with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. “The Duke never seemed shy, he didn’t stutter and he played games, like Sardines,” Berry said.

It might be difficult to picture the late King playing garden games, and Berry said that her “starchy nanny” didn’t find his behavior appropriate at the time, adding, “she found it very undignified having to hide in a bush with him.”

Flashing forward to today, Prince William and Princess Kate also put an emphasis on family fun. The Princess of Wales recently shared that she loves playing rugby at home with her kids, and although life looks a lot different than it did for the Queen Mother, both William and Kate are intentional about giving their children everyday experiences at their Windsor home, just like his great-grandmother did.

Whether it’s sharing some video game time with Prince George, playing tennis with Princess Charlotte or watching soccer with Prince Louis, William and Kate have been vocal that their first priority is their children.

Princess Kate always manages to look effortless, whether it’s wearing a tailored Alexander McQueen coat dress or jeans and a Breton striped top. It might seem like the outfits members of the Royal Family wear are out of reach for the average person, but you don’t need high-end designer brands to achieve the same look if you follow some of the same styling hacks.

Fashion expert Monica Marriott-Mills recently shared some of the Royal Family’s biggest styling secrets on Instagram, and she says that one “lazy girl styling hack” is especially easy for everyday women to pull off.

“If you can color match your bag to your shoes, and wear no more than three colors in total, your outfit will just work,” she says in a Reel explaining how to achieve the look—and it’s a trick that the Princess of Wales uses all the time.

If you’re a regular follower of Kate’s style, you already know that she loves to coordinate her heels to her handbag. “This style of dressing is really impactful and it’s also something that we as fashion lovers and onlookers of the royals can also add into our own everyday style,” Marriott-Mills tells Marie Claire.

Take the 2026 Wimbledon finals, when the Princess of Wales demonstrated the tactic by wearing solid color dresses with tan handbags and heels, creating a classic, streamlined outfit that Marriott-Mills says anyone can copy with their own pieces.

“What’s great about the princess is that she often wears her bags and shoes time and time again,” the fashion content creator says.

Marriott-Mills, who specializes in luxury, royal and slow fashion, adds that when Kate “matches her bags to her shoes,” she can then wear that same combination with a different color palette. “It enables her to reuse them and style them up for lots of different occasions and in diverse ways,” Marriott-Mills says.

Similarly to matching their shoes to their handbags, Marriott-Mills says royal women also adopt the sandwich method—for example, matching their shoes and their top and using a different color for their skirt or trousers. “The top and bottom are like pieces of bread, they always need to match,” she explains.

Another one of the Royal Family's favorite fashion tactics is to go full monochromatic, like the Princess of Wales did for Commonwealth Day 2026, taking the coordinating shoe and bag further by creating a totally streamlined color story from head to toe.

Marriott-Mills adds that a trick Princess Kate uses to elevate her more affordable outfits is to add luxury accessories to her high street clothing. Pointing to the red tweed blazer she wore for a 2022 trip to Copenhagen with a black Aspinal of London Midi Mayfair bag, the fashion expert says the royal's “whole outfit feels really elevated—you would never know her blazer was under 70 pounds from Zara.”

And on top of it, the princess matched her bag to her black pumps, combining two styling hacks in one.

If you've ever visited Scotland in the middle of summer, you know that layering is key. Even in August, a sweater or jacket is a must, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot teased Princess Charlotte for leaving her outerwear at home.

The 11-year-old princess attended the sporting event in Glasgow with Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince George and Prince Louis on Saturday, August 1, wearing an adorable white polka-dot dress. The short-sleeved, ruffled style by Guess featured navy spots and matching navy trim along the waist, sleeves and skirt, and Charlotte appeared visibly cold in videos shared from the games.

With a high of 61 degrees on Saturday and some gusts of wind, it's no wonder Princess Charlotte was chilly, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot, Finnie the Unicorn, couldn't help but point out her shivers.

In a video shared by Hello! magazine, the Wales family looked notably windswept as they met representatives from the Commonwealth Games, including Finnie, and the mascot mimicked Princess Charlotte by wrapping its arms around itself and pretended to shiver. The princess took the gentle teasing in stride, giving the unicorn a high-five as Finnie greeted the royals.

This is the second polka-dot dress by Guess that Princess Charlotte has worn, with the 11-year-old previously sporting a navy spotted design to Wimbledon 2024, the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Final and a church visit at Balmoral.

"So nice to see her out of baby dresses. She looks so pretty," one fan commented on Royal Fashion Police's post on Instagram. Another social media user praised the affordable and "age appropriate" look, writing, in part, "Beautiful Charlotte 😍. They can afford every luxurious brands, but their parents chose lessons over brands."

The rest of the Wales family opted for long sleeves at the Commonwealth Games, with Prince William and Princess Kate both wearing blazers while Prince George and Prince Louis wore button-up shirts with trousers.

The Princess of Wales added a pleated white maxi skirt and a nautical striped top to her green Ralph Lauren blazer, with her La Ligne sweater vest coordinating perfectly with Charlotte's dotted dress.

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Prince William and Princess Kate brought all three of their children to the Commonwealth Games for the first time on Saturday, August 1, and along with commenting on Prince Louis’s cute reactions, fans couldn’t help but notice that chatty Kate got left behind by her family at one point.

In a video shared by Hello! magazine, the Prince of Wales was pictured getting into a waiting car with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis after their day out in Glasgow, Scotland. But the Princess of Wales was nowhere to be found until the camera panned over to her talking away to Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy by the side of the road.

The Princess of Wales has admitted that she often gets caught up talking to people for too long during royal events, but this time, there was a very meaningful reason she was making her family wait. Hoy announced in 2024 that he was diagnosed with terminal stage four prostate cancer, and fans pointed out that the princess, who is now in remission from cancer herself, was likely talking about their shared struggles.

“Once you’ve been touched by cancer you will never rush a conversation with someone who is going through it,” one fan commented on the video, while another added, “That’s good as thats one thing he does not have is time and that’s why she understands.”

Princess Kate has talked about her love of a long conversation in the past, sharing in the 2016 documentary Our Queen at Ninety that members of the Royal Family poke fun at her for her chatty ways.

“There’s a real art to walkabouts, everybody teases me in the family that I spend far too long chatting,” she said. “I still have to learn a little bit more, and to pick up a few more tips, I suppose.”

In this instance, however, it’s safe to say that the Prince of Wales completely understands.

Princess Kate and Prince William had an exceedingly eventful weekend as the pair attended the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. From springing into "dad mode" to executing damage control, Prince William appeared to be on high alert throughout the event. But according to royal fans, the Prince of Wales was never far away from his wife.

One X user highlighted Prince William's seeming adoration of Princess Kate by sharing two photos. In the first snap, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince George sit between Kate and William. In the second, the children have moved, leaving Princess Kate and Prince William to sit next to one another. The royal fan captioned the post, "How it started v. how it ended...Oh William."

Another commenter suggested that William was a "smart man" for moving closer to his wife. Meanwhile, someone else shared, "They can't live without each other."

According to the Express, another royal fan expressed excitement regarding Kate and William's appearance at the Commonwealth Games, writing, "Prince William wanted to sit next to Princess Catherine!! So sweet. The bond they have with each other and their children is amazing! I love it!"

After navigating some complicated family dynamics, it appears as though Kate and William always come back to one another.

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Prince George accompanied his siblings, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, and their parents, Princess Kate and Prince William, to the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland this weekend. While Prince William snapped into "dad mode" to seemingly reassure Louis, another moment involved him revealing that they "embarrass [Prince George] enough."

During an interview with TV presenter Gethin Jones, Princess Kate revealed that an Olympic cyclist had "attempted to persuade" her and Prince William to take part in "track cycling," the Express reported. Princess Kate also shared that she responded by saying, "Be careful what you wish for, as they want to put us on a tandem bike in the velodrome."

Jones took the opportunity to ask George for his opinion, saying, "Would you like to see mom and dad on a tandem in the velodrome later?" Prince George reportedly provided a very clipped response by simply saying, "No."

Prince William appeared to leap into damage control to smooth over the potentially awkward moment by telling Prince George, "We embarrass you enough as it is."

Prince George recently turned 13, meaning that he's finally a teenager and set to attend boarding school at Eton College this fall.

Royal editor Emily Ferguson recently suggested in the Express, "The young prince will undoubtedly be asking the question all parents dread: can I have a phone?"

"So far, modern parents William and Catherine have stood firm and prohibited their children from having phones," the royal expert shared.

Ferguson continued, "But with George heading to a new school and spending time away from the family, his parents are expected to relent."

For now, at least, Prince William is making it clear that his son endures enough embarrassment without having to watch his parents riding a tandem bike.

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Princess Kate is an incredibly influential member of the Royal Family. While her fashion choices cause items of clothing to immediately sell out, her hair and beauty decisions also inspire a plethora of royal fans around the globe. However, in the latest poll regarding who the most popular member of the Royal Family is, Princess Kate was beaten by an unexpected person.

According to the latest YouGov poll, Prince William is currently the most popular member of the British Royal Family. 76 percent of those asked had a positive opinion of the Prince of Wales, compared to 74 percent for his wife Princess Kate.

Princess Anne came third place in the poll, with 70 percent of voters sharing a positive opinion about the Princess Royal. Unfortunately for King Charles, his popularity appears to have waned, with the monarch only receiving a score of 60 percent.

While Prince Edward drew a positive opinion of 53 percent, his wife, Duchess Sophie, received only 51 percent. Still, both scored considerably higher than Queen Camilla, who scored just 43 percent.

According to YouGov, Prince William and Princess Kate "continue to be the most positively viewed royals, with around three quarters of Britons seeing the Waleses in a favorable light, figures largely unchanged over the last few years."

When it comes to the Royal Family in general, a larger percentage of voters appear to view the institution in a more negative light.

"Attitudes towards the family and monarchy as a whole remain mostly positive, with around six in ten Britons seeing the Royal Family in general and the institution of the monarchy in favorable lights, though a persistent third see both negatively," YouGov reported.

For now, at least, Prince William is reportedly the most popular member of the Royal Family.

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Princess Kate and Prince William, along with their three children—Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince Louis—are currently in Glasgow, Scotland for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. For the sporty outing, the Princess of Wales rewore a French girl classic top with a new blazer.

To watch a netball match with her kids, Princess Kate appeared to be wearing a Ralph Lauren Collection Camden Cashmere Jacket in Dark Racing Green, which retails for $3,790. Unfortunately, the blazer seems to have sold out in Princess Kate's striking shade, but remains available in Cream and Porcini.

The Princess of Wales has long been a fan of Breton stripes and she decided to invoke her favorite French girl trend for the Commonwealth Games. Kate has worn Breton striped tops on numerous occasions, meaning the style has become somewhat of a trademark for the royal.

She completed the outfit with a long pleated white midi skirt from Christopher Kane.

The Princess of Wales accessorized her Commonwealth Games outfit with her Anya Hindmarch Neeson Small Square Tote in Chalk, which is available in multiple colors and retails for $1,490, and a pair of Camilla Elphick Lucia Tan Slingback Pumps.

For jewelry, Kate chose her $2,025 Annoushka Favorites Pearl Earrings, which include freshwater pearls suspended from yellow gold hoops.

As always, the princess's outfit perfectly combined smart, classic pieces with everyday comfort.

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Members of the Royal Family live their lives in the spotlight, often becoming recognizable the world over. But according to one royal biographer, there was only one person who married into the Royal Family who had true "star power."

In an interview with People, royal expert and biographer Simon Vigar explained, "[Princess] Diana had a sense of destiny about her. The only aristocrat of the four women [Princess Diana, Queen Camilla, Princess Kate, and Meghan Markle], she knew a lot about it. She grew up [at Park House] on the Sandringham estate and knew the royals, and her big sister [dated] Charles."

Vigar also said of Diana, "But she is the biggest changemaker." Referencing particular moments in the princess's life that made a huge impact, the biographer said, "Even simply going to Tower Records on Kensington High Street was something you couldn't imagine the previous generation doing."

The author—who is set to release his new book, The Four Wives of Windsor: Rivalries, Influence, and the Real Power Behind the Crown, on July 30—also suggested that Diana "made the Royal Family more relatable and more touchy-feely."

Per Vigar, "Subjectively, [Diana] brought star power." Unfortunately, the Royal Family "didn't really know what they had," according to the author, but she "outshone them in the end."

Vigar also praised Princess Kate and Duchess Meghan, elaborating on the incredible attributes they brought to the family.

"[Meghan] was obviously a massive asset," the author said. "She was brilliant with the crowd, with the people. She would have been a major player in the Royal Family, and it is a crying shame that she's not."

Regarding Princess Kate, Vigar shared, "Catherine is no wallflower. She has her own ideas. Behind the scenes, she asks really good questions. The Royal Family doesn’t think of themselves as a brand, but they are, and a source told me she got that straight away."

But when it comes to the person with the strongest "star power," Vigar believes Princess Diana reigns supreme.

Princess Kate's influence over the fashion world has been well-documented, with items the royal has worn regularly selling out following her endorsement. Unsurprisingly, her hair and beauty choices have also added to the "Kate effect," causing royal fans worldwide to replicate the Princess of Wales's style. And according to one jewelry designer, Princess Kate's decision to wear the brand was transformative.

Maddy Sangster, who took over the jewelry label Heavenly London from her mom, revealed that one celebrity has made a bigger impact on the business than anyone else.

"The Princess of Wales, for sure," Sangster told the Daily Mail in a new interview. "Back then she was the original influencer. It was a butterfly effect. Overnight the business went from this teeny tiny company to booming."

While other celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and Rachel Zegler have shown love for the brand, Princess Kate's endorsement has generated the biggest sales.

Sangster continued, "Suddenly, there will be this flurry of activity on the website, especially from America. You know exactly what's happened because her followers are so loyal."

The Princess of Wales has worn Heavenly London on several occasions. For instance, she wore a pair of pearl earrings from Heavenly London when she attended the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery in London in June 2023.

Discussing some of the ways she's been changing the brand since taking over, Sangster shared, "The business my mother built was incredible and had a devoted following...My job has been translating that devotion into a modern brand, and the growth has come from customers who found us online and stayed."

As for Princess Kate, it seems likely that the royal's choices will continue to influence fashion and jewelry sales for years to come.

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Prince George turned 13 on July 22, 2026, and is set to attend Eton College this fall. According to one royal expert, the young royal probably requested one particular gift from his parents upon becoming a teenager.

Writing in the Express, royal editor Emily Ferguson explained, "The young prince will undoubtedly be asking the question all parents dread: can I have a phone?"

As George will be attending boarding school, requesting a cell phone doesn't seem completely unexpected. However, according to Ferguson, William and Kate might not be ready to give their eldest son a cell phone.

"So far, modern parents William and Catherine have stood firm and prohibited their children from having phones," the royal expert shared. "But with George heading to a new school and spending time away from the family, his parents are expected to relent."

If William and Kate do agree to give George a cell phone, there will be some significant limitations, Ferguson explained.

"[T]his will likely be an old-school 'brick' with no access to social media, as his high public profile and propensity to become the subject of social media fodder, is something they want to protect him from," the expert shared. Basically, TikTok is probably out of the question.

It's also believed that the school will implement strict rules regarding Prince George's presence.

"[F]ellow students will be warned against taking photos or leaking information about their famous classmate, with William keeping a close eye as he expects his son to get the same treatment he and his brother [Prince Harry] received when they attended Eton," Ferguson wrote.

Not all royal experts agree that Prince George will receive a cell phone following his 13th birthday.

For instance, royal commentator Sarah Hewson recently told Vanity Fair, "One thing George won't be getting [for his 13th birthday] is an iPhone." Hewson continued, "His parents are very hot on phones, and they won't allow him on social media. They want to protect him from that for as long as they can."

Still, when Prince George begins studying at Eton College, life is sure to change in a major way for the young royal and his family.

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Princess Kate and Prince William announced their engagement on November 16, 2010, having gotten engaged during a trip to Kenya three weeks prior. But according to one royal biographer, King Charles was allegedly "a little irritated" when it came to Prince William's proposal.

In his book The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty of Secrets, Scandal, and Survival, royal biographer Robert Jobson explained, "The palace announced William and Catherine's wedding for April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey, a joyful event that would at last overshadow the sorrow of Diana's funeral in 1997."

Jobson continued, "Privately, Charles was surprised, even 'a little irritated' that William had proposed to Catherine using the same 12-carat Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring from Garrard's 1981 catalog, that he had presented to Diana on their engagement."

According to Jobson, this insight regarding King Charles's reaction was provided to him by a former palace employee.

However, any irritation King Charles might have felt seemed to quickly evaporate.

According to Jobson, "Prince William had kept his big news secret, even from The Queen and his father, making private plans with Catherine for their future."

The royal biographer continued, "On November 16, 2010, he telephoned The Queen to announce that he and Catherine were now officially engaged. She was delighted. When asked by the press, Charles joked that the pair had been practicing long enough."

In spite of any alleged trepidation King Charles may have experienced, it seems likely that the monarch was ultimately pleased about William and Kate's decision to marry.

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In recent years, Prince William has taken on a more central role within the Royal Family. As the heir apparent, William knows he'll one day become King, following the death of his father. As the Prince of Wales prepares for the future, one royal expert believes William has already "dropped big hints" about what everyone can expect from him.

In an interview with GB News, royal correspondent and author Simon Vigar—who is set to release The Four Wives of Windsor: Rivalries, Influence, and the Real Power Behind the Crown later this month—discussed Prince William's alleged plans.

"William dropped those big hints in the Apple TV documentary [The Reluctant Traveler], talking actually about the changes that he wants to make," Vigar explained. In particular, Prince William addressed the "insatiable" press interest surrounding the Royal Family, which leads to a lack of privacy.

According to Vigar, Prince William is likely to prioritize making a change when it comes to how the media interacts with the Royal Family. "I put money on that being one of them," he told the outlet

Vigar also believes that Prince William will seek to protect his three children—Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte—as they embark upon their adult lives.

"The gentleman's agreement to leave William alone at university did hold, and of course, it was a camera crew from a TV company owned by his uncle [Prince] Edward—that was the only one that actually broke it," per Vigar.

The royal biographer continued, "In terms of when George, Charlotte, and Louis complete university, once they're in their twenties, I think it'll be a similar deal, and privacy law is changing all the time. There will be similar conversations."

Vigar also suggested that rules regarding "what can be printed about the people" that begin dating "the young royals" will also undergo change. "It'll definitely develop," Vigar explained.

As Prince William always makes his family a priority, it makes sense that he'd want to ensure their safety as much as possible once he's King.

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As the future queen of Belgium, Princess Elisabeth regularly attends high-profile events. On July 25, Elisabeth stepped out for the royal wedding of Isabel von Habsburg-Lothringen to Carlos de Palacio y Gaytán de Ayala, which took place at the Jesuit Church in Vienna, Austria.

For the regal occasion, Princess Elisabeth leaned into a Summer 2026 It-girl color trend by wearing a green dress—Maje's Riannette Ruffle-Trim Midi Dress.

She accessorized the dress with matching green accessories from Maison Fabienne Delvigne, including the label's Virginia Clutch and a coordinated fascinator.

Notably, Princess Elisabeth followed in Princess Kate's footsteps by wearing a pair of Gianvito Rossi's Gianvito 105 Suede Pumps in Praline.

While Princess Kate's beloved Gianvito Rossi pumps appear to be a royal favorite, Summer 2026's freaky green trend only seems to be growing in popularity.

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Prince George is embarking on an important step towards the throne later this year, with the future King set to attend boarding school at Eton College. Having already undergone several kingship lessons, Prince William's son is likely quietly getting ready to become the heir apparent one day. And according to one royal expert, the 13-year-old royal can turn to two "refreshingly normal" royal relatives whenever he needs advice.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, royal biographer Robert Jobson suggested that Prince George's godmother, Zara Tindall, is an important figure in the young royal's life. Her husband, former rugby player Mike Tindall, is also highlighted as a key person George can rely upon.

"Watch Zara with George, and there is no deference in it," Jobson told the outlet. "She teases him. He is easy with her the way children are easy with adults who want nothing from them."

Jobson continued, "Then there is Mike, who is not a godparent and has become something better. He talks to him about losing, the one subject nobody else raises, because everybody else is invested in the boy winning."

Having played rugby professionally, Mike has a unique perspective, which he can share with George, Jobson noted.

"Mike has lost in front of 80,000 people," the biographer said. "He can be funny about it the next morning."

According to Jobson, Mike's demeanor will also be a positive influence on the future King: "No airs and graces about the man."

Despite being Princess Anne's daughter, Zara was raised without an official royal title, allowing her to lead a relatively normal life in many ways.

Having previously interviewed Zara, Jobson called her "brilliant," "confident," and "refreshingly normal."

"[Mike] married into the most scrutinized family on earth and has never once behaved like a man who married up," Jobson told the outlet. "Two world champions [Zara as an Olympian, Mike as a professional rugby star]. Neither remotely impressed by any of it. That is the lesson."

Their discretion, too, is notable: "They have never sold access or traded overtly on the royal name," Jobson explained.

Ultimately, Jobson believes that Zara and Mike's real life experiences will provide George with the insight and advice he needs in the future.

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Prince George turned 13 this week and his birthday was commemorated with a new portrait and a behind-the-scenes Instagram video. Notably, the young prince was captured spending time outdoors, marking a more casual approach to presenting the Royal Family. And according to one royal expert, Princess Kate and Prince William have deliberately employed one "highly successful tactic" when it comes to George.

Speaking to the Mirror, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond discussed the way Prince George's birthday was celebrated by his parents on social media.

"I love the fact that they refer to him—and their other children [Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis]—simply by their Christian [first] names, without the formality or pomposity of using their titles," Bond told the outlet. "It sets a new tone, a tone that William has spoken about: being royal with a small 'r.'"

Discussing the importance of the more casual nature of Prince George's official birthday portrait and video, Bond told the publication, "For William and Catherine, it is a way of protecting their children, and it is working well. That's partly because the pictures are clearly quite relaxed and informal."

"And this year we got a bit of both: the fun video of George on holiday with his siblings, and the much smarter one in his suit (happily without his tie!)," the former BBC royal correspondent explained.

Despite the slight informality of George's birthday portrait, Bond notes that "seeing him in his suit helps mark his transition from child to teenager."

Ultimately, Bond believes Kate and William have discovered a winning strategy when it comes to presenting their kids to the world.

The expert shared, "I suspect this tradition will continue...Over the years, the photos have shown a young boy smiling and laughing, happy and confident—far better pictures than a bank of press photographers could have achieved. And so it has been a highly successful tactic."

Importantly, Prince George will soon attend Eton College, marking yet another important step in his road to kingship.

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Prince George turned 13 on July 22, and the new teenager is set to attend Eton College this fall. It's clear that Princess Kate and Prince William's eldest child is growing up and embarking on a new chapter. And according to several royal experts, the Prince and Princess of Wales have a "relatively small window" in which they can shape George's life.

In the latest episode of the Telegraph's "Daily T" podcast, royal experts Camilla Tominey, Victoria Ward, and India McTaggart discussed how Kate and William are purposefully shaping George's future as an heir to the throne.

Ward noted that for "the last 13 years, they've made family life...the priority." The Telegraph's deputy royal editor continued, "[T]hey've always known that he's eventually going to go to boarding school at 13. So they've got this relatively small window to shape this man."

According to Ward, Prince William's focus on the prioritization of mental health will likely influence the way he's raising Prince George.

"William often talks about his mental toolkit, doesn't he?" Ward noted. The expert continued, "And I feel like...they want to give George and the others these tools to be able to take on this life of duty when they're a bit older."

In honor of George's 13th birthday, a source opened up to the Telegraph about Princess Kate and Prince William's parenting choices. Per the source, "The way they have lived their lives—getting the kids outside, spending time together, focusing on the school run—it's just as strategic as any other part of their public service."

The source continued, "Preparing their children for the lives they are going to lead [is] central to their roles."

Without a doubt, attending Eton College will be a huge change for Prince George, as well as an important step as he prepares for his future within the Royal Family.

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The American-born countess, Julie Montagu, the Countess of Sandwich, knows more than most about the allure of Britain's monarchy. From Chicago cheerleader to becoming a member of the British aristocracy, Montagu regularly shares unique insights on the United Kingdom's rich history and relationship with royalty. Recently, the Countess of Sandwich described the "small moments" that shape Princess Kate's "modern" relationship with the general public.

In a series of posts on X, Montagu reflected on Princess Kate's impact as a member of the Royal Family. "Another thing people often mention is her warmth," the countess explained.

Montagu continued, "But not in an overly performative way. It's not exaggerated, she's actually quite understated. A smile, a small laugh, a gentle comment. And that understated quality is actually very British."

The American countess elaborated on Princess Kate, explaining, "Perhaps that's why she has become such a central figure in the Royal Family. Because in a role that is built on tradition, on ceremony, and of course expectation, she brings something that feels very modern: authenticity. And that, more than anything else, is what people respond to."

In fact, it's the modernity of Princess Kate's gestures that seems to create her bold connection with royal fans, Montagu notes.

"I think this is where we begin to understand something important about her," the countess further explained. "Her role is not just about representing the monarchy, it's about shaping how people feel about it, and those small moments, those brief conversations, those gestures, they all contribute to that."

Basically, Princess Kate is carving out a royal role that's individual to her, and she's doing so with ease and grace.

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Whether it’s Princess Kate’s slim diamond tiara or Princess Eugenie’s colorful emerald-trimmed style, every royal watcher has a favorite royal wedding tiara. But when it comes to cost, the most expensive pieces in the Royal Family’s collection aren’t necessarily the ones you might expect.

Princess Kate’s Cartier Halo tiara is worth more than a million dollars less than the headpieces worn by Meghan Markle or Zara Tindall on their wedding days, and the Spencer Tiara—worn by Princess Diana for her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles—doesn’t even rank in the top five of the most expensive diadems.

Justin Daughters, managing director and antique jewelry expert at Berganza, tells Marie Claire that the process of evaluating tiaras is a complicated one, but at the end of the day, “the primary factors determining the gem's value are not limited to the diamonds and precious stones composing the tiara.”

“Beyond these factors, several others must be considered during evaluation, including the gem itself, rarity, workmanship, and its connection to the royal occasion for which it was used,” the jewelry expert explains.

And while there are certain tiaras that will forever hold a fascination for the public, like Diana’s, the headpieces that are worth the most might surprise some fans. Below, Daughters ranks the five most valuable wedding tiaras in the Royal Family’s collection.

The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara

You might not expect Princess Eugenie to take the crown for the priciest wedding tiara, but the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik “is widely regarded as one of the most valuable modern royal wedding tiaras,” Daughters says.

Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor, and while her tiara bore some similarities to Meghan Markle's with its headband-like style, its stunning emeralds take the diadem's valuation through the roof.

“Created by Boucheron in 1919 for society hostess Dame Margaret Greville, it is an extraordinary example of early 20th-century jewelry design,” Daughters says. Greville passed her extraordinary jewelry collection down to the Queen Mother, with the pieces becoming part of royal history.

“While the tiara features exceptional diamonds, its true rarity lies in its remarkable emeralds, including the spectacular 93.7-carat cabochon-cut Colombian emerald at its center,” Daughters says. He explains that its valuation is due to these remarkable stones, noting, “Natural emeralds of this size, color and quality are exceptionally rare, particularly when untreated or minimally treated.”

“The combination of exceptional gemstones, an iconic Art Deco silhouette and an extraordinary royal connection makes this a truly museum-quality jewel that would be almost impossible to recreate today.”

Estimated value: £10 million to £13 million ($13.4 million to $17.4 million)

Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara

The second most valuable tiara, unsurprisingly, is Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, the design worn by Queen Elizabeth for her November 20, 1947 wedding to Prince Philip.

“Created by Garrard in 1919, it was made using diamonds from a necklace gifted to Queen Mary by Queen Victoria in 1893,” Daughters says.

Featuring 47 graduated diamond bars laid out in a "fringe" design, the delicate tiara actually snapped ahead of the then-Princess Elizabeth's wedding and had to be repaired just hours before the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Queen Elizabeth went on to lend the tiara to Princess Beatrice for her secret July 17, 2020 wedding, held at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Prince Andrew's former home, Royal Lodge.

“Although it is entirely diamond-set, its importance comes from the exceptional quality of its antique diamonds, its craftsmanship and, above all, its remarkable provenance,” Daughters adds of the tiara.

Estimated value: £5 million to £9 million ($6.7 million to $12 million)

The Meander Tiara

Coming in at number three is the tiara Zara Tindall wore for her July 30, 2011 wedding to Mike Tindall, and Daughters says not to underestimate the simplicity of this style.

“The Meander Tiara is a beautiful example of understated elegance,” the jewelry expert says. “Featuring a classical Greek key, or ‘meander’ design alongside laurel wreath and honeysuckle motifs,” Daughters says that Zara’s tiara “has a refined architectural quality that feels both timeless and distinctive.”

The diadem has a touching royal history, as Zara's mother, Princess Anne, was given the tiara by Queen Elizabeth—who had received it from Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark. Anne has continued to wear the Meander Tiara to this day, making it an extra-special design for her daughter to wear on her wedding day.

“Unlike some of the larger royal tiaras, its appeal is not based solely on gemstone size,” Daughters says. “Its value lies in its exceptional provenance, elegant proportions and the rarity of its design.”

Estimated value: £2 million–£4 million ($2.6 to $5.3 million)

Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara

“Recollections may vary” when it comes to the royal arguments over Meghan Markle’s wedding tiara, but everyone can agree that the diamond bandeau she wore for her May 21, 2018 wedding to Prince Harry was a stunning choice.

Per Daughters, Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara dates back to 1932, and the platinum design “features a series of geometric sections set with diamonds and incorporates a detachable central brooch originally given to Queen Mary as a wedding gift in 1893.”

“What makes this piece particularly fascinating is its versatility,” he adds, explaining that since the center stone can be removed and worn as a brooch, “it allows the jewel to function both as a ceremonial tiara and as an independent piece of jewelry, showcasing the practical ingenuity often found in royal jewels.”

"Its significance comes from the combination of historic diamonds, Art Deco craftsmanship and its royal provenance,” Daughters says of Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau, adding that Meghan created “a new chapter in its long history.”

Estimated value: £2 million–£5 million ($2.6 to $6.7 million)

The Cartier Halo Tiara

Last but certainly not least is the Cartier Halo Tiara, famously worn by Princess Kate on her April 29, 2011 wedding day to Prince William. Daughters notes that even though it “may be one of the more delicate royal wedding tiaras,” the Cartier Halo “has become one of the most recognizable” pieces of jewelry in the world.

The tiara was created by Cartier in 1936, featuring “739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette-cut diamonds arranged in elegant scrolling motifs,” per Daughters. It was originally purchased by King George VI for the Queen Mother back when they were still the Duke and Duchess of York, and it was part of the Queen Mother’s small collection of tiaras at the time.

The Cartier design was then passed down to Queen Elizabeth as an 18th birthday gift, but she was never seen wearing it in public. Princess Margaret, however, frequently wore the petite tiara, including to her sister’s coronation.

"Although it does not feature the colored gemstones that make the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik so exceptional, its value lies in Cartier’s craftsmanship, its historical importance and its extraordinary cultural significance,” Daughters says of the Cartier Halo. “Catherine’s wedding introduced the jewel to a global audience and transformed it into one of the defining royal jewels of the modern era.”

Estimated value: £1 million–£2.5 million ($1.3 million to $3.3 million)

It’s hard to believe Prince George is turning 13 on July 22. Not only will he be a teenager, but the future King will be leaving home to attend his father’s alma mater, Eton College, with George set to begin secondary school in early September. The elite boarding school, founded in 1440, is home to centuries of tradition, and apparently, one of their rules is right up “protective” Prince William and Princess Kate’s alley.

Per the Telegraph, first-year boys at Eton College aren’t permitted to have smartphones and can only use “a ‘brick phone’ for basic contact with their families.” While it might seem extreme for a teenager in today’s world, it won’t be a problem for George, who doesn’t have a cell phone anyway.

The Prince of Wales revealed his stance on technology for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis when he took part in Eugene Levy’s series The Reluctant Traveler last year. “None of our children have any phones, which we’re very strict about,” William told the actor.

However, Eton’s technology rule for new boys falls in line with William and Kate’s parenting strategy. Royal editor and author Russell Myers told the Telegraph that William and Kate are “extremely protective” of their children, but they also want Prince George to thrive in his new environment.

“William’s experience of Eton was a happy one, but both he and Catherine realize their children’s school lives may be considerably different in today’s world,” Myers shared.

While visiting Brazil for the Earthshot Prize last year, the Prince of Wales said he was considering getting a basic phone for George when he headed off to boarding school. “It is really hard. Our children don't have phones,” he told Brazilian TV host Luciano Huck, adding, “When George moves onto secondary school, maybe he'll have one with limited access.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales put on a united front when it comes to their kids and technology, with William explaining that they talk to George “and explain why we don't think it's right.”

“With full access, children end up seeing things on the internet that they shouldn't,” he said, admitting that “it's good for messaging” if the right controls are in place.

Now that George will be living away from home, it seems like that brick phone might get lots of use.

Prince George will celebrate his 13th birthday on Wednesday, July 22, and this fall, he’ll head away from home to follow in his father’s boarding school footsteps at Eton College. Although George will be the same age as Prince William was when he enrolled at Eton, their lives couldn’t be more different, as royal experts and sources close to the Wales family have revealed.

As the first heir to the throne to be raised in a world with social media, George’s time at Eton will certainly look different than his father’s. But when he arrives in the historic town, George will have the benefit of a stable family to come back to in Windsor—a much different familial situation than the one William found himself in as a teenager.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal journalist and biographer Robert Jobson said that “the difference is everything,” when it comes to George’s home life and his father’s.

When Prince William started his boarding school journey in 1995, Prince Charles and Princess Diana were separated, making for an awkward photo call with the family. George, however, will have the support of a united family when the Waleses pose for similar photos at the start of term.

“William walked into Eton carrying his parents’ marital war,” Jobson said. “George walks in from a settled home.”

However, life hasn’t been without its challenges for George, who was there to cheer on the Princess of Wales when she recently completed the National Three Peaks climbing challenge to support the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

“He has not been spared pain,” Jobson noted. “He watched his mother fight and beat cancer. He watched his grandfather live with it. He has emerged steadier.”

Although Prince George is “aware of his future,” as friends of William and Kate's tell the Telegraph, the soon-to-be teenager is also “incredibly down to earth.”

Whether it's taking part in tennis or art, George is a busy student enjoying his last year of school before the world of Eton and a future of royal responsibilities takes over.

A huge milestone is ahead for Prince George, who will be heading to boarding school at Eton College this fall. But until then, George—who will turn 13 on Wednesday, July 22—has the rest of the summer to enjoy with the Royal Family. Sources close to Prince William and Princess Kate have described the soon-to-be teenager as “incredibly down to earth,” per the Telegraph, and before he started secondary school, George approached his parents with an idea.

It seems Prince George, who has attended Lambrook School with siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis since they moved to Windsor in 2022, wanted to get a jump start on living at school.

“He asked them if he could board weekly at Lambrook,” royal author and journalist Robert Jobson told the Daily Mail, adding that the Prince and Princess of Wales “agreed.”

“It helped him grow, to be part of a collective,” Jobson continued.

The Prince of Wales revealed that George occasionally boards at Lambrook in an interview with Britain's Heart Radio in May. “Charlotte and Louis—because George is boarding last night—Charlotte and Louis, if you're listening, make sure you're on time, please, make sure you're not fighting over who listens to what, this morning,” he said during the radio show.

Like his father, Prince George will board full-time at Eton College until he heads off to university. And although he’ll be living away from home, the elite private school is located just a stone’s throw from Windsor Castle and just about a 15-minute drive from the Wales family’s home, Forest Lodge, making it easy to visit on weekends.

Luckily, since he's already been practicing by boarding at Lambrook, it should make Prince George's big transition just a bit easier.

As a royal news editor and style expert, I’m always keeping an eye on the brands that Princess Kate, Meghan Markle, Duchess Sophie and Princess Charlotte are wearing. And while I own my fair share of royally-approved coats, shoes, earrings and handbags, many of the monarchy’s favorite styles are somewhat out of reach.

That’s where the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale comes in. Running from now until August 9, the sale is one of my favorite times of the year to shop royal brands for less. You’ll find everything from Kate and Meghan’s favorite jeans to perfume, jewelry and shoes beloved by the likes of Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth.

Below, find some of my personal picks from this year's Anniversary Sale—while the deals last.

Nothing says fall like a Barbour jacket, especially for the Royal Family. Everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Meghan Markle has stepped out in the British heritage brand’s trusty outerwear over the years, but Princess Kate might be one of Barbour's most dedicated royal fans.

Catch the Princess of Wales at a casual outdoor event and you’ll likely find her bundled up in her go-to waxed jacket, a style she’s worn on repeat since 2012. But Kate also owns three other Barbour coats ranging from a trendy twist on a trench from the Barbour x Alexa Chung collection to a navy quilted puffer jacket.

Although the temperatures are still firmly reading summer on the East Coast, there’s no better time to plan ahead than the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I might already have four Barbour jackets in my closet, but there's always room for more when the deals are this good (says everyone except my husband).

In addition to some Kate-approved coats, you’ll find huge savings on the royal warrant holder’s sweaters, tees, vests and button-up shirts—but the deals won’t last for long. Shop the Anniversary Sale now through August 9 to save big on these royally-inspired finds, below.

Princess Kate and Prince William's royal romance has gripped fans around the world since their relationship was first made public. Having tied the knot on April 29, 2011, the Prince and Princess of Wales have since welcomed three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and built a life together. And according to one expert, Kate and William are now entering the next "chapter of their marriage."

Speaking the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James said that Kate and William's recent appearances have shown "the honest intensity of their feelings for each other."

James continued, "Their rituals suggest there's been no real change in the intensity of their love for one another; what's happened is they have finally felt safe enough to trust enough (not each other but the public and the press) to show it."

James also referenced the moment Prince William hugged Princess Kate after she completed the Three Peaks Challenge for charity.

"It's a hug that suggests all inhibitions are being jettisoned as the desire to greet and cherish takes over," the expert noted.

The body language expert also dubbed the change "the latest chapter of their marriage," in which the couple will "feel free to show their levels of mutual love and adoration by more tactile behaviors in public."

According to James, William and Kate's newfound PDA is "still very much a part of their personal and generational royal brand now."

Royal fans will, of course, be happy to witness the next phase of Kate and William's royal romance.

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Prince George's life is about to change in a major way when he attends Eton College this fall. The young royal will develop even more independence at the boarding school, which just so happens to be dad Prince William's alma mater. According to one royal author, Prince George always has a safe space he can return home to thanks to Princess Kate and Prince William.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal author Robert Jobson revealed that Prince George's experience at Eton will be extremely different from William's time at the school.

"The difference is everything," Jobson told the outlet. "William walked into Eton carrying his parents' marital war. George walks in from a settled home."

The royal biographer continued, "Two parents, together, who built him a base and guard it fiercely. Confidence is not taught. It is absorbed."

According to Jobson, Prince William has worked extremely hard to ensure his children experience a happy childhood, free from the difficult challenges he endured.

"[George] has not been spared pain," Jobson told the outlet. "He watched his mother fight and beat cancer. He watched his grandfather live with it. He has emerged steadier."

Detailing some of Prince George's accomplishments and educational passions, the author shared, "He is smart. He loves history." Jobson continued, "Standing before Henry VIII's armor last October, his father said it plainly. 'George, my son, is way better in history than I am, and I have to check with him now on my dates.'"

Jobson further noted that George has embraced sport, including "his mother's game"—hockey—while supporting his dad's favorite soccer team, Aston Villa.

With the support of his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, it seems likely that Prince George will thrive at Eton College. Regardless of the challenges he faces, the young royal will seemingly always be able to retreat to the safety of his "base" at home.

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Princess Charlotte’s transition to teenhood is coming soon, but for now, Prince William and Princess Kate’s 11-year-old daughter is busy with ballet, playing tennis and enjoying her final few years at Lambrook School. Now that she's not quite so little, her style has shifted to a more tween aesthetic—and a look at her last three Wimbledon outfits shows the source of Charlotte’s fashion inspiration.

As patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Princess Kate is an integral part of the Wimbledon championships every year, and she’s been bringing Princess Charlotte every summer since 2023.

Charlotte was just eight when she attended her first Wimbledon match in a Liberty-print floral dress that wouldn’t have looked out of place on Queen Elizabeth as a child. But since then, her tennis outfits have followed more closely in Princess Kate’s fashion footsteps, both in terms of style and designer.

Instead of dresses from traditional childrenswear brands like she's worn in the past, Princess Charlotte has been turning to some of her mom's favorite styles.

In 2024, Charlotte wore Kate-approved navy polka dots as she joined her mom and aunt Pippa Middleton for the men’s singles final, with her Guess dress bringing back memories of the dotted Alessandra Rich design Princess Kate wore to the championships in 2022.

"It felt like a bit of a milestone, like she's transitioning from a sweet little girl in smocked floral dresses to a slightly more grown-up tween vibe," Bethan Holt, style director at the Telegraph, told People at the time.

Charlotte upped the Wimbledon style stakes in a major way last summer, stepping out in a sleeveless ivory dress with black trim by none other than the Princess of Wales’s wedding dress designer, Sarah Burton. If the custom designer dress seems familiar, it’s because it gives off very similar vibes as the Emilia Wickstead style Princess Kate wore to the Royal Charity Polo Cup in 2022.

This year, Princess Kate looked to a more recent example from her closet when it came to her only daughter’s Wimbledon outfit, dressing Charlotte in a bespoke blue Jenny Packham dress. The British designer has been Kate’s go-to for eveningwear ever since she married into the Royal Family, but the dress also features the same cobalt blue shade and similar sleeve detail as the Roksanda midi dress the Princess of Wales wore to Wimbledon last summer.

Marie Claire contributor and royal fashion expert Christine Ross says that it’s natural for Kate to choose similar styles for her daughter, but with a tween twist.

“Princess Charlotte has the perfect fashion role model at home showing how to balance modern trends with what we expect from royal style,” Ross shares. “Kate knows how to dress for the unique royal spotlight, and as she selects outfits for Princess Charlotte’s most public moments she’s undoubtedly pulling from her own experiences.”

In terms of Charlotte's wardrobe, Ross adds that “leaning into girlish frills and youthful fashion details” makes Charlotte’s outfits appropriate for her age while also “sticking to the colors and styles that Princess Kate has already shown are tried and true.”

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Princess Charlotte is already starting style trends at age 11, with her adorable Ted Baker charm bracelet selling out soon after her appearance at the Wimbledon men's finals on July 12. The tween princess took after her mom at the tennis championships, wearing a custom Jenny Packham dress that channeled the outfit Princess Kate wore to last year's men's finals. But she also matched with her mom in another way, with both royals sporting this summer's biggest nail trend.

Princess Charlotte wore bright pink nail polish to Wimbledon last year, but she traded her bubblegum style for a bare manicure at the 2026 men's finals, coordinating with mom Kate in clear polish.

The Princess of Wales has always favored short, bare nails or the softest hint of polish, but it seems she's started a bit of a movement in the beauty world.

This year, more people—including Princess Charlotte—are moving away from bright colors and designs to what some are calling the "rich bare nail" trend. Think sheer, clear or no polish at all with neat, shorter nails.

"The argument, from a cultural perspective, is that given the prevalence of standing nail appointments, the scarcity mindset that anoints what’s luxurious and what’s not has finally tipped manicured nails into the passé category, while bare or barely there nails are crowned the ultimate luxury," Marie Claire's beauty director, Hannah Baxter, says of the trend.

But even if it might seem like the royals don't do anything to their nails, it still takes work to pull off a bare manicure, as nail artist Jessica White previously told Marie Claire. "The reality is, a clean manicure is still a manicure," White said.

Keeping up with filing, trimming, buffing and the like—whether at home or at the salon—is essential to pulling off Kate and Charlotte's bare manicures.

For the royals, however, it's hardly a trend. Princess Kate was showing off the clean look before it was ever a thing, and Queen Elizabeth's hatmaker, Stella McLaren, recently told me that the late Queen "never" polished her nails. The Princess of Wales has made some exceptions, though, like on Easter Sunday 2023, when she turned up to church with a vivid red manicure.

As for Charlotte's nails, fans likely won't see her again in public until Christmas, but perhaps she'll buck tradition and go with a holiday red or even reindeer nails like Princess Eugenie.

Princess Charlotte followed in her mother’s style footsteps at the Wimbledon men’s finals on July 12, wearing a bespoke bright blue dress by one of Princess Kate’s favorite designers, Jenny Packham. But the 11-year-old also matched with mom in terms of one detail of her dress, with both Charlotte and Kate wearing romantic flutter-sleeve styles to the event.

The Princess of Wales went for green on the last day of Wimbledon, debuting a custom Emilia Wickstead dress with dramatic cape detail extending over one shoulder and a delicate flutter sleeve. It’s a style she’s numerous times over the years, including the bright yellow Dolce and Gabbana dress with flutter sleeves she wore to Wimbledon in 2018.

While Charlotte went for a similar sleeve, hers featured more of a butterfly style with a layered, puffier second row of ruffles on top, adding a sweet tween twist to the trend.

I’ve long been a proponent of a flutter sleeve, especially when it comes to wedding guest dresses when you want something a bit more interesting than a traditional cap or short-sleeved style. Plus, if you don’t want to bare your shoulders, a loose, floaty sleeve provides coverage and a fun element to your dress without feeling too hot or restrictive.

Below, find seven dresses that embrace Charlotte and Kate's style for all of your summer celebrations.

Wimbledon might be over, but I’m still thinking about Princess Kate’s outfits. The Princess of Wales attended three days of the 2026 tennis championships, wearing a tradition-breaking blue trouser suit, a vintage-inspired red peplum dress and a floaty green midi dress with cape detail. But while her outfits were all brand-new, she looked to familiar favorites for her jewelry.

Whether it was her favorite Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, the lapis and moonstone drops she wore with her suit or the ruby and diamond set she’s been wearing more regularly lately, Kate went for tried-and-true pieces of jewelry. Although she’s occasionally worn new pieces to Wimbledon, jewelry expert Nilesh Rakholia says that the Princess of Wales is looking to Princess Diana when it comes to building visual association through jewelry.

“Wimbledon isn't just another engagement, it's tradition, and for the Princess of Wales specifically, it comes with a particular kind of scrutiny,” Rakholia, founder of Abelini, shares. Since it’s televised, he says the championships present “a very different kind of pressure than an ordinary public appearance,” adding that Wimbledon “is exactly the kind of occasion where people reach for what's proven rather than what's new.”

Princess Kate certainly has her favorites when it comes to jewelry, wearing the same pieces from jewelers like Kiki McDonough, Cartier, Daniella Draper and Spells of Love on repeat. Rakholia says that “seeing the same pendant or the same earrings appear again at moments like this builds a quiet familiarity over time,” pointing to Kate’s late mother-in-law as an example.

“Think about Princess Diana, mention her name and certain pieces come to mind almost instantly: her sapphire engagement ring, the pearl choker she wore so often it became part of her visual identity,” he notes. “That association wasn't built in a single appearance, it took years of repetition.”

Sapphires and pearls were two of Diana’s signatures, and Rakholia suggests that Kate might be heading the same way with rubies. “I think we may be watching the early stages of the same thing happen with Kate and her ruby pieces,” he says. “It's still early days by comparison, but the same quiet, cumulative process that made certain jewelry inseparable from Diana's image seems to be underway.”

The Princess of Wales first wore her G. Collins & Sons ruby pendant during a 2017 tour of Poland, and the diamond halo design is very similar to her famous sapphire engagement ring, which was originally worn by Princess Diana. This summer, Kate has been wearing the necklace and its matching drop earrings more frequently, recently sporting the set to a Cancer Research U.K. reception.

As for rubies, they also happen to be Prince George's birthstone, and the future King will turn 13 next week—a fitting reason to wear ruby jewelry more than ever.

Prince William and Princess Kate have made it a tradition to bring their kids to Wimbledon every year, and on Sunday, July 12, Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined their parents for the men’s finals on an especially hot summer day. George, 12, and Charlotte, 11, tried their best to cool down with Queen Camilla-approved battery-operated fans as the temperatures reached close to 90 degrees, but with the royal box directly in the sun, it became necessary to make a quick escape.

Fortunately, Prince William jumped into “dad mode” as the Princess of Wales carried out her duties as the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC).

The Prince of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte took an extended break from the tennis action at one point during the men’s finals, according to influencer Laura-Ann Barr, whose seat faced the royal box. In a series of Instagram Stories, she pointed out that the “sun is just too much,” adding that organizers started handing out Wimbledon-branded sun hats in the royal box and Prince William had “taken the kids out for a break!”

With men and boys required to wear a jacket and tie in the royal box, it’s no wonder that the future King and his heir were especially uncomfortable in the heat. Princess Charlotte eventually returned to the box in a video shared by Barr on her Story, but then the Princess of Wales and her daughter left, with Barr writing that the duo likely headed off to find the others, who had been gone “30 to 45 minutes” at that point.

By the time the third set started, the royals were still missing in action, but Barr shared a video of the Wales family returning to their seats, noting it was “one hour later.”

Princess Charlotte followed in Queen Camilla's footsteps and was on double fan duty once she was settled in, pointing a white plastic fan at herself while also using a traditional paper fan. Meanwhile, Prince George held a battery-operated fan in front of his face during the match, and Princess Kate—wearing her old favorite L.K. Bennett sun hat—did the same.

Despite the uncomfortable temperatures, George and Charlotte appeared to be having a great time at the men's finals, laughing as they donned their Wimbledon hats and cheering for their mom as the Princess of Wales presented the trophy to Jannik Sinner.

Following several solo appearances at Wimbledon in 2026, Princess Kate was joined by husband Prince William and two of their kids—Princess Charlotte and Prince George—for the men's singles final on Sunday, July 12. Both George and Charlotte have attended the tennis tournament in the past, but that didn't preclude them from needing their dad to offer a "moment of reassurance," according to one royal expert.

The Daily Mail's royal editor, Rebecca English, shared footage of the Prince and Princess of Wales's arrival at Wimbledon on Instagram. In one clip, Prince William appears to take Prince George aside to check that he's okay.

"The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at @Wimbledon with Prince George and Princess Charlotte," English's caption explained. "A sweet moment of reassurance from dad too."

Additional photographs captured Prince William gently touching Prince George's arm, and placing his arm on Princess Charlotte's back. Clearly, the Prince of Wales is very protective of his family.

Prince George recently left Lambrook School—which he attended alongside siblings Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. The future King will now attend Eton College, his dad's alma mater.

Royal experts have suggested that attending Eton will be an important step in Prince George's journey towards kingship.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith previously told People, "Eton was a much-needed haven for William." She continued, "It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role."

The Good Schools Guide editor, Melanie Sanderson, also told the outlet, "As parents, you do talk about your school days, and your kids can relate to that. I'm confident that [George] will be very well prepared."

And with Prince William's gentle reassurance, it seems as though George, Charlotte, and Louis will all be ready for their future roles.

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On July 11, 2026, Princess Kate attended the Wimbledon women's singles final, where she presented the winner's trophy to Czechia's Linda Noskova. The Princess of Wales wore a striking strawberry red dress by Roland Mouret to watch the tense Saturday match. On Sunday, July 12, Kate returned to the tennis competition in a floaty green dress, accompanied by several Royal Family members.

Having made quite the impact in her bright red peplum dress at the women's final, Princess Kate opted for an olive green dress with a partial cape from Emilia Wickstead for the Wimbledon men's singles final.

The Princess of Wales was accompanied to the important match by husband, Prince William, and two of their children—Princess Charlotte and Prince George. Unfortunately, Prince Louis didn't attend alongside his siblings.

Princess Kate accessorized her new dress with her DeMellier The Nano Montreal Bag in Deep Toffee Smooth and a pair of Ralph Lauren Collection Celia 100 Pumps in Gold, via @katemiddletonstyled.

Although it's currently unavailable, fans of Princess Kate's DeMellier bag can pre-order the design for $450. The royal's Ralph Lauren Collection heels remain available to shop in alternate shades.

For jewelry, the royal opted for Van Cleef and Arpels Magic Alhambra Earrings and a Maya Torque Bangle in Aquamarine from Halcyon Days.

Tennis champ Andy Murray opened up about Princess Kate's love of the sport after attending a match alongside the royal.

"Yes, it was a fun afternoon," he told Hello! magazine. "She is definitely a tennis fan and she plays a bit herself, I think."

He continued, "I think she also plays padel. We watched the Katie Swan and Madison Keys match, so it was good to be watching a British player together."

Clearly, Princess Kate and her immediate family all take Wimbledon very seriously, which is always fun to witness.

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Despite being famous the world over, Princess Kate still seemingly enjoys flying under the radar whenever she can. Case in point: on Friday, July 10, the Princess of Wales made an unexpected trip to watch the ballet in London with two of her children.

In an X post shared on July 11, one royal fan revealed, "Last night, at the Royal Ballet, my neighbors were the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, as well as Prince George and Princess Charlotte."

A sneaky photo taken by the fan revealed that Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte were actually accompanied by Prince Louis—Prince George didn't appear to be in attendance, sadly.

According to the official schedule, Princess Kate and her children attended a performance carried out by ballet students. "The Royal Ballet School returns to Opera Holland Park with an inspiring celebration of 100 years of training at the foundation of British ballet," the program noted.

The royal children have already made multiple appearances throughout 2026, with Trooping the Colour throwing them into the royal spotlight in a big way. However, Kate's visit to the ballet alongside Charlotte and Louis appears to be a low-key outing without any fanfare. Instead, the trio seemed to be enjoying the performance, just like all other attendees. Although it's understandable that royal fans would be excited to spot Kate, Charlotte, and Louis at a public performance, hopefully they were allowed to enjoy the event uninterrupted.

After attending the ballet on July 10, Princess Kate made an appearance at Wimbledon on July 11 for the women's singles final, at which she presented the winner's trophy.

Alizée Thevenet, who is married to James Middleton, recently accompanied her mother-in-law, Carole Middleton, to Royal Ascot. On July 11, 2026, Alizée and James attended Wimbledon for the women's singles final, and they made sure to coordinate for the sporty occasion.

Princess Kate's brother shared an Instagram photo taken with his wife, along with the caption, "Matchy matchy for @wimbledon."

In the sweet snap, James could be seen wearing a cream suit from Ralph Lauren. Meanwhile, Alizée brought a little French girl style to Wimbledon in Sézane's Sol Dress in Ecru With Black Contrast Trim, which retails for $215, and the label's $245 Anya Low Ballerina flats in a matching shade.

High-vamp ballet flats remain an It-girl summer staple in 2026, making Alizée's footwear choice perfectly on-trend.

Thevenet also opted for a bag from a celebrated French brand—she carried Longchamp's Épure XS Camera Bag in Brown, which retails for $515.

Basically, the French financial analyst knows exactly how to build an outfit around some of the most celebrated French brands available in 2026, which is sure to inspire royal fans everywhere.

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Princess Kate is a regular attendee at Wimbledon as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Having already stunned onlookers by wearing a linen pant suit from Gabriela Hearst earlier this week, the Princess of Wales returned to the tennis competition on Saturday, July 11 to watch the women's singles final.

Tennis players Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova—who are both from Czechia, also known as The Czech Republic—will compete to win the women's singles final at Wimbledon in 2026. For the occasion—at which Princess Kate will present the winner's trophy—the royal opted for Roland Mouret's Wool Origami Peplum Drape Dress in Red (via @katemiddletonstyled).

For jewelry, the Princess of Wales wore a pair of bespoke ruby earrings and a matching necklace, both from the jeweler G. Collins & Sons.

Kate's beloved Gianvito Rossi Ribbon Sling 85 Pumps in Nude Suede also made an appearance, along with a Mini Holly Handbag in a taupe shade from Tusting.

July has already been an exceedingly busy month for the Princess of Wales.

On July 2, Princess Kate sat with tennis pros Debbie Jevans and Tim Henman, and she took the opportunity to discuss taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for a cancer charity. The popular "Overheard at Wimbledon" series shared a snippet of Princess Kate talking about the endeavor, and the difficulties she faced during the hike.

"The weather was atrocious," Princess Kate told the tennis players. "I mean, everybody got soaked through, but it was a very stoically British sort of thing to do. You know, you're soaking wet, and everyone's going, 'Come on, we can do it.'"

Princess Kate decided to complete the Three Peaks Challenge to show her support for the The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity—which is where the Princess of Wales received treatment following her cancer diagnosis.

"Everyone's been so generous," Princess Kate explained. "That's what keeps you going; it's when you know you're doing it for a good cause—it keeps you going through the harder times."

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Princess Kate has her pick of jewels from the Royal Family’s collection, and while she does borrow some of Queen Elizabeth’s historic necklaces or Princess Diana’s favorite earrings, she also favors her own modern jewelry. For Trooping the Colour 2026, the Princess of Wales wore a newer favorite pair of earrings by Cassandra Goad, and although they come with a hefty price tag, royal fans can get the look with a very similar pair by Tuckernuck.

Kate’s $10,072 Cavolfiore earrings feature clusters of diamond-studded pearls, with the word “cavolfiore” meaning “cauliflower” in Italian. According to the designer, the earrings were “inspired by the Sicilian markets, which are full of the most beautifully ripe fruit and vegetables that overflow copiously from their baskets.”

The 18-carat-gold earrings are indeed stunning, but for those of us who don’t have royal titles, Tuckernuck offers a $48 pair that will give you princess energy without spending thousands.

For the price, you'd expect these statement earrings to be faux, but they're actually made from genuine freshwater pearls with a hypoallergenic titanium post. I'm incredibly impressed by the quality and the substantial size—they certainly don't feel cheap. I don't do well with heavy earrings, and although I wouldn't classify these as lightweight, they're comfortable enough to wear for hours.

Princess Kate has been wearing her Cassandra Goad earrings since 2018, pairing them with everything from wool coat dresses for formal church services to a lime green Self-Portrait dress at Wimbledon.

"The Princess of Wales has always gravitated towards jewelry that feels timeless rather than trend-driven, and these pearl cluster earrings are a perfect example," Oliver Hobart, jewelry expert at 925E, tells Marie Claire. "They're distinctive without being overpowering, which is why she can wear them repeatedly without them ever feeling overdone."

Calling the style "a perfect example of the 'quiet luxury' aesthetic," the jewelry pro notes that like my Tuckernuck earrings, shoppers "don't need to invest in an 18-carat designer pair" to get the same look as Kate. As for me, I'll be wearing my new pearls with sundresses and skirts—but come winter, they'll make the perfect accent for a white Christmas.

Princess Kate made a stylish return to the Royal Charity Polo Cup on Friday, July 10, cheering on Prince William in a summery gingham dress as temperatures soared in Windsor.

The Princess of Wales last attended the polo event in 2023, missing the charity match in 2024 as she received cancer treatment and skipping it in 2025. But the newest member of the Royal Family, Harriet Sperling, has been a regular at the polo cup since she started dating Peter Phillips in 2024, and the couple joined Kate for the equestrian action on Friday.

For this year's event, the Princess of Wales chose a past-season Temperley dress with a black and white gingham pattern, per Instagram account Kate Middleton Styled. The sleeveless style features a square neck, thick straps and a full skirt, and the princess styled her dress with tortoiseshell Ralph Lauren sunglasses.

Her choice of dress may have been a subtle sign of support for designer Alice Temperley, who announced Thursday that she will be stepping down from her fashion brand after 26 years.

The Princess of Wales wore her hair down in beachy waves, accessorizing with a pair of brown Sezane statement earrings she wore to the charity polo event in 2022. She also sported the string friendship bracelet Princess Charlotte made her to wear during the National Three Peaks Challenge along with one of her Halcyon Days bangles and a gold Sezane cuff.

Meanwhile, Harriet Sperling leaned into pastel blue for the event, wearing a Beulah London dress with elbow-length sleeves and a matching belt. Fresh off her appearance with husband Peter at Wimbledon, Harriet wore another pair of Finlay sunglasses and the same green amethyst Kiki McDonough earrings she wore to the tennis championships.

She also continued to show her allegiance to handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, toting a whimsical straw style with googly eyes. Harriet finished off her polo outfit with a new pair of strappy nude sandals by Loeffler Randall that showed off her coral pedicure.

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The 2026 Wimbledon tournament began on June 29. While on the court, all eyes were on style-forward tennis stars like Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka, there was also plenty of fashion inspiration in the stands. The best celebrity looks embraced tennis whites, pastels, and prints.

On day one of the London-based championship, reality star Maura Higgins came out swinging in Zendaya-inspired, tennis ball-pierced pumps. Higgins set a high bar for the tournament's white dress code. Soon after, Simone Ashley, Monica Barbaro, Michaela Coel, and Lily James were in a tiebreak for the "Best All-White Wardrobe" trophy.

Meanwhile, pastels (a signature among Wimbledon spectators) worn by Elle Fanning and Pippa Middleton stood out in a sea of beige looks. The fashion wasn't without surprises. While I expected gingham to reclaim its tennis-core crown, the polka-dot trend swooped in instead. James, for one, took the lead in an under-$500 dotted dress from Dôen.

Wimbledon 2026 maintained the tournament's reputation for mixing elegant dress silhouettes with summery shades. Shirtdresses and neutral separates reigned supreme, while wallet-friendly finds made Wimbledon style more accessible than ever. Italy's Jannik Sinner won the men's singles title, but Ralph Lauren deserved a trophy from Princess Kate Middleton, too. The American brand dressed everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Kidman to Sarah Pidgeon and Cynthia Erivo.

Ahead, discover the best celebrity looks from Wimbledon 2026—as well as ways to channel their elevated summer style. The tournament may be over, but tennis-core will live on all summer long.

Catherine, Princess of Wales

Princess Kate appeared in two of her favorite designers on the last day of Wimbledon: a green cape dress from Emilia Wickstead and the $450 Nano Montreal Bag from DeMellier. While the royal wore Emilia Wickstead dresses to matches in 2019 and 2021, DeMellier is a new addition to her Wimbledon wardrobe.

Daisy Edgar-Jones

Wearing a black-and-white dress from Chanel's Cruise 2027 runway show secured Daisy Edgar-Jones her latest style point. The pop of butter yellow from the striped skirt matched the interlocked Cs on the actor's square-toe shoes, also from the three-month-old collection.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez's gravity-defying hat made her unmissable in the Wimbledon stands. She paired the Ralph Lauren accessory with a vintage wrap dress from the New York-based designer's Spring 2009 line, a raffia top-handle bag, Purple Label pumps, and David Webb diamonds.

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo rarely missed a Wimbledon match last week, but she saved her best style serve for last. The Wicked star elevated the capri pants trend with a striped suit set, a navy blue newsboy cap, and platform derby shoes.

Nicole Kidman

It seems Nicole Kidman channeled her Wimbledon look from last year. The Oscar winner once again arrived in an ivory suit set from Ralph Lauren, this time worn over a ballet pink button-down and matching tie.

Lily Collins

Earlier this summer, Lily Collins tested the capri pants trend at the 2026 French Open. Seems like she adored the cropped silhouette so much that it joined her at Wimbledon, too. This time, she styled it with a matching bandeau top, the heeled flip-flops trend, and a cobalt blue button-down.

Sarah Pidgeon

For her Wimbledon debut, Sarah Pidgeon ditched '90s-era minimalism for menswear-inspired pinstripes. Ralph Lauren outfitted the Love Story star in an untucked button-down, a cropped gray waistcoat, and wide-leg ivory trousers.

Michelle Dockery

Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery doubled up on ME+EM designs at Wimbledon. Her camel-colored blazer brightened her black capri pants. To recreate her exact look, her set is still available for purchase.

Elle Fanning

Chanel, Dior, and Hermès played doubles with Elle Fanning. For the tournament, the Oscar nominee selected a contrasting shirtdress from Dior. A black Hermès Kelly Bag and cap-toe pumps from Chanel offset her pastel-maxxing moment.

Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra usually attends Wimbledon with her husband, Nick Jonas. This time around, she used FaceTime to give Jonas a sneak peek at the match and her ivory shirtdress. She complemented the look with a matching headscarf, a major trend this summer.

Cynthia Erivo

Another game, set, match look from Cynthia Erivo. Soon after Pierpaolo Piccioli's final bow after the Balenciaga Haute Couture show, the actor-singer was back in London and at Wimbledon. Erivo chose an off-the-shoulder shirtdress in a Glinda-approved peony pink, a matching cap, and Givenchy's Voyou Bucket Bag.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley is proof a little white dress will never steer you wrong, especially at Wimbledon. She arrived with her husband, James Righton, but her ruffled, long-sleeve midi dress and strappy stilettos stole the show.

Maura Higgins

Maura Higgins opted for traditional tennis whites in a little white Chanel dress and tennis ball-punctured, slingback pumps from Californian label Flor de Maria. The Love Island star took a page out of Zendaya's style book; for her tennis-focused film, Challengers, the actress wore custom Loewe pointed-toe white stiletto pumps that were similarly pierced with neon tennis balls.

Catherine, Princess of Wales

Princess Kate didn't wait for the last day of matches to return to Centre Court. The Wimbledon regular attended a game on July 2 in a linen-looking, royal blue suit set.

Ellie Goulding

Wimbledon isn't Wimbledon without polka dots in the stands. Ellie Goulding brought the trending print back where it belongs, thanks to a capelet dress from Chloé. The singer's strappy, black-and-brown sandals (also from Chloé) gave her look the boho treatment.

Sienna Miller

Matching sets are a guaranteed style serve at Wimbledon—a fact Sienna Miller has known since 2004. This year, she joined Ralph Lauren's suite in a beige vest, a matching blazer, and the widest of wide-leg trousers.

Simone Ashley

Simone Ashley was also in Ralph Lauren's suite. The brand outfitted the Bridgerton star in full Wimbledon whites: lightweight jacket, Bermuda shorts, Oxford shoes, and crossbody bag.

Emma Corrin

Emma Corrin had a week of scene-stealing looks. First, they sampled the tomato-red color trend at Wimbledon, with a bright Ralph Lauren polo shirt that popped against a navy button-down and ivory trousers. Less than 48 hours later, Corrin appeared in a dramatic pastel feather-trimmed jacket at the Schiaparelli Couture show. They really can do it all.

Monica Barbaro

Celebrity closets aren't complete without at least one white tank top—it's summer's leading hero item after all. Monica Barbaro's cotton-blend bottoms and Ralph Lauren shoulder bag proved the sleeveless staple is so easy to elevate.

Michaela Coel

Michaela Coel's look should be the maximalist blueprint for tennis whites. Loewe's May 2026 collaboration with Paula's Ibiza turned an at-first-glance plain camisole and skirt set into a winning serve. Vibrant pom-poms in varying sizes decorated the top's spaghetti straps and the mini skirt's hemline.

Pippa Middleton

Two years ago, Taylor Swift sold out an under-$250 gingham dress from Reformation at the US Open. Fast forward to Wimbledon 2026, and Pippa Middleton's Naira Dress from Reformation could face the same fate. Luckily for fans, the rose-printed dress is still widely available. While you're at it, treat yourself to Middleton's Lock & Co. Hatters sunhat, too.

Lily James

L.A. label Dôen has been on a roll this summer, joining the wardrobe rotations of Bella Hadid, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Daisy Edgar-Jones. It was only a matter of time before its refined daytime dresses stole the Wimbledon spotlight.

Lily James wore the Emerence Dress, featuring a high ruffled neckline and black polka dots on an ivory silk base, at Wimbledon. To finish the look, the Downton Abbey actor carried Prada's east-west Galleria Bag.

Bhavitha Mandava

Matthieu Blazy's leading Chanel muse, model Bhavitha Mandava, represented the French fashion house at one of the biggest tennis tournaments. She chose a burgundy Mini Flap Bag to match the flowers atop her lace-trimmed camisole and midi skirt.

Peter Phillips and his new wife, Harriet Sperling, have made their first Wimbledon appearance as a married couple, and the new Mrs. Phillips included a special nod to her June 6 wedding in her tennis dress.

Harriet, 45, chose a tennis ball green style with a windowpane check pattern by royally-approved designer Emilia Wickstead, who created Sperling's exquisite lace wedding gown. The long-sleeved silk twill design featured a matching belt and pleated skirt, and the newest member of the Royal Family paired her dress with beige pumps from Princess Kate's go-to shoe designer, Emmy London.

Sperling and Phillips both went with one of the Royal Family's favorite sunglasses brands, with Harriet wearing a pair of vintage-inspired nude Finlay shades and Peter choosing a black aviator style. Although they weren't seated together, Peter's sister Zara Tindall also went with Finlay for her Wimbledon look, wearing a pair of the British brand's Tavistock sunnies in a champagne colorway.

Harriet completed her Wimbledon outfit with even more royal faves, wearing Kiki McDonough earrings and carrying a top-handled Anya Hindmarch bag in this season's trendy butter yellow color.

Sperling has been a huge fan of Anya Hindmarch's designs over the years and recently carried a woven blue straw bag by the royal warrant holder to the Badminton Horse Trials ahead of her wedding day.

People watching is part of the fun of Wimbledon, and their social media team's popular "Overheard at Wimbledon" series has just released a special royal edition. On Wednesday, July 8, the tennis championships shared an Instagram Reel featuring Princess Kate chatting in the stands with former tennis players Tim Henman and Debbie Jevans—and in the video, Kate shared some of the secrets behind her recent charity climbing challenge.

During the July 2 match they attended, Henman asked the Princess of Wales about completing the National Three Peaks Challenge, which saw her climb the three highest mountains in the U.K. "I did it in 24 hours, yeah," she told the former professional tennis player, adding that "trying to enjoy the process" was an important part of the challenge.

However, she admitted the weather conditions made it somewhat difficult in that sense. "The weather was atrocious," Princess Kate said. "I mean, everybody got soaked through, but it was a very stoically British sort of thing to do. You know, you’re soaking wet, and everyone’s going, 'Come on, we can do it.'"

The Princess of Wales took part in the event to support the hospital where she was treated for cancer, climbing on behalf of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. She said that knowing she was supporting cancer patients kept her motivated when things got tough.

"Everyone’s been so generous," Kate said. "That’s what keeps you going; it’s when you know you’re doing it for a good cause—it keeps you going through the harder times."

Following the National Three Peaks Challenge, the Princess of Wales shared some emotional family photos, including a rare snapshot of herself with her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, along with brother James and Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George.

Along with discussing the Three Peaks Challenge, the Princess of Wales was also overheard commenting on the tennis action in the Wimbledon Reel, exclaiming "lovely" after some shots and asking Jevans, who is chair of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, how they choose the voices for the line calls. Jevans revealed that they choose "team members" from the club to do it, with tennis fan Kate agreeing that it "sounds authentic" that way.

As for Princess Kate's next Wimbledon appearance, fans should expect to see her there for the thrilling conclusion of the championships, handing out the trophies for the men's and women's singles finals this weekend.

Princess Kate recently completed the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds and awareness for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. As well as sharing her own insights about taking part in the activity, the Princess of Wales shared photos of her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—who greeted her wearing matching outfits.

The Princess of Wales underwent the physical challenge, which involved climbing three mountains in the space of 24 hours, alongside her brother James Middleton. Upon completion, Kate's husband, Prince William, their three children, and Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were all present to celebrate the victory.

Notably, Princess Charlotte and her two brothers all wore dark jeans with trendy sneakers for their mom's emotional return.

In some of the photos, it appears as though Princess Charlotte was overcome with emotion when reuniting with her mom. When the young princess seemed to burst into tears, Princess Kate gave her a huge hug.

Per the Princess of Wales's caption, "This time last week, completing the National Three Peaks Challenge. A huge thank you to everybody who has supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity."

When announcing her participation in the challenge, Kate wrote on social media, "Cancer doesn't just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone."

She also noted that she was taking part in the "National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavor but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back."

Royal fans can donate to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity online.

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Prince William appearing on Travis Kelce’s podcast, “New Heights,” was the surprise no one saw coming on the Kansas City Chiefs player’s wedding day to Taylor Swift. Kelce, who hosts the NFL podcast with his older brother Jason, discussed all things World Cup with the Prince of Wales on Friday, July 3, but in the process, the podcasters also gave the world a rare glimpse at one of the Royal Family's homes.

The Prince of Wales sat in front of some special artwork as he taped the episode, with the gold-framed oil painting featuring Windsor Castle in the snow. The scene is viewed from across the river in Eton, where Prince William attended secondary school. Notably, Prince George, 12, will also attend Eton College this fall, giving the painting even more meaning.

A blue credenza with a light wood top sits in the background under the painting, with a white ceramic jug arranged next to a copy of the book “Earthshot: How to Save Our Planet,” which the Prince of Wales wrote a forward to in 2021. The Wales family certainly didn't pick their jug up from HomeGoods, however—the vase is known as a Yabba pot and appears similar to a gift from the people of Jamaica that went on display at Buckingham Palace in 2002.

Two white pinecone-style sculptures on pedestals sit underneath the painting, and on the other end of the credenza, a wicker basket with unbloomed lilies frames the Windsor Castle artwork.

It’s likely Prince William dialed in for his appearance from his new home, Forest Lodge, as Jason and Travis noted that England had just won against Croatia a day or two before they taped the episode.

The game happened on Wednesday, June 17, the same day Prince William attended Royal Ascot with Princess Kate, and since the Wales children were still in school, it’s unlikely he would have been staying at another royal residence that week. As for William and Kate's decor, pardon me while I go hunting for a new Windsor Castle painting.

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Princess Kate made a surprise appearance at the Wimbledon championships on Thursday, July 2, breaking her years-long streak of dresses and skirts with a linen trouser suit. The Princess of Wales chose a bright blue Gabriela Hearst blazer and coordinating linen trousers for her Wimbledon appearance, but what most fans probably didn’t notice was her embroidered friendship bracelet.

Swiftie Princess Charlotte has sported homemade braided and beaded designs over the past few years, with the bracelets then showing up on everyone from Prince William to King Charles. Kate’s blue and green embroidery floss style was hidden under her blazer sleeve, but was visible in multiple photos as she engaged with tennis fans at the event.

Kate's Charlotte-approved accessory comes ahead of Taylor Swift’s wedding weekend, with the pop star reported to be holding her rehearsal dinner on Thursday and wedding celebration on Friday, July 3 at Madison Square Garden.

Although Princess Charlotte didn’t join her mom for the tennis action this time, she’s likely to make an appearance at the men’s or women’s finals later this month. The 11-year-old princess has joined her parents at Wimbledon multiple times over the years, including the men’s singles finals in July 2025.

Along with her bracelet, the Princess of Wales accessorized with a pair of previously worn lapis and moonstone drop earrings by Carousel Jewels, wearing her hair in a bouncy ponytail to show off the gemstone style.

The Wimbledon championships are here once again, and Princess Kate made an early appearance at the event on July 2 while getting down to work in a surprising role. The Princess of Wales, who serves as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), surprised attendees as she scanned tickets on day four of the championships.

In recent years, Kate has shown that she can’t get enough of a trouser suit, and although she always wears a dress or skirt to Wimbledon, she debuted a summery blue linen suit by Gabriela Hearst on Thursday. Dressed in the brand’s Stephanie blazer and coordinating wide-legged trousers, the princess snapped selfies with shocked guests in the queue and pitched in at the ticket office.

The Princess of Wales wore an old favorite white H&M top under her jacket and reached for her go-to brown Ralph Lauren pumps, wearing her hair in a high ponytail to show off her lapis and moonstone drop earrings by Carousel Jewels.

Luckily, the heat wave that gripped that U.K. has eased up, and with temperatures in the 70s, the Princess of Wales looked cool and collected in her summer suit and sunglasses as she took in the tennis action.

She also made a break from royal tradition by choosing not to sit in the royal box, instead sitting with former British tennis star Tim Henman and Deborah Jevans, chair of the AELTC, for one match. She also joined tennis players Andy Murray and Anne Keothavong for another game, watching Katie Swan of Great Britain take on Madison Keys of the United States.

The Princess of Wales's appearance this early in the championships comes as a surprise since she typically does not attend until the men's and women's finals, when she presents the trophies to the winners.

However, she's made some exceptions over the years, like in 2021 when she attended an early match in a polka dot skirt and blazer, and 2019, when she surprised fans on day two of the championships in a breezy white shirt dress.

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Princess Kate took on an extreme physical test over the weekend by completing the National Three Peaks Challenge, climbing more than 10,000 feet to reach the top of the three highest peaks in the U.K. in 24 hours. She was greeted by Prince William and their children at the finish, but what wasn't revealed until now is that Kate's brother, James Middleton, climbed alongside the Princess of Wales—and he fulfilled a promise he made when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2024.

Fellow hiker Phillip Tebajjwa shared a video on his Instagram Story showing Princess Kate ascending from the top of Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, while beaming and holding hands with her brother while his golden retriever, Mabel, runs behind.

"There I was, congratulating fellow climbers as they made their way down from the windy summit... little did I know I was actually speaking to royalty," Tebajjwa wrote.

The hiker then stopped to chat with the princess and snap a selfie, writing, in part, "At that moment, I could only think one thing...Am I actually dreaming?"

The Middleton family has long been a fan of hiking and climbing together, and when the Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer in March 2024, James shared a touching photo of themselves as children on a hiking trip, writing, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too ⛰️❤️."

Now it seems James has taken that statement quite literally, walking alongside his sister as she completed the grueling 24-hour challenge. It's unclear if Middleton was with the Princess of Wales during all three mountains or just for the final peak in Wales, but both appear to be wearing microphones clipped to their jackets in the video, hinting that there's more to come from this brother/sister adventure in the future.

Princess Kate completed the National Three Peaks Challenge over the weekend, climbing more than 10,000 feet and walking 23 miles on behalf of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. During her trek, she ran into 11-year-old Ted Haslem, who has been paralysed since the age of three. Haslem was carried up the three mountains in his wheelchair by a group of friends and family—and fans who viewed the tween’s JustGiving page spotted a very familiar name in the roster of top donations.

Haslem completed the challenge to raise money for Molly Olly’s Wishes, a charity that has supported Ted and other children with serious illnesses. After meeting Ted and his group during the challenge, the Princess of Wales made a personal donation using the name “Catherine Wales.”

“One of the real highlights of the Three Peaks Challenge was meeting inspiring people like you along the way,” she wrote on the JustGiving page. “Huge congratulations to the entire team for raising money for such a wonderful cause. C.”

Haslem and his dad, Pete, made an appearance on Britain's This Morning program, and Ted beamed as he shared the story of his encounter with the Princess of Wales. "I would have just walked past her, to be honest," Pete said, describing the princess as looking like "another hiker."

“The reason why it happened, she wanted to speak to us,” Pete said. “She initiated the conversation. You know, seeing a kid being dragged around the mountain so to speak with 16 burly blokes, she wanted to see how we were doing.”

Ted shared that he’s met Prince William and Prince George at an Aston Villa match before, and said he told the Princess of Wales, “Well at first we said, ‘I think we know your husband, because we met your husband at the Villa.’”

Hilariously, the 11-year-old added, “But the funny thing, she realized who I was, but I didn’t realize who she was.” His dad added, “It took a while for the penny to drop, didn’t it, Ted?”

Princess Kate tackled three mountains in 24 hours as she raised money and awareness for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and although she dressed in rugged gear for the challenge, the future Queen kept her accessories royally on brand. The Princess of Wales, 44, climbed the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, and her jewelry sent a message about what matters most.

Wearing an olive green jacket by hunting brand Härkila with a Fjällräven baseball cap and hiking pants, the Princess of Wales “stripped everything back” for the challenge with “no occasion dressing,” says Nilesh Rakholia, engagement ring expert and founder of Abelini.

“And yet she kept her rings,” he adds. “That is not an accident. That is instinct, and instinct tells you everything.”

The Princess of Wales walked 23 miles and climbed 10,052 feet during the National Three Peaks Challenge, wearing her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring that originally belonged to Princess Diana.

“Catherine asked Diana's ring to sit beside her through cancer, through recovery, and now through one of the most physically and emotionally demanding things she has ever done publicly,” Rakholia says. “That tells you everything about where she finds her strength. Family. Always family.”

Although she’s been wearing a thick ring stack recently, including her Welsh gold wedding band, a sapphire and diamond ring, and two diamond bands, it appears that she wore just one diamond band along with her engagement ring in a photo shared by the princess on Instagram.

One of her diamond rings was given to Kate by Prince William after Prince George was born in 2013, and Rakholia notes, “That is not jewelry as adornment. That is jewelry as a talisman. She carried her family up every one of those peaks.”

Along with her rings, the Princess of Wales wore one of her favorite pairs of earrings from Welsh-based small business Spells of Love. The tiny gold hoops feature a dangling garnet charm, and royal and celebrity-favorite jeweler Logan Hollowell tells Marie Claire that Kate’s January birthstone “carries a deeply personal significance.”

“Garnet symbolizes strength, protection, and resilience, so seeing Princess Kate wear her birthstone during such a meaningful challenge feels especially fitting,” Hollowell says. “It's a beautiful reminder that jewelry can tell a story beyond its beauty.”

As for Kate's hiking challenge, she said that her own cancer journey inspired her to take on the climb. “Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong. It is about finding balance in how we live,” she wrote on Instagram.

Following her cancer diagnosis and treatment, Princess Kate is sharing what's she's learned in an attempt to help others going through the same thing.

In a post shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales's official Instagram account, Princess Kate shared a personal message, along with a photo of herself.

"Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in this country hear the words no one wants to hear," Princess Kate wrote in the caption. "What follows is a path that tests every part of who we are: physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. The challenges ripple outwards, touching families, friendships, work, and the quiet moments we spend alone with our thoughts."

Princess Kate continued, "Cancer doesn't just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone."

Alongside a photo of herself on top of a mountain in the fog, Princess Kate revealed that she was taking part in the "National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavor but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back."

The Princess of Wales continued, "The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people."

Importantly, Kate revealed that she'd decided to participate in the challenge in order to "raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare."

"Every individual is different, and ensuring there is a whole person approach to care enables those living through cancer to manage the deeply personal challenge of diagnosis," Princess Kate wrote. "Holistic therapies complement clinical pathways and support patients's ability to maintain their well-being, resilience, and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time."

The Princess of Wales continued, "Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong. It is about finding balance in how we live."

Kate ended her message by writing, "Between effort and acceptance, between control and trust, between thinking and simply being. Because in the end, bravery isn't just about pushing forward. It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected, and present, no matter the terrain or landscape you are walking."

It was recently confirmed by the Royal Family that Prince George will be attending Eton College later this year. And according to one expert, Princess Kate and Prince William likely have some very normal concerns regarding their eldest son's education and his future.

Speaking to People, Melanie Sanderson, the managing editor of The Good Schools Guide, explained, "Eton has its own language—they call year groups different things."

She continued, "It's from a bygone era, but of course, when your dad has been through that system, it's probably been part of his vernacular for most of his life. As parents, you do talk about your school days, and your kids can relate to that. I'm confident that he will be very well prepared."

Sanderson also addressed Prince George's move from Lambrook School, where Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are also students.

"Lambrook is really used to sending boys off to Eton," Sanderson told the outlet. "It's a regular feeder for Eton College and lots of boys would have trodden that path before, so it's nothing new. It's a prep school, so its absolute purpose is to prepare its boys and girls for their next school."

Noting that George's parents might have some worries about their son's move to Eton, Sanderson shared, "I'm sure like any parents Catherine and William will be concerned that he's going to find his place, find the right kind of friends and thrive."

However, Sanderson also emphasized the fact that the culture has changed at Eton since Prince William attended, which is likely to benefit Prince George.

The expert explained to People, "30 years ago, boys were not encouraged to talk about their feelings and boarding schools were much harder places to be...Now there is such an emphasis on pastoral care and mental health."

Ultimately, it seems that Prince George has much to look forward to when he moves to Eton College.