The Princess of Wales has travelled to Suffolk to visit a silk mill, celebrating the British textiles industry, which comes as Prince Harry rounds off his trip to the UK
The Princess of Wales has stepped out for a series of visits with a special family connection – just as Prince Harry prepares to leave the UK.
Kate, who made a surprise appearance alongside the Prince of Wales on the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Monday, is taking a tour of the Sudbury Silk Mills in Suffolk before later stopping by at Marina Mill in Cuxton, Kent.
The outing comes as Kate’s estranged brother-in-law rounds off his latest trip to the UK with a visit to the Diana Award – just hours after he had a long-awaited reunion with his father the King at Clarence House last night.
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Kensington Palace said the princess’s visit would “celebrate the unique skill, creativity and craftsmanship of British textile manufacturers” and the “joy found in working in the creative industries”.
It said Kate has “long been passionate about the importance of the British textiles industry and its role as part of the UK’s cultural and creative voice”. Kate’s paternal ancestors were the owners of the woollen manufacturer and merchant William Lupton & Co, which was based in Leeds.
At Sudbury Silk Mills, a family-run jacquard weaving mill, she will see the looms, before heading to Marina Mill, also a family business, which specialises in hand-designing and screen-printing furnishing fabrics.
Kate will get the chance to take part in screen-printing a design on fabric by pushing coloured dyes through an engraved silk-screen using a squeegee.
The outings for Kate come as she is expected to play a huge role when US President Donald Trump comes to the UK next week for his unprecedented second state visit.
William and Kate have been tasked with the initial royal meeting of Mr and Mrs Trump on the morning of September 17 in the grounds of the Windsor estate, when they will accompany them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.
The Trumps, the King, Camilla, William and Kate will then take part in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle.
Kate will also carry out a joint engagement with the First Lady the next day when they head to Frogmore Gardens to meet Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme as they learn about nature to achieve their Go Wild badge.
Mr Trump appeared taken with heir to the throne William after they met in Paris in December, declaring that the prince was “very handsome” and adding “some people look better in person”.
It is likely, but not confirmed, that both the prince, along with the princess, who announced at the start of the year that she was in remission from cancer, will attend the opulent state banquet for Mr Trump on Wednesday evening in the castle’s St George’s Hall.