The Princess of Wales will be celebrating Mother’s Day next week with her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and royal expert Jennie Bond says it’ll be a very special day for Kate
The Princess of Wales was a picture of royal elegance as she celebrated St Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards – an occasion that also saw her enjoying a traditional drink of Guinness. Kate, who is colonel of the regiment, joined the Guards at the Wellington Barracks last week for the 125th anniversary event as she continues her very welcome return to royal duties.
Dressed in a stunning tailored bottle green Alexander McQueen coat and a Lock & Co hat by renowned milliner Awon Gold, Kate returned to the parade ground for the first time since her cancer diagnosis to present medals to servicemen recently deployed oversees, before meeting the Irish Wolf Hound mascot Turlough Mór, and undertaking the tradition of handing sprigs of shamrock to the officers.
Following the official parade a smiling Kate, who received a three-cheer salute in her absence from the Guards on St Patrick’s Day last year while she dealt with her cancer diagnosis, earned even more adoration and respect from the guardsmen when she joined them in the junior ranks’ cookhouse – and put money behind the bar for a round of drinks, and enjoyed a half-pint of ‘the black stuff’ herself.
The mother of three, who first visited the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day in 2021 at the Mons Barracks in Hampshire after taking over the role of colonel from Prince William, later sat down with some of the soldiers to discuss their work, before also taking the time to sit with and chat to their families.
Guardsman Barry Loughlin, who led the celebratory toast, later admitted he was left “flustered” by Kate’s presence, describing the princess as “really nice and really warm”.
Kate, who will be celebrating Mother’s Day with the rest of the world this week, also bonded with some of the families over the topic of juggling her work and role as mum to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, telling one guardsman, “Being able to manage that work-life balance – it’s tough.”
Grace Hamilton, the wife of Australian Corporal Adam Hamilton, commended Kate’s affability afterwards, saying she “looks into your eyes when she speaks to you”, and adding, “it just shows she’s giving you her full attention.”
The very welcome visit was just the latest occasion in what appears to be an increasingly busy royal calendar for Kate, 43, as she eases herself back into work following her cancer treatment.
This time last year the world had only just learned of her shock diagnosis, and as Mother’s Day approaches, former royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells OK! that the princess will be all too aware of how fortunate she is to be celebrating the special day with those she holds so dear.
“There’s no doubt that every milestone is extra special for the Prince and Princess and their family as they move further from the day she was diagnosed with cancer,” she says. “This Mothers’ Day is one they can wholeheartedly celebrate as Catherine continues her recovery looking radiant and back to her vibrant self.”
Kate and William, 43, have historically always shared heartwarming and sincere messages on occasions like Mother’s Day, but of course no-one could have anticipated the furore that erupted last year.
The princess, an incredibly keen amateur photographer, was forced to publicly apologise for causing “confusion” by editing a photograph of herself and her children before releasing it to their many millions of Instagram followers. It was only a few days later that we learnt she’d also been grappling with her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
“I’m sure the whole family will be wanting to erase the memory of last year’s Mothers’ Day” Jennie tells us, “and it will be interesting to see whether she releases another card this time. I think she will.
“This year the celebration falls at the start of the school holidays, when the family would usually be in Norfolk, and if they are there, I’m sure it will be a day filled with as much outdoor activity as possible: walks and games, cycle rides and picnics.”
A wholesome family celebration would be very much in line with Kate’s words last year about her illness giving her a new perspective on life, and it reminding her and William “to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”
This sentiment will likely feature heavily in the family’s Mother’s Day celebrations, as Jennie adds, “I imagine the children will be making hand-written cards — with William’s encouragement and help. And some gifts that either make her feel pampered, like bath luxuries, or that make her laugh, maybe a jokey cushion or book. Or perhaps both.
“We know William thinks his wife has been amazing in the past year, and I’m sure he’ll want to let her know that she’s a fantastic mum. So I can envisage a tasty, home-cooked, healthy breakfast in bed for Catherine, with some flowers from the garden and perhaps some of her own homemade jam! And then a day of simple family fun. Of course Catherine will also want to use the day to thank her own mother for all that she has done during the past year.”
Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael, have been a huge emotional and practical support for Kate, William and the children last year. While they have rarely spoken publicly about their daughter since she married William in April 2011, they are known to have an incredibly close bond.
They also featured in Kate’s deeply personal but uplifting summer video update last year, in which the Princess revealed she had completed her course of preventive therapy, enjoying a game of cards around the family table in their Anmer Hall home in Norfolk. Moments like these, Jennie adds, demonstrate just how close they are.
“Just how important they are in their family life was obvious when Catherine’s film about the end of her cancer treatment included some lovely footage of Mike and Carole playing what looked like a very competitive game of cards at the Prince and Princess’s home in Norfolk. Mind you, I think William said later that it gets so competitive that, after a while, he actually took the dog out for a walk!”
For Mother’s Day 2020, which fell just a day before the country went into its first full lockdown, Kate and William shared a very poignant message on their official social media account which said: “To mothers new and old and families spending today together and apart – we are thinking of you all at this difficult time.”
The accompanying treasured images included one of the devoted parents giving piggybacks to Prince George and sister Charlotte, and one of William and Prince Harry with their late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
Kate also added one of herself as a baby being cradled by her own mother, Carole. While private occasions are kept out of the family’s official royal diary, Jennie says it’s likely they’ll all get together this year, possibly also with Kate’s sister Pippa and brother in law James Matthews. “Whether Carole and Mike will decide to spend the day with the Wales’s or their other children we don’t of course know. I suppose it’s possible that the whole Middleton clan could meet at Buckleberry for a family celebration— or at Pippa’s nearby.
“Whatever the case, it’s certain that everyone will want to make a fuss of Catherine and Catherine will want to make a fuss of her mother, who has been so important in helping her recover.” Like many households, Jennie says the Waleses will also likely be remembering those mothers who are no longer with us, in particular William’s own mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
While he’s had many years to get used to the idea that he can no longer celebrate with her, Jennie tells us it remains a particularly poignant day for him, and “he will take great solace in celebrating the woman who is mother to his own children”. She adds, “I’m sure he will also want to show his love for Carole, who is much more than just a mother-in-law to him. She has for many years been his friend and comforter in good times and bad.”
