Princess Kate divulges the real reason she finds major royal engagements so ‘hard’
The Princess of Wales joined Prince William alongside hundreds of guests at Buckingham Palace for a reception marking the late Queen’s centenary
She might be the future Queen, but the Princess of Wales has proven once again that she is incredibly relatable. During an outing at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, Kate joined other senior royals for a deeply poignant reception marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
But while the royal looked the picture of perfect composure, she made a surprisingly candid admission to guests about the reality of her bustling public life.
Mingling with charity representatives and fellow Brits who were also celebrating their 100th birthdays, the 44-year-old was captured sharing a sweet, unguarded moment with a group of women.
Discussing the loud and crowded nature of major Palace receptions, the softly-spoken Princess confessed: “I find these environments are really hard. I’ve also got a very soft voice, so I always get told ‘Speak up a bit louder!'”
A poignant tribute
Despite her relatable struggles with the noisy room, Kate proved she is the ultimate royal hostess. Looking effortlessly elegant, the royal mother-of-three wore a stunning 1940s-inspired lilac dress by Emilia Wickstead.
© Getty ImagesIn a powerful and deeply touching nod to the monarch they were gathered to honour, Kate accessorised her look with a beautiful three-strand pearl necklace that previously belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II herself.
The Prince and Princess of Wales had returned to duties following a three-week Easter break to attend a reception in the Marble Hall at Buckingham Palace. While guests reflected on the Queen’s legacy, the Princess shared a particularly touching moment with one attendee, 88-year-old Tony Gledhill.
The retired Metropolitan Police officer was awarded the George Cross in 2008 for subduing armed criminals in 1966. During their conversation, he clutched the Princess’s arms as they spoke closely.
In a moving moment, Kate leaned in to hug Tony, before gently holding both his hands as he appeared overwhelmed with gratitude. Tony later revealed that he had told the Princess he had recently lost his wife of 67 years, who had urged him to attend the palace event before she died.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe George Cross recipient also spoke with Prince William and King Charles, and later reflected on his encounter, saying: “The Princess was lovely, she was fantastic.”
The ‘art’ of the walkabout
It isn’t the first time Kate has opened up about the hidden challenges of her royal duties. Known for being incredibly generous with her time, Kate has been known to fall behind the rest of the family during public engagements because she simply loves talking to people too much.
© Getty ImagesIn the 2016 ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety, Kate revealed: “There’s a real art to walkabouts, everybody teases me in the family that I spend far too long chatting. I still have to learn a little bit more, and to pick up a few more tips, I suppose.”
