Kate delighted a young girl who was thrilled to meet a ‘real-life princess’ as she took part in her first royal ‘away day’ since 2023 in south Wales yesterday.
The Princess of Wales, 43, visited children’s hospice Tŷ Hafan and Corgi sock manufacturer, which formed part of her ‘slow and gradual’ return to royal duties following her cancer treatment last year.
Kate was clearly in her element as she met with young children in the hospice, taking part in craft activities including a painted handprint, just as King Charles had done years earlier in his own role as patron.
After a long day, Kate was departing Corgi’s premises in the royal convoy – when she suddenly broke protocol, jumping out of the car and running towards delighted fans who had been waiting to catch a glimpse of her.
Among them was three-year-old Lily-Rose Logan, who had been crying out ‘hello princess’ in a bid to capture her attention.
Lily-Rose was delighted when Kate came running up to her, and even asked in wonder if she was really a princess.
Kate was equally taken with Lily-Rose, and gave a very sweet response, explaining that she was indeed a princess.
She said: ‘Yes I am! I wanted to come and say hello you and see your village, and what’s going on here, and see this amazing factory.’
Kate delighted three-year-old Lily-Rose Logan who was thrilled to meet a ‘real-life princess’ as she took part in her first royal ‘away day’ since 2023 in south Wales yesterday
Lily-Rose then showed Kate her toy banana, and handed it over to her as a gift. As onlookers laughed, Kate politely handed it back, before Lily threw it on the floor, and the giggling princess went to retrieve it.
Kate said: ‘Thank you for coming to say hello! I heard you saying hello from all the way back there, so I thought I should come and say hello to you. It’s very nice to meet you.’
Lily-Rose sweetly exclaimed: ‘I wanted to say hi to you!’
Kate added: ‘Do you know what they make over here? They make socks and jumpers. It’s very interesting. So maybe when you’re older you can have a look in there! It’s incredible what they’re doing.’
Royal convoys rarely stop after leaving an engagement – but the Princess of Wales was clearly determined to meet with those who had turned up to welcome her.
As the convoy was heading away, Kate jumped out and ran towards delighted crowds, to cheers and cries of ‘oh my god!’
As she ran over, the princess greeted crowds, saying: ‘Who was calling? Can I shake your hand? What’s your name? Hello, it’s very nice to meet you.’
It was announced yesterday morning that Kate was the new patron of children’s hospice Tŷ Hafan, taking over from King Charles, and also following in the footsteps of the late Princess Diana.
Kate met three-year-old Lily-Rose, who gifted her a banana and had been shouting ‘hello princess’
Kate was equally taken with Lily-Rose, and gave a very sweet response, explaining that she was indeed a princess
Kate greeted members of the public after her visit to Corgi, a manufacturer in Wales
When Lily-Rose gifted her a banana, Kate politely declined the gift and handed it back
Despite being touched by the gift, Kate handed the banana back in a sweet moment
It wasn’t long before the princess got stuck in to the visit, as she made a beeline for adorable children who visit the hospice who were using the soft play area.
She took part in a musical session with children suffering from life-limiting conditions and even had her hand painted red to leave a permanent memory of her visit – just as King Charles had done previously on two separate visits to the hospice, first in 2001 and then again in 2018.
Later in the day, Kate visited Corgi, a textiles manufacturer in Ammanford focusing on socks and knitwear.
The Princess of Wales had collapsed in giggles and declared herself ‘terrible’ at making socks during the visit.
Catherine took a seat at one machine where employee Shauna Kinsey, 24, showed her how to ‘link’ the toe to the sock, stitch by stitch.
The Princess spent several minutes trying to get to grips with the process, laughing at her own efforts.
‘It’s so fiddly,’ she said. ‘It’s definitely not my forte.’
The Princess said Miss Kinsey, who has worked for the company for six years, ‘made it look so easy’.
The Princess of Wales yesterday arrived for her first royal ‘away day’ since 2023 – as she continues her slow and gradual return to public duties
Kate got crafty on the solo visit, helping children with their art by painting their hands and appearing thoroughly in her element
Kate gets crafty! The Princess made art with her hands with the help of a young girl who painted her palm bright red
A royal work of art! the Princess made a piece of artwork out of her painted handprint and signed it with ‘Catherine’
Kate’s sweet artwork follows King Charles’s lilac handprint from a visit to the hospice in 2018 when he was still the Prince of Wales
The princess wore her high street favourite, a dogtooth checked mini dress from Zara with puffed sleeves and a pussybow detail
Kate is following in the footsteps of Princess Diana to become the patron of the hospice. Diana is pictured in 1996 at an event raising funds for the hospice
She added: ‘It’s really hard. I’m sorry, I’m so terrible.’
Miss Kinsey admitted later that she had to unravel some of the Princess’s work as she had been ‘going in the wrong line’.
It is no coincidence that the princess has chosen South Wales to undertake two solo engagements given her title and love for the country and its people, sources have told the Mail.
The day was designed to showcase the work of ‘long-established organisations with community at their core’.
The princess’s visit focused on spotlighting the wellbeing of children and families as well as celebrating excellence in Welsh textiles manufacturing, both of which are themes close to her heart.
A source told the Mail: ‘When she became the Princess of Wales she and her husband vowed to celebrate and service the dynamic nation that Wales is today.
‘I think the Princess choosing a visit to Wales for her second solo engagement of 2025 signals the importance that she places on Wales and the love that she has for the nation and its people.’
The last joint ‘away day’ of engagement conducted by the princess was in early November 2023 and her last day of solo engagements was in September of the same year, when she visited her ancestors’ former wool factory in Leeds.
Kate tried her hand at making the socks and knitwear, but later apologised for being so ‘terrible’ at it
Kate was given a sneak peak at some of the items the manufacturer was making
To coincide with her arrival, Kensington Palace announced that the princess had also become Patron of Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice, following in the footsteps of the King and her husband’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Irfon Rees, Chief Executive of Tŷ Hafan – which translates from Welsh to ‘Haven House’ in English – said: ‘We are deeply honoured that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales has become Patron of Tŷ Hafan and it was an absolute pleasure to welcome Her Royal Highness to our hospice for the first time today.
‘As our Patron, Her Royal Highness will be an inspiration for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, our dedicated staff and volunteers and everyone who so generously supports us.
‘No parent ever imagines that their child’s life will be short. Sadly this is the reality facing thousands of families in Wales. We can’t stop this happening, but together we can make sure that no one lives their child’s short life alone.’
The wellbeing of children and their families has always been close to The Princess’ heart, a palace aide said.
The first patronage Her Royal Highness took on when she became a Member of The Royal Family was EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice) and she maintains a close relationship with the organisation to this day.
The Princess is looking forward to building a similar relationship with Tŷ Hafan and the children and families it serves in Wales, they added.
Kate appeared to be having the time of her life as she got to try out making the socks herself
As Prince of Wales, King Charles was patron of Tŷ Hafan from 2001.
The position was previously held by Diana, Princess of Wales while the charity was in its fundraising stage.
Commenting on her patronage on the Kensington Palace X/Twitter account, the Princess said: ‘A proud moment becoming Patron of Tŷ Hafan.
To mark the visit and the announcement of the patronage, Kensington Palace arranged for a donation of musical instruments to be provided to the charity to allow them to conduct more music therapy sessions in the future.
Although it has been a comparatively busy week for The Princess – with the Holocaust Memorial Day Service on Monday followed by the two engagements in Wales today – sources close to the princess are keen to stress that it remains part of a gradual, phased return to work.
Aides say the engagements this week are not a ‘template’ for the next few months and she is not ‘fully back to work’ yet. Her diary will, it is said, vary from week to week.
It was little over a year ago that she was admitted to hospital for serious abdominal surgery, after which doctors found there had been evidence of cancer present.
She underwent a gruelling course of preventative chemotherapy, which ended late last summer, and recently confirmed that she was officially in remission.
While thanking people for their ongoing support she warned, however, that her focus remains on her recovery and adjusting to a ‘new normal’ for the sake of her family.