William and Kate on a visit to a care home in Cardiff(Image: PA)The Prince and Princess of Wales have had a bustling week, hosting garden parties and officially naming warships. Their every move was closely followed by photographers due to their royal status, making them one of the most photographed couples globally, with their images appearing online, in newspapers and magazines.
However, this didn’t prevent Kate from being mistaken for Prince William’s assistant during a visit to the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff several years ago, reports the Mirror. The couple were introduced to resident Joan Drew-Smith, who pointed at Kate and asked William: “Is that your assistant?” Kate responded with humour, laughing and saying to William: “Well, I am your assistant”.
She added: “I have been for a long time!” The most recent photos of Kate on official duty were taken on Thursday when she attended the official naming ceremony of the warship HMS Glasgow. In June 2021, Kate was named the sponsor of the state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, a vessel designed to protect the UK’s aircraft carriers.
The Prince and Princess of Wales(Image: PA)In 2022, the then Duchess of Cambridge engaged with Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to discuss the ship’s development and their experiences in the service.
At a ceremony held at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow, Kate christened the vessel by smashing a bottle of whisky against its hull.
Following the event, the royal couple toured the ship and spoke with representatives from BAE Systems, responsible for the ship’s construction, and Royal Navy personnel about the vessel’s features.
Earlier that week, Kate made a return to royal garden parties, attending her first in two years. She delighted attendees by joining her husband at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday afternoon.
William, donning a top hat and morning suit, hosted the open-air event on behalf of his father, the King.
The princess, who is currently in remission from cancer, had missed the 2024 garden party season due to treatment during what the prince termed a “brutal” year.
Kate’s presence, which was not pre-announced as per tradition for garden parties, saw her in a vibrant yellow Emilia Wickstead dress complemented by a Philip Treacy hat.
The Princess of Wales earlier this week at a Buckingham Palace garden party(Image: PA)The pair mingled with guests from various charities they support, military associations, and personal initiatives, including Homewards, Action for Children, and Ty Hafan, along with tenants of the Duchy of Cornwall.
Among those affected was the family of budding photographer Liz Hatton, who tragically passed away in November from an aggressive form of cancer known as desmoplastic small round cell tumour.
The 17 year old, hailing from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was captured in a touching moment being embraced by Kate at Windsor Castle just weeks prior to her death, having been invited to photograph William at an investiture ceremony.
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