We love the new, natural, Kate
The Princess of Wales has begun 2025 with a down-to-earth attitude
It’s Kate 2.0. The Princess of Wales has started the year with a new, more natural, down-to-earth approach. And there’s no better way to symbolise it than the gorgeous picture she posted of herself in woodland, above, taken by Prince Louis, no less. Posting on World Cancer Day on Tuesday, she wrote, “Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease. C”
This week, the Palace also confirmed they will no longer be issuing information about the clothes the Princess is wearing. A palace spokesperson told The Sunday Times, “She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting.” They added, “The style is there but it’s about the substance.”
Understandably, having gone through a traumatic experience, the princess most likely has re-evaluated what is important and concluded her shoes, for example, don’t really matter. It has to be noted, nobody ever inquires what shoes, or clothes male royals wear, or how much they cost. And while we can’t help but still wonder what she’s wearing – after all, she always looks so wonderful, plus it’s a great boost for local brands – we’re sure it will still be easy to find out, or emulate, at least.
Also demonstrating this new-found low-key attitude, Catherine arrived at an engagement at the National Portrait Gallery on Tuesday, on a mini-bus with four and five-year-old schoolkids. “Nice to meet you, my name is Catherine” she said. She was launching an interactive art trail as part of her Shaping Us Framework from her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. She has another busy week ahead next week, too, with a visit planned to the mother and baby unit inside Styal prison in Cheshire.
With Catherine and William noticeably posting more honest, heartfelt messages and taking a much more low-key approach to their role, we can’t help thinking this is the way of the future, for the monarchy. And it’s working.
‘Here’s one I made earlier!’ says William
At Windsor Castle, William was living out our childhood dream job as he showed off his Blue Peter crafting skills, uttering the famous line from the BBC kids’ TV show: ‘Here’s one I made earlier’. The reason? William was meeting the five winners of the Blue Peter Earthshot competition.
Each of the winners presented their idea to William, who then awarded them with certificates before joining the Prince and Blue Peter presenter Joel Mawhinny in making Earthshot-themed, eco-friendly bird feeders.
Last September, the Blue Peter Earthshot competition was launched inviting children aged 5-15 years to come up with an idea to save the planet and combat climate control, the TV show received almost 2000 entries.
Anne’s reveals she was in Intensive Care
On Thursday, the Princess Royal visited Southmead Hospital, Bristol, to thank the medical staff who treated her after her accident, last June. It was revealed Anne spent time in Intensive Care there, after her head injury – thought to be from a horse - and she visited the unit to thank the doctors and nurses. With no memory of the incident, she said, “You’ve been filling in the blanks, which partly from my perspective is really useful to know how it happened, because I seriously don’t have any idea, and sadly I don’t have huge memories of being in here either. But I just know I was really well looked after, so thank you. But I’m also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing, because that has huge advantages – you can just carry on.”
Charles’ ‘La Dolce Vita’ night at Highgrove
The King hosted a star-studded Anglo-Italian dinner at Highgrove on Friday evening, attended by 80 guests which included actors Helen Mirren, Stanley Tucci, fashion designer Donatella Versace and David and Victoria Beckham celebrating ‘slow’ food and fashion.
The black tie dinner was a glamorous affair, ahead of Charles and Camilla’s state visit to Italy and the Vatican in early April. While in Rome, they will meet Pope Francis, and they will also visit the city of Ravenna. The King said that to say they were looking forward to the visit “would be to engage in a little British understatement…” He went on to raise a toast to “Italy’s timeless food culture, so loved here in the United Kingdom and across the world.”
Tucci pulled off a culinary triumph with chef Francesco Mazzei, helping him curate the menu. Each course was traditionally Italian, with almost every ingredient sourced in the UK. Charles, who spoke briefly in Italian as he welcomed guests, said the dinner brought together “two things very dear to my heart – slow food and Italy”.
Let’s hope there are leftovers to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Charles and Camilla’s engagement tomorrow!




Read more from The Royal List writers
Finally, we - Kerry and Maria - love researching and writing royal features for top-selling brands, which is why we are thrilled to have several articles - check out the Valentine’s ones - in the latest issue of WOMAN Royal Special. On sale now in all good UK supermarkets and newsagents, or order a copy here. And, huzzah, there’s more to come in 2025!
And finally, a quick word on…
Harry opening the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada on Saturday - which will run through to next Sunday in Vancouver and Whistler. With Meghan on his arm at the event, the couple received bittersweet news thanks to President Trump declaring he now has no plans to deport the Prince, amid a legal battle over his immigration status, saying: “I'll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible.” Ouch.
Happy 4th birthday to August today! The cute little fella is Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s eldest son and big brother to Ernie.
The reason why Anna Wintour took her specs off or Charles.
Sophie and Edward in Nepal.