Kate Middleton opts for high street chic in old favourite £16 dress from the Zara sale as she visits children’s hospice in South Wales
The Princess of Wales put on a fashionable display on Thursday as she returned to royal duties to visit a children’s hospice in South Wales.
Arriving at Tŷ Hafan this morning after ‘proudly’ announcing her new patronage, Catherine, 43, stepped out in muted tones, wearing her hair in loose waves hanging down her shoulders, before being greeted by a member of staff.
The visit comes as part of her ‘slow and steady’ return to duties after announcing she is in remission for cancer following her diagnosis last year.
Kate was as stylish as ever in a chic dress that is an old favourite of hers, opting for a comforting choice she was worn before.
The thrifty Princess of Wales recycled the same £16 long-sleeved houndstooth Zara dress – originally £89.99 before being reduced in the sale – that she first wore during a royal engagement in Bradford in January 2020, and again in 2021.
She added a stylish bespoke ivory coat from Chris Kerry as she arrived, before accessorising with gold plated hoops from Spells of Love, a jewellery brand based in Wales.
As always, Kate showed her love for glamorous footwear, opting for a chunky heeled pair of pumps from Russell & Bromley.
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 Princess of Wales put on a fashionable display on Thursday as she returned to royal duties to visit a children’s hospice in South Wales
The day has been designed to showcase the work of ‘long-established organisations with community at their core’.
The princess’s visit is focusing 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.
Catherine is starting the day with a moving visit to Tŷ Hafan, a children’s hospice based in Sully, near Cardiff, which supports families to ensure that children with life-shortening conditions have fulfilling lives.
Tŷ Hafan was the first children’s hospice in Wales when it opened in 1999 and provides free care and support both within the hospice itself and in homes and communities.
The charity’s ambition is that no family should have to experience their child’s short life alone, with staff ‘walking alongside’ every family who needs their support – through life, death and beyond.
Kate rewore a £16 dress from the Zara sale, previously worn in 2021 (pictured)
The Princess of Wales brought a ray of sunshine to south Wales this morning as she visited a children’s hospice
The mother-of-three joined a music therapy session and chatted to young children who have benefitted from the hospice’s care
The Princess of Wales looked radiant as she visited a children’s hospice, of which she has become patron, in south Wales today
The thrifty Princess of Wales recycled the same £16 long-sleeved houndstooth Zara dress
The princess’s visits is focusing on spotlighting the wellbeing of children and families as well as celebrating excellence in Welsh textiles manufacturing
The Princess of Wales had also worn the stylish number for a visit to Bradford in 2020 with Prince William (pictured)
Holistic care, something that interests Catherine hugely, is a huge part of its ethos, focusing on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the children in its care.
To coincide with her arrival, Kensington Palace announced that the princess has today 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.
The Princess looked radiant in muted tones as she was welcomed by members of staff at the hospice
Kate, 43, donned a checked grey dress with a pussybow detail from Zara that she has previously worn to undertake the visit
The Princess of Wales beamed as she played with two young children today on the visit to the hospice after being announced as its new patron
Mother-of-three Kate, 43, made a fuss of a little girl who uses a wheelchair and who was dressed in pink with her hair in pigtails
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.
‘Opening in 1999 as Wales’ first children’s hospice, Tŷ Hafan continues to provide specialist care to children with life-shortening conditions, offering vital support to them and their families, throughout life, at end of life, and beyond.’
The Princess’ visit to South Wales today is the first time she has visited the nation since undergoing her treatment and recovery. Her last engagements there were with her husband in October 2023.
During her visit today Catherine will see a music therapy session in action.
To mark the visit and the announcement of the patronage, Kensington Palace have 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.
The princess crouched down to discuss the hospice’s good work with parents whose children use the play area for respite care
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.
However ‘she is very much looking forward to being in Wales today and to be focusing on two themes which are close to her heart,’ sources stressed.
During her visit, the Princess is spending time with some of the children and their families, joining a ‘stay and play’ session.
She will also movingly meet with bereaved families supported by Tŷ Hafan throughout their children’s lives, deaths and beyond.
The royal mother-of-three’s solo visit marks her second engagement this week; after she joined her husband Prince William on Monday to mark international Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited London’s Guildhall where they marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
The event included an emotional reunion with Steven Frank, 89, and Ms Bernstein, 87, both of whom the Princess photographed back in 2020.
The Princess’s close bond with both survivors was clear for all to see, putting on an affectionate display and warmly embracing Ms Bernstein.
The choice of clothing will be a comforting one for the princess, who is completing her first solo engagement in more than a year, as she’s worn it frequently before (pictured in 2019)
Kate described Ms Bernstein, who was hidden as a child in France throughout most of the Second World War by her uncle, as an ‘old friend’, clasping her hands and telling her it was a ‘treat’ to see her again.
She had greeted the 87-year-old by saying: ‘It’s so nice to see you,’ and hearing that Yvonne had suffered some health problems, she added: ‘You’ve had such a hard time, haven’t you?’
The two shared an emotional hug, before Ms Bernstein gently touched the princess’s face and arm, and thanked her for coming.
The touching exchange was reminiscent of their previous meetings in 2020 and 2021 after Kate photographed her for a Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum – and they’ve clearly remained close over the years.
As revealed by the Mail earlier this month, the princess continues to plan a slow and measured return to royal duties following her cancer diagnosis and treatment last year.
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.
