Week In Review: September 17, 2023 – September 23, 2023

The Princess of Wales had two public engagements this week. They are highlighted below.

On September 18, 2023, the Princess of Wales visited the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton in Somerset, UK. This air station is one of the Royal Navy’s two principal air stations and is known to be one of the busiest military airfields in the UK. Recently, King Charles appointed Catherine as the new Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, previously held by The Duke Of York. During her first visit, she spent three hours at the air station, where she got a first-hand introduction to the world of naval aviation.

The Princess was introduced to Royal Navy air traffic controllers trained to operate at sea and shore bases, providing a range of air traffic control services to support aircraft movements from the air station safely and across the skies in the vicinity of Yeovilton. Later, she moved on to a hangar where she spoke with junior personnel and learned about their different roles within the Fleet Air Arm. She also met Survival Equipment Technicians who provide and maintain survival equipment and deliver specialist training on its use, which is essential for aircrew safety. The Princess looked over some of the flotation and flying equipment used by personnel, including trying out an aircrew life jacket.

The Princess of Wales was also shown around the Merlin Mk2, the Navy’s primary Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopter, during her visit. Personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron also introduced her to the Banshee drone. The drone is used to develop tactics to defend the nation’s aircraft carriers against air attacks.

The Royal visit ended at the Wildcat Training Centre, where personnel learn and practice various skills, including aircraft engineering, flying, and weapon loading. The Princess met a Wildcat’ Flight’ and witnessed weapon loading on the training Wildcat. She also took a ‘flight’ in the state-of-the-art Wildcat helicopter simulator.

We’ve created a page that will be dedicated to Catherine’s work with the Fleet Air Arm. You can view it here.

On September 19, 2023, The Princess of Wales visited Street of Growth, a not-for-profit youth intervention charity in East London. The charity is focused on transforming the lives of young people at risk of being trapped in a cycle of isolation, exploitation, violence, and criminality. Catherine was impressed by the new space for Streets of Growth, provided by Unite Students, at their flagship accommodation building in east London. With this new space, the charity can reach even more young people and work towards securing longer-term funding that aligns with their clients’ need for intensive, longer-term support.

During the visit, the Princess met with Street of Growth founder Darren, staff, representatives from Unite Students, and mothers and daughters who had been coached and supported by the charity. She was particularly interested in how their circumstances affected their mental health. The Princess was shown some creative workshops and enterprises that families engaged with, which helped increase their confidence and enhance family relationships.

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 18 | Visiting Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 19 | Princess of Wales Visits Streets Of Growth In London

Week In Review: September 10, 2023 – September 16, 2023

The Princess of Wales had two public engagements this week. They are highlighted below.

On September 12, 2023 The Princess of Wales visited HMP High Down in Surrey to learn about how The Forward Trust are supporting those in the criminal justice system to manage and recover from their addictions. During her visit Catherine shadowed the experience of a family during a normal visit, starting with the security procedures visitors are required to go through. She sat down with serving prisoners to hear about the current programs provided by both the charity and the prison, and support they are receiving for their addiction. The Princess also visited The Clink, an on-site restaurant which trains prisoners in hospitality, where she met with former prisoners and Forward Trust alumni. Her Royal Highness spoke to those who have worked with and volunteered for the charity in prison and the community and learned how they have been supported to recover from and manage their addictions.

You can visit our page that highlights Catherine’s work with The Forward Trust here.

On September 14, 2023, the Prince and Princess of Wales embarked on an important visit to Hereford. Their visit aimed to support the programs backed by The Duchy of Cornwall, which Prince William inherited from King Charles when he ascended to the throne. The couple’s first stop was at Madley Primary School, where they learned about the school’s outdoor learning curriculum, Forest School. The students attend Forest School at least once a week to learn national curriculum subjects and environmental awareness, conservation, and woodland management. The Duchy of Cornwall and Madley Primary School have been partners of The Forest School initiative for twelve years, and the Duchy provided the school with a woodland site at Brampton Hill Wood to enable the Forest School to take place in Hereford. Over the years, the woodland area and the facilities available to accommodate the school’s growth have expanded.

The Prince and Princess also visited Kings Pitt Farm, where they met with Duchy of Cornwall farming tenants to discuss the We Are Farming Minds charity. This charity aims to support farmers’ mental health in rural communities throughout the country. It offers Herefordshire farmers fully funded access to various services, including counseling, a 24-hour phone and text support line, free mental health awareness workshops, and social events throughout the year to help them feel less isolated. The Duchy of Cornwall works with We Are Farming Minds to enhance its new Mental Health Strategy, which provides ongoing mental health support to all its tenants, specifically focusing on tenants in rural and more isolated communities.

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 12 | Visiting HMP High Down With The Forward Trust
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 14 | The Wales Visit Madley Primary School’s Forest School

Week In Review: September 03, 2023 – September 09, 2023

The Princess of Wales is back from summer vacation and had two public engagements this week. They are highlighted below.

On September 08, 2023, Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, made a trip to Wales to commemorate the one-year anniversary of The Queen’s death. The royal couple visited St. Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire for a private service, where Princess Catherine laid flowers at a portrait of The Queen inside the Cathedral. Later, William and Catherine met with people who had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty during her 70-year reign. Other members of the public gathered to see the Prince and Princess of Wales.

After attending the service at St. Davids Cathedral The Prince and Princess visited Câr-Y-Môr Seaweed Farm, a key partner of Notpla, the sustainable packaging start-up and the winner of the prestigious 2022 Earthshot Prize for ‘Build a Waste-Free World.’ The royal couple met with the farm’s staff and volunteers to learn about their work and its positive impact on the ocean and the environment. Câr-Y-Môr Seaweed Farm is the first regenerative farm in Wales, and it supports the local community by providing jobs, seafood, and restoring and protecting the environment. Prince William even tried some of the seaweed and commented that it had a “salty” taste. You can see more of Catherine’s efforts in supporting The Earthshot Prize here. From there the couple transferred to a RNLI St Davids Lifeboat where they travelled to a new station to meet the crew and volunteers. The Queen was Patron of the RNLI from 1952 until her death last year.

On September 09, 2023, The Prince and Princess of Wales joined Princess Anne, Patron of Scottish Rugby and Mike Tindall (Princess Anne’s son-in-law), James Haskell and Alex Payne’s podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby. The Princess is Patron of England Rugby and Prince William the Welsh Rugby Union. The fifty minute podcast is full of gems, like how Princess Anne accidently became the Patron of Scottish Rugby, the only time Prince William cried while watching a sport, William and Catherine’s competitiveness, and Catherine’s love of swimming. You can watch the podcast here and see Catherine’s recent efforts supporting England Rugby here.

Lastly, while we were all enjoying the podcast, Catherine travelled to France for the Rugby World Cup to watch England take on Argentina. England won and afterwards The Princess headed to the locker room to congratulate players. Prince William will head to France on September 10, 2023 in his role as Patron of Welsh Rugby to watch Wales and Fiji.

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 08 | Commemorating The Life Of Queen Elizabeth II
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 08 | Engagements In St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 09 | The Good, The Bad & The Rugby Podcast
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > September 09 | Rugby World Cup – England v Argentina

The Princess Of Wales Receives Three Military Appointments

From Buckingham Palace:

Following His Majesty’s Accession, The King is pleased to announce further military appointments for working Members of the Royal Family. The new appointments will continue to reflect the close relationship between the Armed Forces and the Royal Family in His Majesty’s reign.

The Princess of Wales
– Commodore-in-Chief, Fleet Air Arm
– Colonel-in-Chief, 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards
– Royal Honorary Air Commodore, R.A.F. Coningsby

The Princess of Wales’s existing military appointments include Colonel, Irish Guards and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Air Cadets. Her Royal Highness is also Sponsor of HMS Glasgow – the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Frigates which is currently under construction. The Princess’s grandfather served in the Royal Air Force.

We’re looking forward to learning more about the Princess of Wales’ new military appointments as well as any future events she will attend in her new role. We know that Catherine will represent them wonderfully. We’ll also begin working on a page dedicated to her military appointments in the future.

Week In Review: July 16, 2023 – July 22, 2023

This week the Princess of Wales had two public engagements. They are highlighted below.

On July 16, 2023 The Princess of Wales attended Wimbledon with Prince William and their two eldest children.

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > July 16 | Wimbledon – Day 14

Week In Review: July 09, 2023 – July 15, 2023

This week the Princess of Wales had two public engagements. They are highlighted below.

On July 14, 2023, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) with their three children at RAF Fairford. Prince William served with the RAF’s Search and Rescue Force for over three years, based at RAF Valley in Anglesey. He is currently the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby. Princess Catherine also holds an honorary position as Air Commodore of the Air Cadets. In 2015, Catherine took over as Patron of The Air Cadet Organization from The Duke of Edinburgh, marking her first royal role with an official link to the armed forces.

The Royal International Air Tattoo is the world’s largest military air show. The event benefits The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which supports the air force and engages young people in aviation. During the visit, the Princess met with cadets in the Techno Zone, which aims to inspire young people to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and math and consider careers in engineering, aviation, and aerospace. She also met with the winners of the Road to RIAT competition, which challenged students from 300 schools across the U.K. to design a sustainable aircraft for the future of the RAF.

The family also toured the C-17 Globemaster III, the aircraft that flew Queen Elizabeth’s body back to London following her death in Scotland in September 2022.

On July 15, 2023, The Princess of Wales attended Wimbledon for the Women’s Singles Final, where Czech Marketa Vondrousova took on Tunisian Ons Jabeur. Before taking her seat in the Royal Box, Catherine met with individuals who had various roles throughout Wimbledon. The princess also met representatives from the British Army, London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police. Following the match, she presented the trophy to Markéta Vondroušová. Catherine also met with Ons Jabeur, and a sweet moment occurred when they shared a hug. Jabeur talked about the moment during her press conference. “She didn’t know if she wants to give me a hug or not. I told her hugs are always welcome from me. That was a very nice moment and she’s always nice to me.”

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > JJuly 14 | The Wales Family Visits Air Tattoo At RAF Fairford
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > July 15 | Wimbledon – Day 13

Week In Review: July 02, 2023 – July 08, 2023

This week the Princess of Wales had three public engagements. They are highlighted below.

On July 04, 2023, the Princess of Wales attended Day 2 of Wimbledon. It was a joyous occasion as Catherine has been the Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club since 2016. As soon as she arrived, she immediately spoke with the ball boys, girls, and volunteers, showing her appreciation for their hard work. Catherine then visited Court 18 to watch Katie Boulter take on Australia’s Daria Saville. Afterward, Catherine moved to the Royal Box, where she was joined by the recently retired tennis great Roger Federer and his wife to watch Elena Rybakina take on Shelby Rogers. Lastly, Catherine enjoyed watching Andy Murray and Ryan Peniston play. It was truly an unforgettable day for all the tennis fans in attendance.

On July 04, 2023, some amazing photos were released to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS. The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised NHS staff and patients from across the UK with a very special NHS Big Tea party. They even arrived early to help lay the tables and put the finishing touches on a beautiful birthday cake. The event actually took place in May, and it was truly wonderful. It’s heartwarming to see how much care and support the royal couple has for the NHS. They have been Patrons of the NHS since 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the event, The Prince and Princess had the chance to meet with guests, discuss current challenges, and personally thank staff for the amazing work they continue to do. It’s fantastic to see such a powerful and influential couple showing their support for the NHS and recognizing the invaluable contributions of the staff. You can view our page highlighting Catherine’s work with the charity here.

On July 05, 2023, The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, joined The King and Queen in Scotland for the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication To The Coronation Of King Charles III And Queen Camilla at St Giles’ Cathedral. It was a grand event filled with pomp and circumstance, including gun salutes, processions, and a flypast by the Red Arrows. King Charles was presented with the Honours of Scotland, considered the Scottish Crown Jewels: the Crown, the Sceptre, and the new Elizabeth Sword.

On July 06, 2023, The Princess of Wales was in attendance to cheer on Prince William during the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup. The event supported eleven of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s charities, including SHOUT, Wales Air Ambulance, Centrepoint, The Passage, Mountain Rescue England & Wales, Foundling Museum, Forward Trust, East Anglia Children’s Hospices, Baby Basics, Little Village, and AberNecessities. It was reported that over £1 million was raised for the charities. The competition was fierce, but Prince William’s team ultimately emerged victorious, and The Princess was there to present the trophies. It was truly a remarkable day for a great cause!

IN OTHER NEWS:

01. Catherine’s brother James and his wife Alizée are expecting their first child at the end of this year. They shared the news on Instagram, James Middleton wrote: “It was a very difficult start to the year after losing my beloved Ella however we will end the year with the most precious little addition to our growing family.” Congratulations!

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > July 04 | Wimbledon – Day 2
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > July 05 | NHS Big Tea Party
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > July 05 | National Service Of Thanksgiving And Dedication
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > July 06 | Royal Charity Polo Cup

Week In Review: June 25 , 2023 – July 01, 2023

This week the Princess of Wales had two public engagements. They are highlighted below.

On June 27, 2023, Catherine, Princess Of Wales, opened “Hope Street” at Hope Street in Southampton, England. Hope Street is a residential community developed by One Small Thing, piloting a new approach to supporting women in the justice system. One Small Thing is a charity that aims to redesign the justice system for women and their children by changing the way the justice system responds to women and their children, educating people within the justice system on the impact of trauma, and influencing politicians and policymakers to encourage culture change across the justice system and the people who work within it. Hope Street is the first of its kind. It aims to offer a community alternative for women who would otherwise be imprisoned unnecessarily due to a lack of safe accommodation or concerns around their well-being. The Princess toured the facility and learned about the support residents would receive. She also spent time with staff and left a handwritten message on the facility’s Tree of Hope. “I see you, and I am with you. Good luck in all that lies ahead,” she wrote, signing the note as simply “Catherine.”‘ I’m sure this is not the last we hear of One Small Thing or Hope Street; I wouldn’t be surprised if Catherine became a Patron. The Hope Street project aligns perfectly with her work in the early years, addiction, and work with women in the justice system.

On June 28, 2023, the Princess of Wales officially opened the Young Victoria & Albert Museum, formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood. It was an exciting day for all involved, as the museum had been under construction for three years, with schoolchildren, teachers, and parents partnering in various workshops to design the building and galleries. The Young V&A is dedicated to children up to fourteen, housing the largest collection of childhood objects in the United Kingdom. The Princess of Wales, who has been the Patron of the Victoria & Albert Museum since 2018, toured the new building and spent time with children in different galleries, hearing their thoughts about the museum. It’s wonderful to see such an important cultural institution dedicated to young people, and we can only imagine the joy and wonder that will come from exploring the Young V&A.

Check out our page dedicated to Catherine’s work with the Victoria & Albert Museum here.

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > June 27 | The Princess Of Wales Opens Hope Street
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > June 28 | The Princess Of Wales Officially Opens The Young V&A

May 16, 2023 – The Princess Of Wales Visits Dame Kelly Holmes Trust

The Princess of Wales visited the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. Check out photos in the gallery.

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > May 16 | The Princess Of Wales Visits Dame Kelly Holmes Trust

Upcoming Engagement: Irish Guards St. Patrick’s Day Parade

On Friday, March 17, 2023, The Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the Irish Guards at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot. It will be the first time Catherine attends the parade as Colonel of the Regiment. She will present the traditional sprigs of shamrock to the Officers and Guardsmen and the Irish Wolf Hound regimental mascot. The parade will conclude with a Royal Salute and march past where Her Royal Highnesses will take the salute as the new Colonel.

Week In Review: March 05, 2023 – March 11, 2023

On March 08, 2023, The Princess of Wales visited the 1st Battalion Irish Guards for the first time since becoming Colonel last year, taking over from her husband, The Prince of Wales. During the visit, Her Royal Highness heard first-hand about the work that the Irish Guards are carrying out on the Salisbury Plain Training Area and took part in battlefield casualty drills to deliver care to injured soldiers during a casualty simulation exercise.

On March 09, 2023, The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Hayes Muslim Centre. They thanked those involved in the aid effort and those who fundraised to help communities affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.The Prince and Princess met representatives from Disasters Emergency Committee member charities, including aid workers recently returning from the crisis zone in Turkey.

GALLERY LINKS:

– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > March 08 | The Princess of Wales Visits The 1st Battalion Irish Guards
– Engagements & Tour Photos > 2023 > March 09 | The Prince & Princess Of Wales Visit Hayes Muslim Centre

Upcoming Engagement: Commonwealth Day Service

On March 13, 2023, The Prince and Princess of Wales will join other members of the Royal Family for the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Afterward, Their Royal Highnesses will attend a reception hosted by the King and Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace.