Prince William and Princess Kate on Their Individual Royal Roles

Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton’s first solo royal duty of 2026 was a celebratory reception at Windsor Castle, hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales on Thursday, January 15. This marked their first solo engagements to support causes close to their hearts.

The Princess of Wales, 44, hosted a reception at the royal family’s ancestral castle for England’s Women’s Rugby team following their World Cup win in September 2025.

Princess Kate is the patron of the Rugby Football Union, which governs the team, and she attended the squad’s Pool A match against Australia in September during their World Cup campaign.

Princess Kate Middleton wore a red pantsuit, likely chosen as a subtle nod to the team’s Red Roses nickname at the reception. She accessorized the asymmetric-jacketed pantsuit with a necklace, wearing her long brunette hair down in waves. The designer behind the Princess’s pantsuit was Alexander McQueen, the same designer who created Princess Kate’s royal wedding gown in 2011.

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Meanwhile, she chose classic jewelry including a pair of Katherine James pearl cluster earrings ($1,359) and a subtle Auree garnet pendant necklace ($677) to continue the bright red theme.

The photos captured Kate looking stunning in the red pantsuit as she interacted with the team and was presented with a signed jersey.

Although Kate wasn’t at the match itself, she shared a photo on social media, writing:“Good luck England! Wishing the very best of luck to the @redrosesrugby in their Women’s Rugby World Cup Final at Twickenham today. We’re so proud of you!”
She signed off with a “C” for Catherine, indicating the message came directly from her.

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While Princess Kate welcomed the rugby team at Windsor Castle, Prince William, 43, had a separate engagement that day. As patron of We Are Farming Minds, an organization supporting farmers’ mental health, he visited a farm in western England, where he helped with activities such as pruning apple trees and feeding sheep.

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