Despite being one of the most famous women in the world, the Princess of Wales was once mistaken for one of Prince William’s staff – and she had an unexpected response to the mix-up
The Prince and Princess of Wales have had a busy week hosting garden parties and officially naming warships. And their every move on those outings was followed by photographers. Their royal status means they are one of the most photographed couples in the world, with their images appearing online, in newspapers and in magazines, making them instantly recognisable to most.
But that didn’t once stop Kate being once mistaken for her husband Prince William’s assistant – and her surprise response left them in fits of giggles. The mix-up came several years ago when the couple were visiting the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, and the royal pair got more than they bargained for when they were introduced to resident Joan Drew-Smith.
The unfazed OAP pointed at Kate and asked William: “Is that your assistant?” But Kate handled the situation with a deft touch, laughing and saying to William: “Well, I am your assistant”. She added, “I have been for a long time!”
The latest photos of Kate on an official outing come from Thursday, when she attended the official naming ceremony of the warship HMS Glasgow. Kate was named the sponsor of the state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate in June 2021, a vessel designed to protect the UK’s aircraft carriers.
In 2022, she met Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to hear about the ship’s progress and their experiences in the Royal Navy. During the ceremony, Kate released a bottle of whisky, which broke against the ship’s hull at the event held at BAE Systems’ shipyard in
After the ceremony, the couple boarded the ship and met representatives from BAE Systems, which has led the delivery of the vessel, and others from the Royal Navy discussed the ship’s capabilities.