Kate Middleton turned heads this week with a surprisingly down-to-earth arrival at a royal engagement. On January 15, the Princess of Wales made a rare solo entrance, not just without Prince William, but behind the wheel of her own car.
A Practical Royal Drive
Kate drove herself to Windsor Castle, where she hosted a reception for England's women's rugby team. The team celebrated their World Cup victory from September 2025. Fan footage shared on social media showed the 44-year-old princess stepping out from the driver's side of a black car. She closed the door herself, accepted an umbrella from an aide, and walked into the castle as rain fell outside.
Senior royals typically use chauffeurs for official events. This made Kate's self-driven arrival stand out immediately. However, a simple explanation exists. She lives very close by.
New Home, Fresh Start
Kate and Prince William live just over three miles from Windsor Castle at Forest Lodge. This home sits in Windsor Great Park. The family moved there with their children in October 2025. Prince George is 12, Princess Charlotte is 10, and Prince Louis is 7.
The family relocated from Adelaide Cottage to this larger property. This move followed several turbulent years. Adelaide Cottage was linked to emotionally difficult moments. These included Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022. They also involved fallout from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix series and Harry's 2023 memoir. The 2024 announcement that both King Charles and Kate had cancer added to the strain.
King Charles continues his treatment. The Princess of Wales is now in remission. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith spoke to PEOPLE magazine about the move. She said, "Adelaide Cottage was a place of pain, suffering and sadness. After such rough times it's perfectly understandable they would want a new place."
According to PEOPLE, Forest Lodge is considered the family's long-term home. The couple plans to remain there even after Prince William becomes king. Kate's appearance at Windsor Castle also marked her first solo royal engagement of 2026.
Celebrating the Red Roses
As patron of England's women's rugby team, Kate hosted the squad at the castle. The team is known as the Red Roses. She wore a red Alexander McQueen pantsuit for the event. Many interpreted this as a nod to the team's nickname.
The Princess of Wales attended one of the Red Roses' matches during their World Cup campaign. She has spoken openly about rugby at home with her children. During the reception, she addressed the sport's inclusivity. She highlighted how both boys and girls can play it from a young age.
Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English reported Kate's comments. Kate said, "It's such a great game, actually, they shouldn't necessarily need to pigeonhole boys and girls into particular sports too early." She added with a laugh, "Obviously, as they get physically stronger... George, now, if I play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George! But no, up to a certain age it's great."
