Kate Middleton and Prince William Host Their First Garden Party of the Year at Buckingham Palace

The Prince and Princess of Wales dressed up (including a top hat for him!) for a royal tradition dating back to the 1860s

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend a garden party on May 8, 2026.Credit : Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Kate Middleton and Prince William welcomed thousands of people to Buckingham Palace for a garden party
The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by Zara Tindall, Prince Edward and Sophie at the event
King Charles and the palace invite people from all walks of life to the palace for the annual celebrations over tea and sandwiches each spring

Kate Middleton and Prince William are playing hosts at a Buckingham Palace gathering that looks like something from Bridgerton.

The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed thousands of guests to the lawn of the royal residence on Friday, May 8, for the second garden party of the season.

Prince William, 43, and Princess Kate, 44, stood in for King Charles in the role as chief hosts for the outdoor event. They were joined by William’s cousin Zara Tindall as well as William’s uncle and aunt Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Kate Middleton at the Buckingham Palace garden party on May 8, 2026.Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty

The couple last attended a garden party in May 2025. Due to Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, which kept her out of the public eye for much of 2024 before she announced she was in remission in early 2025, that outing marked their first time both attending a garden party in almost two years. They previously joined one in the days after King Charles’ coronation in 2023.

The party was already in full swing when Prince William and Princess Kate arrived, with guests enjoying mini sandwiches and tiny cakes for an hour or so beforehand. The royals stepped through the huge doors of the palace, and, signaling the formal start of the celebration, stood at attention for the playing of the national anthem.

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend a garden party on May 8, 2026. Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty

Princess Kate sported a structured white jacket with a polka dot skirt by Self-Portrait, topped with a coordinating black and white vintage hat and earrings belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Prince William had his own headwear, with a top hat accessorizing his morning suit.

The couple mingled with some of the around 8,000 guests, who were drawn from across the U.K. and the world, rewarding those who have contributed positively to their communities or were members of the diplomatic services.

Among the garden party guests was Rhian Mannings, who met Prince William last year after founding the organization 2wish to support bereaved families after lost her son to hidden illness and subsequently her husband to suicide.

Kate Middleton attends a Buckingham Palace garden party on May 8, 2026.Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty

Sam Stables, the founder of We Are Farming Minds, which works to break down the stigma surrounding mental health in the farming community, and the “Three Flying Fish” — Rowan, Anna and Harry, three young Air Cadets who became the youngest trio to tackle the 3,000-mile “World’s Toughest Row” in January — were also among the invitees.

The outing comes ahead of a busy week for Princess Kate, who will head to Reggio Emilia in Italy on May 13. The fact-finding trip is part of her mission to help kids and their caregivers in the early years, and she’ll learn about the unique program undertaken in the northern Italian region. The solo abroad will be the first time that the Princess of Wales has traveled overseas in an official capacity since her cancer journey.

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend a garden party on May 8, 2026.Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty

The May 6 garden party was the second of the season, with King Charles and Queen Camilla hosting the first two days prior. The royal couple was joined at the event by Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and they carried umbrellas under uncertain cloudy skies.

Garden parties, which have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s, provide a perfect way for the monarch to recognize public service. Around 30,000 people attend the events across different dates annually, celebrating all areas of public life and British society.

Kate Middleton and Prince William meeting attendees at the garden party on May 8, 2026.Jonathan Brady / POOL / AFP via Gett

As well as mingling with members of the royal family, guests are treated to tea and cake. According to the royal family’s website, around 27,000 cups of tea are served and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed!