After the glamour of last night’s state banquet at Windsor Castle, this morning offered a completely different scene—but one just as charming.
The Princess of Wales and the US First Lady swapped formal gowns for casual elegance as they stepped into the outdoors to spend time with some very young Scouts. It was a warm, playful moment that highlighted a more personal side of both women.
A Fun Farewell Engagement Before Chequers
Catherine, 43, invited Melania Trump, 55, to join her for what would be their final engagement together before Mrs. Trump heads to Chequers, the UK Prime Minister’s country residence in Buckinghamshire, to meet Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer.
Kate kept her outfit simple yet stylish, wearing a Ralph Lauren skirt paired with a scarf from Sudbury Mill in Suffolk—a piece connected to her recent visit to the mill, where she observed the production of silk jacquard and even lent a hand in weaving.
Meeting the Youngest Scouts
The two women joined a group of Squirrel Scouts, the youngest branch of UK Scouting for four- and five-year-olds.
The children were working toward their “Go Wild” badges in Frogmore Gardens, right in front of the historic Frogmore House.
For context, Frogmore Cottage—part of the estate—was home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from 2019 until 2023, before they stepped down as senior royals.
Frogmore House itself, dating back to the 17th century, has been a royal residence since 1792 and famously hosted the Sussexes’ wedding reception in 2018.
Nature, Honey, and Handcrafted Lunches
Kate and Melania joined 20 young Scouts in a variety of outdoor activities, including building a bug hotel and trying leaf printing with leaves collected from the gardens.
The Princess arranged a special packed lunch for the children, featuring sandwiches made with honey from her Anmer Hall bees in Norfolk. Mrs. Trump also contributed gifts: jars of White House honey for each child, sourced from Lewisham, South London.
Queen Camilla, another avid beekeeper, keeps her own hives at her Wiltshire retreat, Raymill.
Supporting Young People Through Scouting
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields was on hand to welcome the guests.
He praised Kate’s role as joint president of the Scouts, calling it “incredible for young people to see her” and highlighting her ability to shine a light on the movement.
Kate has held the position alongside the Duke of Kent since 2020, and her dedication to connecting children with the natural world was on full display during the activities.
Badge Ceremony and Garden Picnic
After the hands-on fun, the Princess and the First Lady led a badge presentation for the Squirrel Scouts, celebrating their progress in nature-themed challenges.
They then hosted a picnic in the gardens, focusing on the wellbeing and enjoyment of the children—a shared priority for both Kate and Melania.
A Royal Tour for Melania Trump
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla gave Mrs. Trump a special tour of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world.
Built between 1921 and 1924 by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the miniature masterpiece contains work from over 1,500 artists and craftspeople of the early 20th century.
Melania also explored the Royal Library and viewed some of its priceless treasures, rounding out a morning of royal history, culture, and hands-on engagement.