Royal rule-breaker? Kate Middleton drives herself to engagement in rare protocol break

Kate Middleton raised eyebrows this week with an arrival that looked more low-key than royal. On January 15, the Princess of Wales made a rare solo entrance to an official engagement, not just without Prince William, but behind the wheel of her own car.

Kate drove herself to Windsor Castle, where she hosted a reception celebrating England’s women’s rugby team following their World Cup victory in September 2025.Fan-shot footage shared on X showed the 44-year-old princess stepping out of a black car from the driver’s side, on the right, as is standard in the UK, before closing the door herself. She accepted an umbrella from an aide and walked into the castle as rain fell outside.Senior royals are typically chauffeured to official engagements, which made Kate’s self-driven arrival stand out. There may have been a practical explanation, however: she lives close by.Kate and Prince William live just over three miles from Windsor Castle at Forest Lodge, a home in Windsor Great Park where they moved with their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, in October 2025.

The family relocated from Adelaide Cottage to the larger property after several turbulent years.Adelaide Cottage had been associated with a series of emotionally difficult moments, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the fallout from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix docuseries and Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, and the 2024 announcement that both King Charles and Kate had been diagnosed with cancer.

The King continues treatment, while the Princess of Wales is now in remission.“Adelaide Cottage was a place of pain, suffering and sadness. After such rough times it’s perfectly understandable they would want a new place,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE.According to PEOPLE, Forest Lodge is considered the family’s long-term home, and the couple intend 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, known as the Red Roses, Kate hosted the squad at the castle to mark their World Cup triumph. She wore a red Alexander McQueen pantsuit, widely interpreted as a nod to the team’s nickname.The Princess of Wales attended one of the Red Roses’ matches during their World Cup campaign and has spoken openly about rugby at home with her children.

During the reception, she addressed the sport’s inclusivity and how it can be played by both boys and girls at a young age.“It’s such a great game, actually, they shouldn’t necessarily need to pigeonhole boys and girls into particular sports too early,” Kate said, according to Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English.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.”