Princess Kate surprises onlookers with meaningful gesture 

Kate Middleton let her hands get dirty during her latest royal engagement after skipping the Royal Ascot 2025 event. 

On July 2, the Princess of Wales visited Colchester Hospital to see the centre's Wellbeing Garden. She highlighted the importance of healing through nature, opened up about her cancer treatment and planted 'Catherine's Rose.'

As per Hello! Magazine, royal expert Rhiannon Mills recalled how the future Queen did not follow protocols while planting the special rose, named in her honour following her struggles with cancer. 

She revealed that Princess Catherine was "offered gloves when she was bending down to plant some of those Catherine roses, which were especially commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society."

Rhiannon added, "She didn't want gloves. She had filthy hands. My cameraman, who was there, kind of zoomed in on her filthy hands. He was like, 'Oh, is that appropriate or not?' And I was like, 'yes, it's her getting her hands dirty.'"

The royal commentator continued, "So while the palace keeps saying, 'We're going to have to all get used to that flexibility in terms of engagements she's doing', I think, when she's there… they are fully in."

For the unversed, on May 9, the Royal Horticultural Society announced a new Rose, “Catherine’s Rose”, grown by Harkness Roses. 

Kensington Palace's spokesperson at the time shared that the proceeds from the rose will support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, "helping patients across the country live well with, and beyond, cancer."