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Kate Middleton on January 8, 2026The Gist
Kate Middleton made her first appearance of 2026 on January 8—a surprise visit to the Charing Cross Hospital in West London alongside her husband Prince William.
The visit comes one day before her 44th birthday on January 9.
For the occasion, the Princess of Wales re-wore a burgundy Roland Mouret pantsuit, styling it differently than she has in the past.
One day after her kids returned to school on January 7 and one day before her 44th birthday on January 9, Kate Middleton made a surprise appearance alongside her husband Prince William on January 8—her first appearance of 2026 and also their first joint appearance of the year.
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Kate Middleton and Prince William on January 8, 2026
For the outing on Thursday, the Princess of Wales re-wore a burgundy Roland Mouret pantsuit, pairing it with a matching ME+ EM silk blouse for a monochrome look. In the past, Kate has styled the suit with a crisp white shirt as well as a pastel pink blouse, according to Hello!, so this combination is new for her. This seems to be a trend for the Princess of Wales as of late—taking a familiar outfit and styling it differently so that it is a fresh take on the ensemble.
She completed her look with color-coordinated pumps and carried a chocolate suede handbag. She wore her brunette hair in a deep side part for the visit.
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Kate Middleton in a burgundy Roland Mouret pantsuit
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Charing Cross Hospital in West London to surprise healthcare workers on their tea break, speaking with them specifically about pressures they face during winter flu season. William and Kate are joint patrons of NHS Charities, a role they took on during the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020. This was their first joint patronage aside from their own Royal Foundation, making it extra significant.
“NHS Charities Together: Driving innovation, transforming care, and supporting staff wellbeing✨,” the couple wrote on their joint Instagram. “A huge thank you to NHS staff and volunteers at Charing Cross Hospital, and across the U.K., whose tireless efforts continue to change lives, every single day. Proud to be joint patrons of @nhscharitiestogether and see how it make[s] a difference to the workforce and patients.”
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Kate Middleton at Charing Cross Hospital
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Kate Middleton speaking to a patient at Charing Cross Hospital
William was scheduled to appear at the event, but Kate’s attendance came as a surprise. The Princess of Wales decided to not wear her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring, a choice she’s made before when visiting hospitals. According to The Mirror, “rings with large stones are believed to be an infection risk, as many healthcare professionals only wear plain band-style rings for this reason.”
Read the original article on InStyle