Despite being one of the most famous women in the world, the Princess of Wales was once mistaken for one of Prince William’s staff – and she had an unexpected response to the mix-up

The Prince and Princess of Wales (Image: PA)

The Prince and Princess of Wales have had a busy week hosting garden parties and officially naming warships. And their every move on those outings was followed by photographers. Their royal status means they are one of the most photographed couples in the world, with their images appearing online, in newspapers and in magazines, making them instantly recognisable to most.

But that didn’t once stop Kate being once mistaken for her husband Prince William’s assistant – and her surprise response left them in fits of giggles. The mix-up came several years ago when the couple were visiting the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, and the royal pair got more than they bargained for when they were introduced to resident Joan Drew-Smith.

William and Kate on a vist to a care home in Cardiff (Image: PA)

The unfazed OAP pointed at Kate and asked William: “Is that your assistant?” But Kate handled the situation with a deft touch, laughing and saying to William: “Well, I am your assistant”. She added, “I have been for a long time!”

The latest photos of Kate on an official outing come from Thursday, when she attended the official naming ceremony of the warship HMS Glasgow. Kate was named the sponsor of the state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate in June 2021, a vessel designed to protect the UK’s aircraft carriers.

In 2022, she met Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to hear about the ship’s progress and their experiences in the Royal Navy. During the ceremony, Kate released a bottle of whisky, which broke against the ship’s hull at the event held at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow.

After the ceremony, the couple boarded the ship and met representatives from BAE Systems, which has led the delivery of the vessel, and others from the Royal Navy discussed the ship’s capabilities.

The Princess of Wales earlier this week at a Buckingham Palace garden party (Image: PA)

Earlier in the week, Kate returned to royal garden parties, attending her first one in two years. She surprised guests by joining her husband, the Prince of Wales, at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday afternoon.

William, dressed in a top hat and morning suit, was hosting the traditional outdoor gathering on behalf of his father, the King. The princess, who is in remission from cancer, missed the 2024 garden party season while undergoing treatment during what William described as a “brutal” year.

Kate, whose attendance was not announced in advance, as is customary for garden parties, was dressed in a yellow Emilia Wickstead dress and hat by Philip Treacy. The couple met guests from a number of their patronages, military affiliations, and passion projects, including Homewards, Action for Children, and Ty Hafan, as well as Duchy of Cornwall tenants.

Among them was the family of aspiring photographer Liz Hatton, who died in November from an aggressive cancer called desmoplastic small round cell tumour.

The 17-year-old, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was pictured being hugged by Kate at Windsor Castle just weeks before she died after being invited to take pictures of William at an investiture.