The Royal Story The Royal Story
Kate Middleton is preparing for a meaningful visit next week to spotlight a project that is particularly close to her heart. The Princess of Wales will travel from England to Wales, where she plans to spend time with a variety of textile manufacturers.
During the trip, she will celebrate the rich heritage, creativity and skilled craftsmanship behind Welsh textile and fabric production, highlighting an industry that plays an important role in the nation’s cultural identity.
Kensington Palace confirmed the Princess of Wales’ forthcoming visit in a recent statement, explaining that the trip will highlight the unique skills and centuries-old traditions of the British textile industry — an area the future Queen is deeply passionate about.
Kate Middleton has long championed the significance of the British textile industry and its place within the UK’s cultural and creative identity. Her interest is also personal, as her paternal ancestors owned the Leeds-based woollen manufacturer and merchant William Lupton & Co.
Over the past year, the Princess has visited textile producers across Carmarthenshire, Suffolk, Kent and County Tyrone. More recently, she and Prince William tested their own skills during a visit to Scotland.
The couple stopped by Radical Weavers in Stirling, a charity dedicated to teaching traditional Scottish tartan-weaving techniques, where they tried their hand at creating a tartan scarf. William and Kate met participants enrolled in the charity’s weaving course, with the future Queen taking a turn at a traditional loom to add “an inch and a half” to what Radical Weavers hopes will eventually become a record-breaking 3km-long tartan scarf.
In September last year, Kate Middleton carried out a series of solo visits to textile factories in England, beginning with a tour of the Sudbury Silk Mills in Suffolk, before later visiting Marina Mill in Cuxton, Kent.
During the visits, the Princess explored the design studios, where she learned how historic archive patterns continue to influence contemporary collections. She then moved on to the weaving floors to watch both traditional looms and cutting-edge machinery in operation.
At the time, Palace officials said the focus of the day was “celebrating British creativity and craftsmanship” and shining a spotlight on the specialist skills that sustain the UK’s textile industry — from time-honoured weaving methods to modern design innovation.
After departing Suffolk, the Princess continued her exploration of the UK’s textile industry with a visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton, Kent — a small, family-run business known for its hand-designed and screen-printed fabrics.
During the stop, Kate Middleton rolled up her sleeves and got hands-on with the production process. She put on an apron as she was guided through how the fabrics are dried and prepared, before taking part herself by printing her own piece of fabric.
