Kate Middleton shares challenges of major Royal events
The Princess of Wales revealed a rare confession about the challenges she encounters
Kate Middleton candidly expressed what she finds challenging about certain royal events at a reception at Buckingham Palace marking Queen Elizabeth's 100th birthday.
The Princess of Wales, 44 years old, gave her insights at the palace gathering on April 21 while chatting with a few women.
"I think these settings are really difficult. I have a very soft voice, so I'm usually told, 'Speak up a little louder!' " Princess Kate remarked in fan footage featured on X, as the rest of the event continued in the background.
The Princess of Wales stepped into an active royal role upon marrying Prince William in 2011 and previously shared that her childhood nickname was Squeak.
Kate recounted the story during an official visit to her old school, St. Andrew's School, in 2012, recalling the guinea pigs she once had.
"There was one named Pip and another called Squeak, as my sister was named Pippa and I was Squeak," she said of the pets named after her and her sister, Pippa Middleton, The Mirror reported.
The Princess of Wales' recent remark about having "a very soft voice" follows a prior statement she made regarding the royal protocol she finds tough to adhere to.
Discussing the intricacies of walkabouts in the 2016 ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety, Kate noted, "There's truly an art to walkabouts; everyone in the family teases me about spending too long chatting. I still need to learn a bit more, and maybe pick up a few more pointers, I think."
The Princess of Wales is recognized for spending considerable time during walkabouts to speak with well-wishers, even falling behind her family while chatting with people at Sandringham on Christmas in 2024 and 2025.
On Tuesday, she joined her husband William, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh at the Buckingham Palace gathering that celebrated the late Queen's life and achievements.
Among the attendees were representatives from various patronages of the late Queen and centenarians also born on April 21, 1926, sharing a 100th birthday with the legendary monarch.
Queen Elizabeth passed away at age 96 in September 2022, and PEOPLE delves into her lasting impact in this week's exclusive feature story.
“She'd be pleased with how William and Kate are bringing up their children,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith comments about the way the Prince and Princess of Wales are nurturing the next generation.