Prince William and Princess Kate Look More Glamorous Than Ever Hosting 8,000-Person Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
Prince William and Kate Middleton looked elegant and very royal while hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 8.
William, 43, and Kate, 44, appeared on the steps to the royal gardens at 4 p.m. to mark the start of the event. The 8,000 partygoers stood for the national anthem before mingling, snacking, and enjoying the gorgeous weather. The guest list included representatives from the couple's respective patronages and the charities they champion, as well as local people making a difference in their community. William's cousin Zara Tindall also joined the festivities, as well as his uncle, Prince Edward, and aunt, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Princess Kate looked particularly elegant for the occasion, wearing a cream-colored Self-Portrait polka dot midi dress. The full skirt featured black and white polka dots and a white belt, while the blazer-style top was adorned with a 3D flower appliqué. She paired the look with a vintage cream colored hat wrapped in black tulle and nude colored shoes. However, her jewelry was extra special. She accessorized with Queen Elizabeth II's Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings, a prized item of the late monarch after the gemstones were gifted to her from the Hakim of Bahraim for her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip.
William, for his part, dressed formally for the occasion in a traditional morning suit with tails paired with a black top hat. He also carried an umbrella to block out the bright sun.
William and Kate's garden party was the second of the season. King Charles IIIand Queen Camilla hosted a similar soiree two days prior, which was attended by Princess Anne, Edward, and Sophie. Garden parties have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s, and are a traditional way for the monarch to recognize public service. Around 30,000 people total attend the different parties annually, celebrating all areas of public service and British society. 2026 marked the second garden party William and Kate have hosted as a couple, with 2025 being their first.
The event comes at a busy time for the Prince and Princess of Wales. William was spotted cheering on his team, Aston Villa, as they won against Nottingham Forest on May 7. As for Kate, she's gearing up for her first trip abroad since announcing her cancer diagnosis in 2024. In January 2025, the princess announced her cancer is in remission, and she has since been ramping up her schedule as her health improves.
Kate will travel to Reggio Emilia in Italy on May 13. The two-day trip will be to study the renowned early education approach on behalf of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
"The Princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children's development," her spokesperson said in a statement to People.
The Princess of Wales launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021. The charity uses research-backed information to change how society views and prioritizes the first years of life.
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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 12:03 PM.