Kate Middleton, in a red suit and with a new hair color, led the first state reception of the year.

Kate Middleton hosted a gala reception at Windsor Castle for the England women's rugby team, of which she is patron. This event marked her first independent royal engagement in 2026.

For the event, the 44-year-old Princess of Wales, who had returned to a blonde hair color, chose a red trouser suit by Alexander McQueen. She completed the look with matching Giavinto Rossi shoes and jewelry. The red color of Kate's outfit was no accident: it symbolizes the Red Roses team, to which the women's national team belongs.

The meeting was timed to coincide with England's victory at the Rugby World Cup in September 2025. The team arrived late due to a bus breakdown, so a private tour of the residence was canceled. As part of the reception, the athletes presented the princess with commemorative gifts, including a T-shirt autographed by the players. Middleton also posed for an official photo with the team and coaching staff.

Earlier, Kate appeared on the cover of the new issue of Hello! magazine.

As a reminder, in 2024, Kate Middleton, who has been married to Prince William since 2011, underwent abdominal surgery and disappeared from public view for a time, sparking numerous conspiracy theories about her disappearance. She soon reappeared and announced she had been diagnosed with cancer. After a year of treatment, Middleton announced she was in remission and soon returned to royal duties. Rumors of a relapse of the disease have circulated recently, but these have not been confirmed.

Фото: Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Imagesredrosesrugby/Instagram**