Melania Trump, Princess Kate photos: First Lady and Princess of Wales captured in historic outing
For the first time, Princess Kate has welcomed US First Lady Melania Trump for a joint public appearance, marking a rare solo engagement without other senior royals, with the two women helping children construct insect hotels.
The outing comes after Kate was given a reminder of the royal pecking order in an awkward moment between her and Queen Camilla, with the higher-ranking royal shooing the princess away with a hand gesture.
On the second day of the state visit, the First Lady toured Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle with Queen Camilla.
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She later joined the Princess of Wales, 43, in Frogmore Gardens, where they met Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ squirrels program.
The young children learnt about nature as they worked toward their “Go Wild” badge.
Kate and Melania joined children aged between four and six who were creating art projects.
“This is beautiful!” said the First Lady, 55, as she sat among the children, colouring a bear outline with brown, adding a sun and grass in yellow and green, all at the children’s direction.
Kate sat nearby on the grass, chatting with the children about their work.
Shortly after, Melania helped children build bug hotels out of cardboard and tubes.
“Show me how, what I should do,” Melania asked. When one child asked her favourite insect, she replied: “A ladybug.”
Later, they joined the Scouts in a parachute game, laughing as the children ran around.
Kate also arranged a special lunch for the group, including sandwiches made with honey from her Anmer Hall estate. Ms Trump brought a sweet gift of her own, presenting each child with a jar of White House honey.
Afterwards, the children sat on straw bales as their Scoutmaster reviewed the day’s activities. When receiving their “Go Wild” badges, the children were congratulated personally by Kate and Melania, who applauded and shook each child’s hand.
The tables turned when two children then presented badges to the visitors.
Princess Kate was once a Brownie herself and has served as joint president of the Scout Association since 2020.
In March, she spent time with Mr Fields and Scouts in the Lake District. He told People about her reflections on healing outdoors during her cancer journey.
“She would say, ‘During my recovery, I spent a lot of time in the outdoors because that’s where I felt at peace.’ Or ‘myself and the family come out to the Lakes as often as we can,’” Mr Fields recalled.
“When people speak about themselves, it feels like they are giving you something, giving a little bit away, and not just there to take,” he added. “That’s her superpower. She’s a wonderfully warm person and invites you into a conversation.”
Following the joint outing, the First Lady headed to Chequers to rejoin US President Donald Trump for the afternoon program.
Camilla, Kate and Melania in awkward moment
Mr Trump and the First Lady arrived on the grounds of Windsor Castle to all the pomp and ceremony afforded for a major state visit, before walking from the Marine One chopper with Prince William and Princess Kate, to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla at the front entrance to Victoria House.
As Princess Kate and Melania engaged in conversation, Queen Camilla appeared to feel a bit left out and began to look around, before deciding it was time for Kate to head off and motioned for her to move away with her hand.
