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See Prince William, Kate Middleton's Royally Sweet BAFTAs 2026 Outing
Kate Middleton deserves a crown for her diplomacy.
The Princess of Wales seamlessly denied a fan's request for an autograph to avoid breaking royal protocol during a Feb. 26 trip to Powys, Wales, with her husband Prince William.
In a video published by Hello! Feb. 27, Kate greeted a group of people outside to celebrate community spirit ahead of St. David’s Day. But when one fan approached her with a pen and asked for an autograph, she politely redirected his request.
“I can’t sign things, I’m so sorry,” she told him in the clip, adding, “I can shake your hand, though.”
The man happily accepted her offer, and in a sweet turn of events, their handshake turned into a brief hug before Kate continued on to greet the others waiting in line.
And the 44-year-old was being entirely truthful about her inability to sign an autograph. Indeed, members of the royal family are forbidden from publicly giving out their signatures due to forgery risks.
In fact, Kate previously noted the rule in 2022 when she declined to sign drawings she had made with schoolchildren at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.
“My name’s Catherine,” she told the kids during the event, per People. “I’m not allowed to write my signature—it’s just one of those rules.”
Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Of course, Kate and William, 43, don't think it's beneficial to uphold every tradition. Case in point: William recently revealed how he and his wife plan to raise their kids Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, differently than past generations.
"I think the situation with the World Wars, generations before us couldn't talk about their emotions,” he explained during a panel discussion for BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks: Mental Health Special Feb. 18. “They saw and they went through some really horrendous things that no matter how much you try and talk about it, it wouldn't have really helped anyone. So they, as a generation, decided, probably not deliberately, but they just kept to themselves.”
William added, "We have to break that cycle where it's—you have to talk about your emotions. You can’t just bottle them up and pretend they don’t exist.”
For more news about royal families across the world, keep reading.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on Feb. 19, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The arrest came amid renewed controversy over Andrew's alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.)
Aaron Chown - WPA Pool / Getty Images
Prince William and Kate Middleton Break Silence on the Epstein Files
The Duke and Duchess of Wales spoke out amid the release of millions of documents in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, sharing their support for the victims of the late convicted sex offender.
"I can confirm The Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations," a Kensington Palace spokesperson shared in a statement obtained by MS NOW Feb. 9. "Their thoughts remain focused on the victims."
LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP via Getty Images
Marius Borg Høiby, Son of Norway's Crown Princess, Arrested Ahead of Rape Trial
Marius Borg Høiby—the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and step-son of Crown Prince Haakon—was arrested Feb. 1 for assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order, Oslo police confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press.
The 29-year-old—who does not carry a royal title or official duties—is being kept in detention for up to four weeks over risks of reoffending after the Oslo district court granted the request. His attorney Petar Sekulic told the outlet that they are considering appealing the decision.
Høiby is expected in court Feb. 3 as part of a separate indictment regarding four alleged rapes between 2018 and 2024, as well as two alleged acts of violence against a partner and violating a restraining order.
His defense team addressed the allegations in a statement to the AP, saying that Høiby "denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence."
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Cartier
Flora Vesterberg, Queen Elizabeth's Cousin, Announces Pregnancy
Flora Vesterberg, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin Princess Alexandra, announced that she is pregnant with her and husband Timothy Vesterberg's first baby.
"Delighted to share that Timothy and I are expecting our first child," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 19. "We're truly over the moon."
Photo by Brook Mitchell / AFP via Getty Images
Prince Harry Appears in Court for Lawsuit Against U.K. Tabloids
Harry appeared at London’s High Court Jan. 19 for the start of what is expected to be a weeks-long trial against Associated Newspapers—the media group that publishes the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, and Mail Online—over allegations of unethical newsgathering tactics
Other stars including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sadie Frost are also taking aim against the publishing company in the lawsuit.
Associated Newspapers has “vigorously denied” the claims, according to the BBC.
Instagram/Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Celebrate 10 Years Together
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex celebrated ten years together by sharing a romantic black and white video of themselves dancing in their backyard.
Set to Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” the couple revealed that the clip was recorded by none other than their 4-year-old daughter Lilibet. Alongside a camera emoji, Meghan—who also shares 6-year-old son Archie with Harry— added in the caption of the Jan. 16 Instagram post, “cred: our daughter.”
The couple also shared a throwback photo from their first year of dating. In the adorable snap, the pair embraced each other during a nature-filled getaway.
“When 2026 feels just like 2016….,” Meghan wrote in the caption. “You had to be there.”
Photo by Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images
Princess Irene of Greece Dies at 83
The Greek royal family’s private office announced Jan. 15 that Queen Sofia of Spain’s sister died at the age of 83.
As the statement read, "It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2026, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones."
Her funeral was held Jan. 19 at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens following her death, with the burial at the Royal Cemetery of Tatoi.
Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Kate Middleton Celebrates Her Birthday With Moving Message
On her 44th birthday, the Princess of Wales shared a message on the power of nature to heal.
“Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration,” Kate said in a voiceover alongside footage of snowy landscapes in her Jan. 9 video. “Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection, to discover the deepest parts of ourselves, alongside the whispers and the pulse of every living thing.”
She added, “I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify, come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive, to be at one with nature—a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides in memory helping us to heal in.”
(Photo by Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Makes Surprise Appearance With Prince William
The Princess of Wales marked her first public appearance of 2026 as she joined her husband during an engagement at the Charing Cross Hospital in London. The outing in support of healthcare workers came almost a year after she announced she was in remission following her cancer diagnosis.
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