William and Kate host garden party after being spotted touring $110k boarding school

The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed thousands of guests to Buckingham Palace for one of the most beloved traditions on the royal calendar.

The appearance marks the couple's first garden party of the year,

Stepping in on behalf of King Charles, the pair hosted the celebration to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to communities across the UK.

The event follows reports that the couple recently toured Oundle School in Northamptonshire. The co-educational boarding school, which costs £59,000 ($110,000 AUD) a year, is speculated to be under consideration for Princess Charlotte's future education.

For the palace reception, Catherine, 44, looked elegant in a cream Self-Portrait ensemble, paired with a vintage black-and-white hat and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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Prince William, 43, wore traditional morning dress complete with a blue waistcoat and top hat.

The couple were joined by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Zara Tindall

Zara making her first Buckingham Palace garden party appearance of the season in a bright blue dress and hat.

Around 8,000 guests strolled through the palace gardens, where an estimated 27,000 cups of tea and 20,000 slices of cake are served at every such event. 

Among the invitees was Rhian Mannings, founder of the bereavement charity 2wish.

Mannings previously shared a heartbreaking conversation with Prince William about the loss of her husband and young son, during which the Prince was seen fighting back tears.

The pair reunited at the palace, with William greeting her with a kiss on the cheek.

The outing marks another major public appearance for Kate following her cancer treatment, which saw her step back from royal duties throughout much of 2024 before announcing she was in remission in early 2025.

Last year's garden party was notably the first attended by both William and Kate together in nearly two years.

The event also comes as the Princess of Wales prepares to embark on her first overseas visit since her cancer diagnosis two years ago.

Her solo two-day visit to Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy, on May 13 and 14, is a major step in the global expansion of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood which she launched five years ago.

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