Princess of Wales surprises locals with unexpected visit to Norfolk coffee shop
The Princess of Wales undertook a solo engagement on Thursday, returning to a children’s hospice in Ipswich that she opened in March 2012.
But it was what came next that truly surprised locals, when Kate popped into a coffee shop unannounced on her way home.
The Princess of Wales surprised customers inside a Norfolk coffee shop with an unexpected pop in on her way home from an engagement. Getty Images
The royal mum-of-three, who has been a patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) for 14 years now, visited its property The Treehouse before making a stop at Café 98.
EACH’s only café and is located inside its charity retail store in Hoveton, Norfolk, about an hour’s drive from the royals’ Sandringham Estate.
While there, Kate was also shown how to value clothes donated by the public and resold in store.
The royal spoke to customers during the last-minute café stop. Getty Images
The coffee stop wasn’t listed on the initial itinerary, but it’s not known if the last-minute nature of the addition was due to security or time constraints.
Either way, customers seemed delighted as they unexpectedly spoke to the royal.
A number of fans also waited outside the café to get a glimpse of the princess.
The Princess of Wales donned a Victoria Beckham suit for the visit to Suffolk then Norfolk.
Kate was seen wearing items from Posh Spice’s ready-to-wear collection, including the Katherine jacket and matching wide-leg trousers, which retail for £850 ($1621) and £475 ($906), respectively.
While there, Kate was also shown how to value clothes donated by the public and resold in store. Getty Images
Crowds waited for the Princess of Wales to emerge from the café, greeting her with handshakes, photos and flowers. Getty Images
The Princess of Wales donned a Victoria Beckham suit for her visit to The Treehouse children’s hospice. Getty Images
Underneath the open jacket, the royal added a £520 ($992) dark grey melange merino wool turtleneck, along with a £290 ($553) burgundy belt with gold mirror buckle detailing, both from the designer’s range.
Kate accessorised with small hoops featuring a drop, along with her three-ring stack on her wedding ring finger and sported her signature bouncy blow dry.
But it was the additional – and unexpected – fashion choices the princess added to her look that surprised some.
Kate was seen wearing a high-vis vest and hard hat on top of her £2135 ($4072) designer outfit during the visit to Suffolk.
Kate was seen wearing a high vis vest and hard hat on top of her £2135 ($4072) designer outfit during the visit to Suffolk. Getty Images
The Princess of Wales was given a tour of the multi-million-dollar expansion currently taking place on the site, northeast of London. Getty Images
It wasn’t an odd sartorial statement as it turned out, with the Princess of Wales given a tour of the multimillion-dollar expansion taking place on the site, north-east of London.
As patron for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, Kate was shown around the construction areas where a new hydrotherapy pool, wellbeing and therapies suite are all being built.
The expansion plans also include a larger care activity area, dedicated teenage space, an additional bedroom and expanded kitchen and dining facilities.
Kate, while heavily pregnant with Prince Louis in 2018, also wore a high vis vest and hard hat over a designer outfit in Sunderland. Danny Lawson-WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Princess of Wales (second right) with a handful of family members at The Treehouse children’s hospice during the visit. Chris Radburn/Pool Reuters via AP
With another 18 to 24 months remaining on construction, the safety gear was essential for the royal’s visit.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the future queen put safety first, happily donning similar high-vis vests and headgear when visiting similar sites including while heavily pregnant with Prince Louis in 2018.
Kate, who surprised the world when she performed at the piano during her Together at Christmas carols concert in 2021, also sat next to Charlotte Freegard (left) during a music therapy session. Getty Images
The Princess of Wales, took part in the music therapy session alongside kids at the hospice. Chris Radburn/Pool Reuters via AP
About 185 children, young people and family members are currently receiving care and support at The Treehouse, with the Princess of Wales meeting a handful of them during her visit.
The royal, who surprised the world when she performed at the piano during her Together at Christmas carols concert in 2021, also sat in on a music therapy session.
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