Princess Kate Set to Collaborate on US-Based Project After New Friendship with Melania Trump
Diplomatic ties are expected to be strengthened over formal dinners and political speeches, but sometimes the most enduring bonds are forged in far humbler settings, and that's exactly what happened for Kate Middleton and First Lady Melania Trump. It wasn’t the grand state dinner at Windsor Castle that did the trick; it was Frogmore House — a joint engagement that seems to have been the start of a long-term friendship.
According to insiders on both sides of the Atlantic, what started as a carefully orchestrated public engagement quickly blossomed into a genuine connection. White House sources later admitted that the smaller-scale event with Middleton was 'absolutely' the highlight of Melania’s time in the UK. Kensington Palace aides echoed that sentiment, describing how “warm and friendly they were after spending time together.”
Observers present at the event noted that the rapport between the Princess of Wales and the First Lady felt more natural than diplomatic. "It’s definitely the start of what looks set to be a very warm, long-term relationship between Middleton and Melania,” a source told HELLO!. Middleton and Melania joined children from the Squirrels, the youngest branch of the Scouts, for a morning of outdoor fun, drawing, nature crafts, and bug hotel building.
That sentiment was echoed by Dwayne Fields, the Chief Scout who oversaw the activities. Watching the two women interact, he noted their easy camaraderie and suggested the connection might not end with the state visit. “From what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were to go away and collaborate on something in the US,” he said, adding that Middleton’s role as joint patron of the Scouts opened the door to countless opportunities, potentially even joint projects, with American scouting groups.
Such a possibility isn’t just fanciful. With Washington officials floating the idea of extending an invitation for a future state visit to the US, a second meeting between Melania and Middleton is very likely. A senior White House figure also said that Britain, and the royals in particular, had “set the bar high for their trip to see us,” leaving the door open for further engagement.
As for the recent state visit, Middleton played her role as part of the US' charm offensive excellently. All eyes were on Middleton, and she was well aware of it. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told PEOPLE that Middleton’s return to such a prominent role after her cancer treatment only heightened the sense of intrigue around her. “She was very aware that the most important person there was the King,” Seward noted. “But she can’t help that all eyes were on her.”
In Seward’s words, the Princess managed the pressure with grace, even injecting lightness into the formality of the banquet. “She was animated and happy and having a laugh,” she said. “She lit up the table with a megawatt smile.” Her appearance in a golden Phillipa Lepley coat and gown left an impression that critics and admirers alike called one of her strongest moments on the royal stage. “She never looked as good as she did the other night. She looked magnificent. She looked golden, and it’s definitely the best I’ve ever seen her look at a state banquet,” Seward added.