Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte were spotted riding the London Underground together on Saturday.
The Princess of Wales, 44, and her 11-year-old daughter took the Elizabeth line through central London over the weekend, catching fellow passengers off guard. An eyewitness told Hello! Magazine that the preteen looked “amazed” by her surroundings during the unscheduled journey.
The mother-daughter pair traveled with a discreet security detail. A source told the outlet the protection officers “didn’t make it obvious they were there and tried to make [the tube ride] as and ‘normal’ as possible.” The insider added that the royals “spoke to members of the public sitting across from them” in a “brief” chat.
“Catherine had her phone with her and was looking at her phone for a couple of minutes,” the eyewitness recalled.
“They seemed very relaxed and were chatting together, smiling. They seemed very happy.”
Middleton and Charlotte got off at Tottenham Court Road, with the princess holding her daughter’s hand. Both appeared dressed formally for their destination, which remained unknown. Middleton wore a maroon ensemble with brown heels, while Charlotte paired navy tights with ballet flats.
The outing marked a return to public transit for the Princess of Wales, who used to ride the train regularly before joining the royal family. She admitted in a 2013 interview that she “missed” the underground rides.
This was not the first time senior royals have taken the Elizabeth line. Middleton and Prince William, 44, rode the same route and exited at the same stop during a 2023 outing to the Dog and Duck pub in Soho. That trip was designed to “thank people … working hard across Coronation weekend,” according to reports at the time.
The couple, who began dating in 2002 after meeting as students at the University of St. Andrews, married in April 2011 following an October 2010 engagement. In addition to Charlotte, they share Prince George, 13, and Prince Louis, 8.
The weekend tube ride offered a rare glimpse of Middleton undertaking everyday activities amid her ongoing cancer treatment. She has gradually returned to public duties since announcing her diagnosis in March 2024.
Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the outing.
