Even the usually composed Princess of Wales isn’t immune to pre-event nerves, as she revealed in the hours leading up to a significant royal occasion. Kate Middleton, who is no stranger to high-pressure moments—her wedding day was witnessed by around 20 million people worldwide—admitted that she felt anxious before the King’s Coronation. Despite the jitters, the 42-year-old royal expressed her determination to maintain a calm exterior, even if she was feeling a bit unsettled inside.
On the day before the Coronation, the spotlight may have been on the new monarch, but Kate recognized the importance of the event for the entire royal family. She made this admission during an impromptu walkabout outside Buckingham Palace, where she joined her husband, Prince William, and King Charles. The royal trio surprised fans who had been waiting along The Mall, taking the time to greet well-wishers. During one of these exchanges, Kate opened up about how her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—were feeling about the upcoming ceremony.
“They’re doing really well, thank you,” she shared, adding that the children were both “excited” and “a bit nervous with a big day ahead.” Kate then spoke candidly about her own feelings, revealing her strategy for handling pre-event nerves. She explained that she hoped to appear “relatively calm on the outside,” even if she was “paddling on the inside,” likening herself to a swan—a creature that glides smoothly above water while working furiously beneath the surface.
When asked how she and Prince William were managing, Kate replied, “All good. Hopefully, a bit like a swan—calm on the outside, paddling on the inside.” She also mentioned King Charles, expressing that he, too, was looking forward to the event. Kate added, “It’s nice to be out here saying ‘hello’ to everyone who has stayed out for so long.”
Earlier this summer, after 173 days away from the public eye due to abdominal surgery and a cancer diagnosis, Kate made a stunning return to royal duties. She appeared with the rest of the Royal Family at Trooping the Colour, marking her first public appearance since her health challenges. It was only announced hours before the King’s June Birthday Parade that Kate would be participating, much to the delight of royal fans. She was seen riding in a carriage with her children and later greeted the crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
In a recent update on her health, Kate shared that she is “making good progress” but acknowledged that “there are good days and bad days.” She expressed hope that she would be able to “join a few public engagements over the summer,” while also noting, “I am not out of the woods yet.” In a personal message, she conveyed her gratitude, saying, “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.”
