Kate Middleton Fulfills an Important Duty as Princess of Wales for the First Time
Being the Princess of Wales isn’t just about titles and tiaras; it’s also a matter of language. This Sunday, Kate Middleton took a historic step by issuing her first public address in Welsh for the occasion of St. David’s Day, a holiday for the patron saint of Wales. Last Thursday, she and her husband, Prince William, visited the nation on the British Isles as a part of the their celebration.In a Sunday social media video, the future queen appears beside the heir to the throne, both wearing a traditional daffodil on their lapels. In her message, Kate says that Wales is a place “very close in our hearts.” These are her first words spoken in Welsh, fulfilling a duty she took on when she first became the Princess of Wales in 2022.Although Kensington Palace has not shared how Kate is learning the language, it’s likely she followed in her husband’s footsteps and is being taught by Duolingo.In 2024, William told schoolchildren that he uses the language-learning app to improve his Welsh, and he debuted his language skills publicly for the first time on St. David’s Day in 2025. “I use Duolingo a lot. I do Swahili on it as well. But my owl is looking very sad at the moment,” he joked again during the Thursday visit. “Not done it for a while.”King Charles III didn’t have the benefit of technology when he was the Prince of Wales. Instead, he moved to Aberystwyth University for a crash course that seemed to be pretty dreary. (Fans of The Crown will remember his challenges all too well.) Back then, there were no shortcuts—and becoming fluent in Welsh to speak it at his investiture ceremony was famously difficult for Queen Elizabeth II’s heir.Originally published in Vanity Fair Spain.
