Princess Kate Tours V&A East Storehouse in East London

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, made her first solo public appearance in 2025 by visiting the newly opened V&A East Storehouse in East London, a groundbreaking museum that provides unrestricted public access to over 500,000 creative works and archives typically kept behind the scenes. During her visit, Kate, an arts history graduate and patron of the V&A since 2018, explored the innovative space that removes traditional barriers, allowing visitors to closely engage with exhibits including textiles, wallpapers, and musical instruments, while also learning about the museum’s conservation and curation processes. The facility, located on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, aims to foster creativity and accessibility, featuring a diverse collection from fashion and film to visual arts, with local community members employed as part of the collections access team. Kate's visit emphasized her passion and knowledge of material culture and the arts, and she is expected to participate next in the Trooping the Colour military parade alongside Prince William. Meanwhile, this year's Trooping the Colour will not be attended by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle due to ongoing familial tensions and security concerns, with Harry declining to bring his family due to perceived risks and unsuccessful legal challenges regarding his security status. Overall, Middleton’s engagement highlights her ongoing commitment to championing British creativity and culture through her role as V&A patron and public figure.