Kate Middleton Steps Out In Orange For Her First Solo Engagement Since Spare

Kate Middleton made her first solo appearance of the year in Luton, England, on Jan. 18, 2023, where she spent some time at Foxcubs Nursery. "Outstanding early years settings like this play a huge role in positively shaping a child's development. The collaboration between staff and parents is just one of the ways children here are supported in their first five years," read a caption of a video shared on the official Instagram account of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The princess participated in various activities, such as arts and crafts projects, with some of the children at the nursery and chatted with some of the teachers about the "formative nature of the early years," according to People. 

Throughout her time as a senior member of the royal family, the Princess of Wales has dedicated much of her time to various charitable organizations that involve children. The royal family's official website states that she "is committed to raising awareness of the importance of early childhood experiences and of collaborative action in order to improve outcomes across society."

Aside from lending support to children, Kate's visit to the nursery marked her first solo engagement since the release of Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare." Suffice it to say, all eyes were on her as she stepped out on her own.

Kate Middleton appeared to be in good spirits during her nursery visit, despite the turmoil surrounding Prince Harry's book. In a video supplied by The Sun, the Princess of Wales seemed completely at ease and relaxed during her royal engagement, perhaps able to put her feelings about "Spare" aside for the morning. "Very nice to meet you. Thank you for having me," the princess was heard saying in the video.

Although Kate didn't seem to show any signs of angst, a source previously told ET Online that she felt "hurt and disappointed" over some of the claims made in the Duke of Sussex's memoir. Prince William is also said to be going through a challenging time following the release of "Spare," with royal expert Katie Nicholl telling the outlet that he is "incredibly angry at the level of detail" his brother put in the book. Due to the private nature of the royal family, Nicholl suggests that it must be quite frustrating for William as he can't respond to Harry's claims.

Despite what has been going on in her personal life, however, the Princess of Wales was all smiles during her solo appearance, and she looked lovely, too.

Kate Middleton appeared engaged as she spent a couple of hours at Foxcubs Nursery. The Princess of Wales wore a long, high-rise skirt designed by Gabriela Hearst, paired with a matching turtleneck top, Marie Claire reports. The skirt, which is made of a cashmere-and-silk blend, retails for $1,590, according to My Theresa. She accessorized the look with a thick black belt and a pair of suede boots. Upon her arrival at the nursery, the princess carried a small black clutch and wore a long tan coat over her outfit. 

Kate has said that visits like these always seem to make her want to have a fourth child. "It makes me very broody," she said during an engagement in February 2022, which was shared in a tweet by the Daily Mail's Rebecca English at the time. "William always worries about me meeting under one-year-olds. I come home saying 'let's have another one,'" she explained. 

No word on if this engagement had the same effect on Kate.