British columnist Amanda Platell issued a public apology to the Princess of Wales on Saturday, saying she regretted earlier criticism of Catherine after reading details of the princess’s role in President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s two-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
In a column for the Daily Mail, Platell wrote that she had underestimated Kate’s value to the monarchy and said she was "disgusted" with herself for a previous, harsher appraisal. Platell said the princess would be "front and centre" during the state visit and described a packed itinerary that she argued demonstrated Catherine’s importance to the royal household.
Platell outlined the Princess of Wales’s schedule for the visit, saying it would include a greeting for the Trumps with the Prince and Princess at Windsor Castle, a horse-drawn carriage procession through Windsor Great Park escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and a state lunch in the castle’s dining room. The column said Catherine was also due to view works from the Royal Collection—containing paintings by masters such as Vermeer and Rembrandt—and attend a traditional white-tie state banquet on the first evening. On the second day, Platell wrote, Kate would join Melania Trump at Frogmore Gardens to view the Scouts’ Squirrels programme for four- and five-year-olds.
Platell acknowledged that the princess had recently been through a period of illness, writing that Catherine was "still recovering from cancer," and said the princess had nonetheless managed to fit in preparatory visits and public engagements. The column also referenced Catherine’s degree in art history in describing how she might contribute to the Royal Collection viewing.
The column included quotations Platell attributed to Trump and to a Trump source, saying the president and his team were "thrilled" the princess would take part in many events and calling Kate’s inclusion "an honour." The Daily Mail column is the latest in a stream of commentary in British media about the role senior royals play during high-profile diplomatic visits.
Platell contrasted Catherine’s itinerary with coverage of Prince Harry’s recent visit to the U.K., which she described as a shorter, high-profile appearance that received intense media attention. In her column, Platell characterised Harry’s trip as a "pseudo-royal tour" and questioned its motives; she cited published reports about his approval ratings and his public statements after meeting the King.
The Princess of Wales and the Prince of Wales have increasingly been a focal point for diplomatic and public engagements since the late Queen’s death and King Charles’s accession. State visits, which combine formal ceremonies with curated public events, often see the British sovereign, senior royals and political leaders take on visible roles intended to underscore diplomatic ties.
Representatives for the royal household did not immediately provide comment on Platell’s column. The Trumps’ programme for the state visit and the royals’ participation were widely announced in advance by official channels and by media covering the visit.
Platell’s apology follows a run of columns and commentary in which she and other commentators have debated the public duties and media profiles of members of the royal family. The state visit and the surrounding coverage underscore the continuing public and media scrutiny of how the royals balance ceremonial duties, personal circumstances and diplomatic responsibilities.