The Princess of Wales surprised onlookers by gathering her hair into a neat bun without using a hair band or mirror while visiting a family-run textile mill in Kent on Thursday, a moment that drew widespread attention and praise on social media.
Kate, 43, was at Marina Mill in Cuxton to highlight British textile craftsmanship and took part in a demonstration of screen-printing, where she helped push coloured dye through an engraved silk-screen using a squeegee. Video and photos of the visit circulated on X, with users commenting on her apparent ease in styling her hair and on her hands-on participation in the printing process.
During the visit, the princess removed her suit jacket, donned a black apron and joined staff members in transferring a floral pattern from a screen to fabric. She positioned the heavy screen, coordinated with an employee named Adam, and completed a sweep with the squeegee after he began the motion. Workers at the mill described her attempts as careful and attentive; one told reporters she had "the best" technique and had clearly prepared for the visit.
Marina Mill, established in 1967 and located near the Medway River, supplies hand-designed and screen-printed furnishing fabrics to a range of clients, including royal residences. The company’s managing director and design director, siblings Guy and Tandine Rawkins, showed the princess examples of archive recreations and free-hand sketches; Kate praised the workmanship and ‘‘artistry’’ of the pieces she was shown.
Keith Rawkins, who founded the business in 1967 and remains involved, told reporters that the mill had been approached because of the princess’s long-standing interest in textiles. He said staff were "incredulous" at the visit and optimistic it would generate positive exposure for the business. Mill employees demonstrated other stages of the process, including how printed material is baked before dispatch.
The visit formed part of a programme of engagements the princess undertook to "celebrate British creativity and craftsmanship," according to Palace officials. Earlier on Thursday she visited Sudbury Silk Mills in Suffolk, where she toured the design studio and weaving floor, and was welcomed by Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the deputy lord lieutenant of Suffolk and a former private secretary to the prince and princess.
Staff at both sites said the princess spent time speaking with employees about the precision and care involved in producing high-quality fabrics. Steven Harris, head of production at Sudbury Silk Mills, recalled the princess pointing out a detail on a sample and encouraging the team, saying work of this nature requires an "eye for detail." At Marina Mill she discussed the customer relationship and the value clients place on knowing how a product is made.
Palace aides and the princess herself have emphasised her interest in the textile sector over several years; her paternal ancestors were involved in the woollen trade in Leeds. She has previously visited mills in Leeds, Lancaster and South Wales to champion the sector and its cultural importance. During Thursday’s visits she spoke about the importance of artisan skills for younger generations and the global reputation of a "Made in the UK" hallmark.
Before leaving Marina Mill, Kate accepted flowers from local schoolchildren who had gathered to see her and asked them about returning to school. Mill representatives said they had offered the princess a piece of the fabric produced during the visit, which would be sent to her home at Forest Lodge in Windsor. Palace officials described the visits as intended to put a spotlight on the creative industries that contribute to the UK’s cultural and economic life.