The cheeky moment Kate Middleton was caught out by a lip reader at Prince William’s passing-out parade
It was a day to remember for Prince William – and it was made even better as his friends and family were there to celebrate with him.
Even his then-girlfriend of several years, Kate Middleton, who was 24 at the time, had been invited to the young prince’s passing-out parade at Sandhurst on December 15, 2006, with her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.
A passing-out parade is the official graduation ceremony for officer cadets who have formally completed their training.
In William’s case, he had finished the 44-week long Commissioning Course at Sandhurst and was set to join the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals as a second lieutenant, much like his brother Prince Harry who passed out in the April.
As the prince marched alongside 232 other cadets, it was clear Catherine only had eyes for him.
She was seated in the front row, wearing a scarlet coat and extravagant black hat by Phillip Tracey when she was caught checking out her royal beau as he passed by.
At the time, Kate had recently graduated from the University of St Andrews and was working as an accessory buyer for High-Street store Jigsaw.
And unearthed footage from ITV news captured the moment a loved-up Kate muttered something very cheeky to a group of other guests.
Kate Middleton, Prince William’s then-girlfriend of several years, whispers to James Meade as she attends the passing-out parade at Sandhurst on December 15, 2006
A young Prince William is seen wearing a blue uniform, hat and white gloves with a scarlet-coloured sash at the parade
According to the network’s lip reader, the future princess said: ‘I love the uniform – it’s so so sexy’ before breaking into fits of giggles.
The 24-year-old sat next to her parents as well as William’s school friends, James Meade and Thomas van Straubenzee at the passing-out-parade.
She accessorised her bright outfit with a pair of black leather gloves by the Serbian designer Evica Milovanov Penezić which featured an intricate cut-out detailing.
It marked Kate’s first official appearance with the Royal Family.
‘Her arrival completely overshadowed that of Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen,’ the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English wrote at the time.
Royal author Tina Brown described Kate’s attendance as a ‘thrilling public show of commitment’ in her book, The Palace Papers.
But Kate’s mother Carole ‘made the rare gaffe of chewing nicotine gum throughout, and was hazed for it in the coverage’, the royal author added.
A young Prince William stood at the end of his platoon and carried the Queen’s banner during the parade.
Kate Middleton arrives at the passing-out parade at Sandhurst with her parents, Michael (left) and Carole (right)
Kate, who was 24-years-old at the time, sitting with James Meade (left) and her mother Carole in the front row. She is wearing a scarlet coat and extravagant black hat by Phillip Tracey
It was Kate’s first official appearance with the Royal Family
William wore a blue uniform, hat and white gloves with a scarlet-coloured sash.
The 24-year-old was one of 233 cadets who were commissioned at the Royal Military Academy.
As his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, inspected the soldiers she paused next to William to whisper hello. The prince reportedly smiled back.
He was wearing a Jubilee medal that the Queen gave to him to mark her 50 years on the throne.
William became a Second Lieutenant and no longer had to salute his younger brother, Prince Harry, who had been commissioned earlier that year in April.
Both princes joined the Blues and Royals regiment.
Harry and his fellow soldiers had also been inspected by the Queen, who was commander-in-chief, and shared a sweet interaction with her.
When she approached Harry, the late monarch reportedly said: ‘Here’s a face I recognise.’ Harry, holding a sword, is said to have beamed back at his grandmother.
Queen Elizabeth II inspecting the soldiers, including Prince William. As she passed her grandson, she paused next to him and whispered hello. The prince reportedly smiled back
Prince William chats to his brother Prince Harry at his passing-out parade in April 2006
The Princess of Wales smiles while watching her husband during the Remembrance Sunday service in 2023, wearing the same hat she donned years before at his passing-out parade
The prince reportedly fit in with his fellow cadets just like any ordinary person and was described as ‘a normal guy’ on the day of his passing-out parade.
Angela Laycock, who was a Junior Under Officer in William’s platoon at the time, previously said: ‘I’ve not really noticed anything different to be honest. The first loaded march we had a bit of a detour to avoid some photographers.
‘He’s just a normal guy that gets stuck in like everybody else.
‘The only difference is that sometimes we’ll see his name in the paper and you didn’t notice he’d been off that evening doing a charity do. I don’t know how he manages to fit that in.’
After William’s ceremony, Kate and her parents enjoyed lunch with the Royal Family for the first time.
Almost two decades later, Kate wore the same hat she donned at William’s passing-out parade to the Remembrance Sunday service in 2023.
Now married to William, Kate chose the timelessly elegant accessory again in a sweet nod to her husband’s military service as she watched him lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.
