Inside Kate Middleton’s Polite Gesture That Left Her Shoeless: ‘It Was Surreal’

Kate Middleton is the Princess of Wales, but she followed the rules at a “no shoes” house.

On Nov. 22, British TV and radio host Roman Kemp recounted the story of how Princess Kate, 43, politely removed her shoes when she visited his family’s home a few years ago, according to The Sun.

Kemp, the son of pop stars Martin Kemp and Shirlie Holliman, released a short film with the Princess of Wales in February 2023 to discuss mental health for her Shaping Us campaign dedicated to early childhood development.

Kemp, 32, told The Sun that he was surprised when it was “just me and her” on a preliminary Zoom call to discuss a mental health project he was working on, and that he suggested that his parents’ house would be the ideal place to film their chat.

“She asked whether we could do the filming at my house. I was like, ‘My parents’ house is much nicer; let’s do it there,’ ” he said. “So my mum raced out and got a load of nice things in, and suddenly the future queen is having tea and biscuits with her and my dad!”

When the big day came, Kemp said he was shocked by what Kate did when she walked in the door.

“I remember when she arrived, she could see everyone else had taken their shoes off, so she offered to take hers off,” he said.

“It was surreal,” he continued. “Somehow, you never expect to see a member of the royal family in their socks!”

The Princess of Wales’ respectful etiquette in removing her shoes wasn’t her only thoughtful gesture, either, as Kemp said she later sent a thank-you note for the gift they sent her home with.

“Later, my parents gave her some of the apple juice, which they pressed in their garden, to take home as a little gift,” said Kemp, the former host of Capital Breakfast and a current contestant on Celebrity Race Across the World.

“A few weeks later, she wrote a lovely letter which my mum has kept thanking them and saying that Prince George loved the juice and is there any chance of more!” he added about the reaction from Princess Kate’s 12-year-old son.

“Working with her was amazing,” he added. “She very kindly wrote me a thank-you note too, which I have framed on my wall at home.”

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The media host is a “champion” for Princess Kate’s Shaping Us campaign from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she launched in June 2021 to further her longtime work in that sector. 

In an August 2023 interview with The Times, Kemp said that the Princess of Wales reached out to him about his documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency about the mental health crisis affecting young men in the U.K.

Kemp released the BBC film in 2021 after his best friend and producer Joe Lyons died by suicide, drawing attention to the crisis that Prince William has made a crucial part of his royal work.

 If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.