Kate Middleton forced to decline fan's request due to unusual royal ban

The Princess of Wales had to decline a fan's request during a bustling walkabout - and it is due to a royal rule. Both Kate and Prince William delighted well-wishers by making an unscheduled stop to greet them in heavy rain on a trip to Powys ahead of St David's Day.

They each held a black umbrella and spent 25 minutes in heavy rain, chatting to well-wishers, including children who handed them bunches of flowers and pictures they had drawn. Kate gave high-fives and hugs, while both she and husband William posed for pictures and selfies with those eager to meet them.

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One man who approached Kate went to hand her a pen and some paper and asked if she would sign an autograph. However, she politely told him: "I can't sign things, I'm so sorry. I can shake your hand, though." They instead shared a brief hug before she posed for a photo.

It's not the first time Kate has spoken of the rule that means she can't sign items while on duty. In 2023 at the Chelsea Flower Show, she toured the showgrounds with some curious school children. At one point, Kate and the kids looked around the Royal Entomological Society's garden, where they tried to identify the bugs there and drew some sketches.

Keen to secure something to remember her by, some of the children asked the princess to sign her name on their drawings. But she told them: "My name's Catherine. I'm not allowed to write my signature, it's just one of those rules."

However, not wanting to leave the children empty-handed, she drew some sketches for them - including one of a flower, another of a tree and one of a pond surrounded by some plants.

During yesterday's trip to Wales, William and Kate visited The Hanging Gardens, a community hub focused on resilience and creativity, in the mid-Wales town of Llanidloes. Kate talked to members of the public outside about the performance by children at Llanidloes school, saying: “It was so lovely to meet the children singing inside – they were incredible.” After they headed to Oriel Davies – a public contemporary art gallery in Newtown.

They viewed the Hand in Hand art project, a community scheme co-produced by the gallery and Syrian and Afghan families living in Newtown and the surrounding areas. “It’s amazing, what’s happening here,” Kate told the families. It must be such a lovely way to make friends and share stories.” She was given a necklace made by children at an art workshop on Thursday morning.

Afterwards, the couple spoke to volunteer groups at Hafan yr Afon, a hub for culture, community and heritage in Newtown, and greeted well-wishers outside. Jill Christofides, 65, told William: “The monarchy is safe in your hands.”

“With all that is going on at the moment, there could be a swell against,” she told reporters after. “But I think when you see the time that he’s willing to spend with the people, I think it’s lovely to see. “He said ‘thank you, that’s very sweet of you’.”