Kate Middleton and Prince William Reunite with Paddington Bear, But May Keep It a Secret from Their Kids!

The Princess of Wales said that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis would be “very sad” to miss the meeting

Prince William, Paddington Bear and Kate Middleton at the Royal Variety Performance on Nov. 19, 2025.Credit : 

Jonathan Buckmaster-WPA Pool/Getty

Kate Middleton and Prince William may be keeping a secret from Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis after their latest night out.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, made their first joint red carpet appearance in two years at the Royal Variety Performance on Wednesday. Nov. 19.  The annual fundraiser event for the Royal Variety Charity featured Jessie J (who shared a sweet moment with Princess Kate amid their cancer journeys), Icelandic singer Laufey and the West End cast of Les Misérables.

The evening also included a performance from Paddington: The Musical, and the royal couple got to meet the star. They even posed for a photo together, complete with a marmalade sandwich!

The beloved bear is brought to life on stage for the new West End show in various ways. Actor James Hameed performs as Paddington offstage and remotely puppets the bear onstage, while Arti Shah physically embodies Paddington in costume throughout the musical.

Prince William, Paddington Bear and Kate Middleton at the Royal Variety Performance on Nov. 19, 2025.

Jonathan Buckmaster-WPA Pool/Getty

Princess Kate hinted that their three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — might be jealous that they got to see a glimpse of the musical.

In a video shared on social media by royal reporter Emily Ferguson, the Princess of Wales met 9-year-old twins Emelie and Olivia Edwards, who presented her with flowers. The royal mom asked the girls if they were fans of Paddington Bear and told them, “My kiddies will be very sad” to miss the event, quipping, “We are going to have to keep it a big secret.”

Paddington Bear and Prince William at the Royal Variety Performance on Nov. 19, 2025.Jonathan Buckmaster-WPA Pool/Getty

Prince William and Princess Kate’s meeting with Paddington was actually a bit of a reunion. During an October 2017 outing in London, the royal couple — along with Prince Harry — crossed paths with the children’s character at the Charities Forum Event at Paddington Station. Kate, who was pregnant with Prince Louis at the time, even shared a dance with the bear in a memorable moment.

The Prince and Princess of Wales aren’t the only members of the royal family with a special connection to Paddington Bear.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Queen Elizabeth appeared in a comedy sketch alongside the bear during her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, surprising even her family members with the top-secret skit that saw the monarch and Paddington at tea.

As a result, many mourners left Paddington Bear stuffed animals at royal residences when Queen Elizabeth died that September. Queen Camilla helped distribute some of the cuddly toys after they were washed and given to Barnardo’s children’s charity.

The 2025 Royal Variety Performance was Prince William and Princess Kate’s sixth time attending the event together and their first red carpet moment in two years, as Kate spent much of 2024 out of the spotlight amid her cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery. She announced in January that she was in remission.

The couple wore matching velvet outfits, with Kate in a green gown while William opted for a black bow tie with a blazer in the fabric.

It’s been a tradition for members of the royal family to attend the Royal Variety Performance since King George V became Life-Patron of the Royal Variety Charity, which supports professionals from the entertainment industry in need, in 1921.

Prince William and Kate Middleton depart the Royal Variety Performance on November 19, 2025.Samir Hussein/WireImage

King Charles represented the royals at the evening out last year, attending solo after Queen Camilla canceled her plans to go due to a chest infection.

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