Princess Kate Middleton enjoys a private birthday meal
Kate Middleton marked her 44th birthday on January 9, 2026, with a quiet lunch near her hometown. The Princess of Wales reunited with her, Pippa Matthews, and their mother, Carole Middleton, at a small French bistro named the Funghi Club in Hungerford, Berkshire. The restaurant described the visit as an exciting highlight for its personnel and an unforgettable moment for both its staff and customers.
Bistro staff praise Kate Middleton’s kindness
In a Facebook post shared on January 10, 2026, the Funghi Club said the appearance sent “a fizz of excitement” through the bistro. The post confirmed that every employee who interacted with Princess Kate Middleton found her charming, gracious, and fun. The restaurant did not have any photos from the private lunch, but said the story spread quickly through Hungerford and continued into the next day.
“Every now and then something happens that sends a little fizz of excitement through the whole place, and this week delivered a corker.” The restaurant revealed in a Facebook post. “Last Friday, in our teeny Hungerford Bistro, we had the enormous pleasure of welcoming a rather extraordinary guest. We can already hear the chorus from Newbury: ‘Go on then… who was it?”
The Princess of Wales reflects on health and gratitude
Before celebrating, Kate Middleton shared a personal message online addressing her difficult journey after announcing her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. The mother of three took to social media to share the Winter video from her Mother Nature series. Princess Kate published the series in May 2025, timed with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. Then, a Summer episode followed in August 2025, and an Autumn film was released on November 15, 2025. Finally, the Winter episode came on January 9, 2026.
The Mother Nature series has been a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal. But it is also a story about the power of nature and creativity in collective healing.
There is so much we can learn from mother nature, as we look to build a happier,… pic.twitter.com/yZ3u6yLEe4
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 9, 2026
In the video, she reflected on how winter brings stillness and clarity. Kate also expressed deep gratitude for her recovery, noting she shared in January 2025 that her cancer was in remission. The mother of three described the series as a deeply personal and creative reflection. In addition, she stated that it is about collective healing and about how nature and creativity can support people facing hard periods.
