What a Difference a Month Makes—Especially for the Royal Family
May has been a whirlwind month for the British royal family. From King Charles’s historic visit to Canada to Meghan Markle twinning with Princess Lilibet in Montecito, the headlines have been non-stop.
But perhaps the busiest of them all? The Prince and Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton and Prince William.
Each month, the royal couple shares a “Royal Rewind” on their joint Instagram account, offering a look back at their activities—and May’s edition is truly one to remember. We’re talking birthdays, striking portraits, stunning fashion moments, and even a few surprising videos.
Here are just a few highlights from the Kensington Palace May Royal Rewind, as shared on Instagram Stories.
The first Instagram Story, as always, was an intro slide announcing Kensington Palace’s May Rewind. It was quickly followed by a highlight from the month’s first major event: Princess Charlotte’s birthday!
On May 2, Prince William, 42, and Princess Catherine, 43, shared a sweet birthday tribute to their daughter, along with a new photo marking her 10th birthday. The caption on the post read, “Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte!” accompanied by a white heart emoji.
One detail that surprised many royal fans? Just how much Charlotte resembles her father—right down to their identical smiles. But what made the post even more special was the fact that the photo was taken by none other than her mother, Catherine, a tradition she’s upheld for years.
Even King Charles, 76, joined in the celebration, sharing the new photo of Charlotte along with a warm birthday message from her proud grandfather.
Following Princess Charlotte’s birthday, the May Rewind continued with a tribute to the lead-up events for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day—marking the end of World War II in Europe back in 1945.
On May 5, Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their three children took part in commemorations, including a formal military procession and a rare Buckingham Palace balcony appearance to witness a military flypast.
One heartwarming highlight? A candid photo of Princess Catherine laughing with her eldest son, Prince George.
The moment captured not just their close bond but also sparked a bit of buzz: during part of the event, George, now 11, was seen walking beside his mom—and appeared to be nearly shoulder-height, despite Catherine standing at a statuesque 5’9”. Whether it was the angle or a growth spurt, fans took note of just how much he’s grown.
Next in the May Rewind came a striking photo of Prince William standing side-by-side with his father, King Charles III. On Friday, May 16, Buckingham Palace released a slideshow highlighting the father-son duo participating in a unique royal tradition with centuries of history.
The occasion? The Service for the Order of the Bath, a formal ceremony held every four years. As explained by the palace, “The Order was established by King George I in 1725, though its roots trace back to medieval times, when the knighthood ceremony included a ritual bath symbolizing spiritual purification.”
For the event at Westminster Abbey, both Charles and William wore striking red robes draped over their traditional military uniforms, complete with medals and insignia—making for an unforgettable royal moment steeped in tradition.
The May Rewind then featured a fun and unexpected moment: a video of Prince William kicking a soccer ball (top left in the clip).
In late May, the Prince of Wales made a surprise visit to Scotland, where he stopped by the Leith Community Centre to celebrate the launch of Leith United—a new social enterprise that brings together Street Soccer Scotland, YMCA Edinburgh, and Leith Community Centre. The goal? To promote health, wellbeing, and community connection for thousands of local residents.
Kensington Palace shared footage of the Prince joining a game and highlighted the center’s mission to help build stronger, more connected communities.
Their caption read:
“At Leith Community Centre, the beautiful game is being used to tackle some of society’s toughest challenges. Street Soccer Scotland is joining forces with local partners through Leith United, a new social enterprise launched with support from The Royal Foundation’s Community Impact Programme.”
Another standout moment from May? Kate Middleton joined Prince William in Scotland for the official naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow, a Royal Navy ship for which Kate serves as sponsor.
At the event, the Princess of Wales turned heads wearing a pair of Princess Diana’s iconic earrings—a subtle yet meaningful tribute that royal watchers didn’t miss.
Kate also stole the spotlight with her expressive reactions, giving off what fans affectionately call “Prince Louis-level facial expressions” (a nod to her youngest son’s famously animated face).
Adding a dash of humor to the occasion, Prince William was caught on camera making a cheeky comment after a royal fan called his wife “beautiful.” All in all, it was a charming and memorable royal outing.
Things wrapped up, as per usual, with a “thank you” slide.
I can’t wait to see what the Wales Fam gets up to in June!
