The Princess of Wales will return to royal duties with a visit linked to her rugby patronage
Buckingham Palace has issued a fresh update about Catherine following the announcement that William will travel to Saudi Arabia next month.
Earlier this week, Kensington Palace confirmed that the Prince of Wales will make an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the request of the British government.
In a statement, the palace said: “At the request of His Majesty’s Government, the Prince of Wales will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th February.”
It added that the visit comes as the UK and Saudi Arabia continue to strengthen trade, energy and investment links, while also approaching 100 years of diplomatic relations.
William’s trip will be his first official visit to Saudi Arabia. The last senior royal to carry out a formal engagement in Riyadh was King Charles in February 2014, when he was still Prince of Wales.
Shortly after the announcement, Buckingham Palace confirmed Catherine’s next public engagement. The update was shared by King Charles’s office on its official website.
The statement reads: “27 January 2026, The Princess of Wales, Patron, Rugby Football League, will visit Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club, Doncaster Road, Wakefield.”
Catherine became patron of both the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union in 2022, just days before the start of the Guinness Six Nations tournament.
At the time, she expressed her excitement about the role, saying she was “thrilled” to take on the patronage of both organisations.
