Princess Kate’s four handbag essentials that you can buy for less than £5

Kate, the Princess of Wales, is no stranger to a fashion moment that captures everyone’s attention. But the Princess of Wales is also about comfort and practicality.

The 42-year-old has been papped through the years at her royal events, often sporting a trendy handbag. But what does she fill it with, you might wonder?

Thankfully we have some idea now. According to royal author Marcia Moody in her book Kate: A Biography, the Princess of Wales only carries four essential items in every handbag.

During engagements, one staple for Kate is blotting paper which helps to absorb excess oils and sweat. As one of the most papped royals, it’s no wonder Kate has these at hand to cleanse any unwanted shine.

And she makes sure her look is flawless through her second must-have item – a compact mirror. This one is a no-brainer and likely one carried by anyone who cares about whether their makeup has survived, whether they have spinach in their teeth and the like.

Kate also has two other essentials likely to be spotted in her handbag at any time. The third is a handkerchief (kleenex is for commoners) to quell the odd sneezing fit or cough.

And the last item is the trusty lip balm (nobody wants to see a royal with chapped lips). Clarins is said to be Kate’s lip balm brand of choice.

But Kate’s lip balm isn’t without controversy as brother-in-law Prince Harry wrote in his 2023 memoir Spare that she “grimmaced” when the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, asked to borrow her lip gloss.

Kate, who is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy and will be away from her royal duties until her medical team advise it is appropriate for her to return, did attend Wimbledon last month.

The tennis fan, who is patron of the AELTC, made her first public appearance since revealing her diagnosis. At the event, she was seen sporting a handbag from L.K. Bennett (we can take a guess what’s inside).

Earlier in the year, the Princess of Wales shared an emotional video message during which she revealed her diagnosis. Kate explained: “We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now, I must focus on making a full recovery.”