It was an appointment away from the grand spotlight: Princess Kate (44) received American philanthropist Melinda French Gates (61) at Windsor Castle last Tuesday. The meeting only became public after the fact through a corresponding entry in the "Court Circular", the official appointment journal of the British royals.
"The Princess of Wales [...] received this morning Mrs. Melinda French Gates (Founder, Pivotal) at Windsor Castle", Kensington Palace subsequently announced.
What the meeting was about
Kate received her guest as joint patron of the Royal Foundation, which she runs with husband Prince William (44). Through it, the two consolidate their charitable engagement, which includes nature conservation and early childhood development as well as the fight against homelessness and for mental health. The fact that the Princess met the billionaire in this capacity suggests, according to "People", that the foundation's work was on the agenda.
French Gates, in turn, represented Pivotal, the organization she founded in 2015. Its goal: to accelerate social progress for women and young people in the U.S. and worldwide - through philanthropy, investments, and policy influence.
A billionaire with a clear stance
French Gates had already made clear how she thinks about her wealth in 2025 to "People". "I believe the only responsible thing to do with these resources is to give them away - as thoughtfully and impactfully as possible", she said.
In 2024, she had left the Gates Foundation, which she co-founded with ex-husband Bill Gates, to dedicate herself entirely to her own projects. "Bloomberg" estimates her wealth at $19.4 billion.
Not the first meeting of this kind
The meeting was not a premiere: Exactly one year earlier, in June 2025, French Gates had already met Prince William and Princess Kate at Windsor Castle. Back then, too, both sides represented the Royal Foundation and Pivotal.
