The Princess of Wales had an unexpected encounter with a young fan during a visit to Aberfan, South Wales, on Wednesday. As Kate and Prince William toured a memorial garden dedicated to the victims of the 1966 disaster, a baby named Daniel Williams grabbed her £675 Mulberry handbag and refused to let go.
Kate was chatting with Daniel's mother, Lucy Williams, when the infant reached out and snatched the designer bag. Despite his mother's attempts to retrieve it, the giggling baby held on tightly, even trying to put the bag in his mouth. Lucy eventually managed to catch the bag before it fell to the ground and returned it to Kate.
Lucy, 30, whose mother-in-law survived the tragedy, described the moment as “memorable.” She said, “He just stole her handbag. He took a shine to it and she let him play with it.” Carole Williams, the baby's grandmother, called it “priceless – something to remember.”
The light-hearted incident occurred during a sombre visit to honour the 116 children and 28 adults killed when a waste tip slid down a mountain into Aberfan in 1966. The royal couple met with trustees of the Aberfan Memorial Trust and members of the Aberfan Wives group, who lost relatives in the disaster.
William and Kate laid a floral tribute reading “In loving memory” and bowed their heads in respect. The memorial garden, opened by the late Queen in 1974, stands on the site of the former Pantglas Primary School, which was engulfed by the slurry.
