Kate Middleton's Sock Factory Visit Has an Unexpected Connection to Her Family's Past

Yesterday, Kate Middleton made two stops during her first solo trip out of the country following her cancer battle: one at a children's hospice and the other at a sock factory in Wales. And while the latter engagement might seem like a random outing for the Princess of Wales, it actually makes a whole lot of sense. 

Visiting the Corgi's Ammanford, Wales factory—which specializes in handmade knitwear and socks— Princess Kate wore a recycled black-and-white plaid midi dress from Zara teamed with a creamy wool coat and hoop earrings while touring the factory floor and attempting to make her own pair of $270 cashmere socks that the company is known for. 

Middleton has had a longstanding interest in the textiles industry given her paternal ancestors's history. Her family previously owned a wool manufacturer and merchant, William Lupton & Co., based in Leeds, England. Kate’s great-grandfather Noel Middleton, who married Olive Lupton in 1914, was a director of the company. Noel and Olive had three sons—including Peter Middleton, Kate’s grandfather and dad to her father, Michael Middleton.

Back in September 2023, the Princess of Wales visited the textile mill, which was sold to AW Hainsworth in 1958. "She had had a chat with her parents, and they had been filling her in,” Rachel Taylor, a member of the Hainsworth family told People at the time. "They had obviously done some research. She spoke to a lot of people today. We were able to put a bit of bells and whistles onto that."

During her tour at Corgi's Ammanford, Middleton opened up about the importance of well-made clothing, revealing that she's already begun to archive Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis's outfits that "wore really well." She added that "it's so lovely to reuse the things that are well made." A motto she not only preaches, but also lives by.

Read the original article on InStyle