Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, loves washing dishes, while Prince William does the drying; continues Queen Elizabeth’s unexpected household tradition

Royal life may involve palaces, state occasions and formal engagements, but Kate Middleton has revealed that one of her favourite household routines is surprisingly ordinary: doing the dishes. The Princess of Wales opened up about her family’s kitchen routine during a visit to a community lunch club in Pulborough, West Sussex, where she spoke with elderly residents and volunteers. Kate said she enjoys washing up, while Prince William takes responsibility for drying the dishes, with their children also joining in.

Kate Middleton reveals her family’s dishwashing routine

“He does the drying. We are a good double act. And we get the children involved,” Kate said. The casual revelation offered an unusually relatable glimpse into the family’s life away from royal engagements. Kate Middleton made comments while visiting the West Sussex Minibus service on September 30. The volunteer-run organisation helps older residents travel to shops, lunch clubs and other community activities, particularly those who may otherwise face isolation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

When the conversation turned to household chores, Kate said: “I love washing up. I really do.” She then explained that William helps with the chore by doing the drying, while their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are also involved. The revelation quickly became one of the lighter moments of Kate’s public appearance, giving people a glimpse of an everyday family routine that is far removed from the formal duties associated with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Why Kate was visiting the community lunch club

The dishwashing conversation came during an engagement focused on something much more serious: helping older people stay connected to their communities. Kate travelled on one of the West Sussex Minibus vehicles and helped pick up 94-year-old Stella Drewett from her home before joining her at the weekly lunch. Drewett, a retired school cook and new user of the service, joked that the weekly outing meant she had “one day of not cooking”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

The Princess later joined around 50 residents at Pulborough Village Hall for lunch, where she chatted with guests and shared crisps at the table. The Independent reported that Kate described the gathering as “a lovely way to make friends” and heard from residents about how much the weekly event meant to them.

The service helping older residents stay connected

The West Sussex Minibus service is marking its 50th anniversary this year. What began with one volunteer and a single minibus has grown into a service operating across eight village hubs. According to reports, it now has 11 minibuses and 284 volunteers, providing around 13,000 journeys a year. The service helps residents who might otherwise struggle to access transport and gives them opportunities to take part in regular social activities. That focus on social connection was central to Kate’s conversation with residents. She noted that many people can feel “isolated and cut off” in their communities and highlighted the importance of places where people can regularly meet.

A glimpse into the Wales family’s everyday life

Kate’s comments about washing up also fit with previous descriptions of the Waleses as a hands-on family. Prince William has previously spoken about the importance of balancing royal duties with family life. In a 2025 interview with actor Eugene Levy, he said that he and Kate are regularly involved in school drop-offs and pick-ups and described family as the most important part of his life.

Kate has similarly spoken about wanting to pass on some of the experiences she had growing up to her own children, including cooking, gardening and creative activities. Her latest comments add another small detail to that picture: household chores are apparently part of the family routine too.

Kate and William’s ‘good double act’

For the public, the image of Kate washing dishes while William dries them may be an unexpectedly ordinary one for a future king and queen. But that was perhaps what made the moment stand out. During an engagement centred on community, friendship and everyday connections, Kate moved the conversation from royal life to something familiar to millions of families. Her simple description of herself and William as a “good double act” offered a light-hearted glimpse of life at home and a reminder that even behind the formal titles, some family routines are remarkably familiar.