Princess Kate Explains Why She and Prince William Had to Keep Recent Outing ‘a Big Secret’

Leaving the kids at home, Princess Kate and Prince William headed to London’s Royal Albert Hall Nov. 19 for the Royal Variety Performance. There, the pair, both 43, eagerly met one of the charity event’s many celebs, a diminutive bear from darkest Peru named Paddington, according to Daily Mail. The beloved children’s character at the center of Michael Bond’s many books and three hit movies wore his customary duffle coat and battered hat — and of course, brought along his favorite marmalade sandwich.

“Can I shake your hand? Your sandwich looks very nice,” William asked the bear, adding that the treat “looks very yummy.”

Earlier, Kate confessed to two young attendees that she’d have to keep the meet-up from her children until the show airs on Britain’s ITVX Dec. 21. The mom to George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and 7-year-old Louis explained that her “kiddies” would be sad to miss the show, adding, “We are going to have to keep it a big secret.”

Paddington is no stranger to royalty, having costarred with none other than the late Queen Elizabeth II in a skit commemorating her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. In it, the pair shared tea at Buckingham Palace, where he kindly offered her — what else? — a marmalade sandwich. Whereupon the monarch surprised him by pulling one out of her famous Launer handbag, confessing, “I keep mine in here, for later.”