The Princess of Wales debuted a new Burberry dress for a Windsor Castle tea party with people she met while doing the Three Peaks Challenge in June.
Kensington Palace released photos from the event today, although it took place on September 15. The Palace also shared a video on social media.
It was a pleasure to welcome other Three Peaks Challenge participants and their families to Windsor Castle. Behind every summit was a personal story of resilience, determination and hope. Listening to their experiences of the challenge and their reasons for taking it on was a… pic.twitter.com/fzKZIJx6od
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 25, 2026
Here is the message accompanying the video. The “C” signature indicates it was personally written by the Princess. 
The challenge is described as “one of the UK’s ultimate outdoor endurance events, requiring participants to summit the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales within 24 hours.” The Princess completed the challenge to raise money for the Royal Marsden Hospital, where she received treatment for cancer in 2024. Here you see the Princess during the challenge, at the Ben Nevis summit in Scotland. 
This Daily Telegraph article tells us more about one of the tea party attendees.
The Princess had first encountered Ted, who was left paralysed by a spinal tumour aged three, and his family in the mist on Ben Nevis.
The Princess commended his efforts, telling him at the time: “I’m so impressed, really – you’ve made it to the second peak. Super, well done you. We’ll be cheering you on. Hopefully we’ll see you on Snowdon. Good luck.”
Here you see Ted, who was pushed and carried on the challenge by a team of 17 family members and friends, including his father, Pete. 
Ted was raising money through the challenge as well, asking for donations to Molly Ollys, an organization supporting “…children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to help with their emotional well-being.” So far, Ted’s still-active Just Giving fundraiser has raised more than £26,000. Below you see Ted and his team during the challenge. 
We return to the Telegraph piece.
The Princess donated to Ted’s cause on Just Giving, leaving a message that said: “One of the real highlights of the Three Peaks Challenge was meeting inspiring people like you along the way. “Huge congratulations to Ted, Pete and the entire team for raising money for such a wonderful cause.”
Above you see Ted and other guests at Windsor Castle with the Princess last week. This USA Today story offers details on the conversation.
Kate spent around 20 minutes catching up with the Haslam family. “She told Ted that she saw us both on TV and asked if he got nervous,” Haslam tells USA TODAY in an interview Sept. 25. Kate then admitted to the family, “I always get nervous when I go on TV.”
Haslam and a group of 17 people completed the challenge in under 30 hours in June, pushing and pulling Ted in his wheelchair as they scaled the mountains. Haslam said the tea party was “a lovely experience” and that the family was even given a private tour of the historic castle after they had finished devouring the royal sweet treats.
Another guest at the party was Trish Patterson, who didn’t just walk the course; she ran it. She is in the center of the photo below. 
Ms. Patterson raised money for Mind over Mountains, a mental health charity the Princess visited in Northern England this January, shown in this photo.
We learn details from this Daily Echo piece.
Trish Patterson, 41, of Hythe, took on the National Three Peaks Challenge, running between the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales in five days and 21 hours.
She set a new female world record for the route, beating the previous best by more than eight hours.
And the Princess also invited nine-year-old Albie-Junior Thomas (right), who was born without a fibula and had his foot amputated when he was a toddler. He is shown below with Ted Haslam (left). 
Albie-Junior completed the challenge in August, raising money for his local football club. 
Below are Albie-Junior and family members at the tea. 
And now for a quick overview of what Kate wore for the tea party. The Princess wore a new Burberry dress for the tea party, similar to the brand’s “Amelia” dress ($2295). That piece is crafted from 100% wool in a tailored design featuring a fit-and-flare silhouette with a twist-lock belt, a concealed back zipper, and side-seam pockets. Below, I show an off-the-rack brown version at Bloomingdale’s ($2295) for comparison. The Princess’s design has long sleeves, and her belt is made of the same fabric as the dress. 
The Princess wore the Amelia in a navy tonal Prince of Wales check for the Germany state visit welcome last December. 
The Princess could have been wearing a new pair of Gianvito Rossi 85 Pumps ($850), as suggested by Middleton Maven, seen on the left. Or she could have been in her Gianvito 105 pumps ($850) in burgundy suede. 
From what I could see, it looks like the Princess brought back her Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoops ($295) with the brand’s Baby Shamrock Charms ($245), both in 9-carat recycled gold. 
If anyone is curious about the table service, Kristin Contino has background on it in this Marie Claire story.
As they sipped tea and ate pastries, participants used some very special china.
The Princess of Wales used a teapot, plates, cups and saucers inspired by the Queen Mother’s botanical porcelain collection. The late royal’s original pieces were made around 1750 by Chelsea Porcelain, England’s first porcelain factory, but the ones Kate chose for the tea party are available for sale from Buckingham Palace’s online shop.
Here is a photo from last week. 
