Fans have been delighted to see Kate Middleton back to work this year following her brave battle with cancer in 2024. And Kate, 43, has recently launched a new campaign, the Shaping Us project, through her Royal Foundation Centre For Early Childhood, which aims to help the development of babies and young children.
And insiders tell Closer that the Princess of Wales is planning on enlisting the help of celebrities to push the campaign further, and that one of those being eyed up for the role is TV presenter Holly Willoughby.
A source says, ‘Kate is back and hitting the ground running. She’s keen to expand her Shaping Us project and get the campaign out there in places it will have the most impact. She believes in the campaign so much – it’s not a vanity project for her.
‘And she knows the power of celebrity. Her team want to reach out to Holly – they think she would be perfect – and she wants to message personally. They’ve met before and the pair got on really well. Kate knows Holly would love to do it, and the presenter is at the top of her list.’
Kate – who is mum to George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis with her husband of almost 14 years, Prince William, 42 – and fellow mum-of-three Holly, 44, first met in 2015, when the former This Morning presenter was hosting the Fostering Excellence Awards and Kate was the guest of honour.
While Holly admitted she ‘got a bit nervous and kept talking’, she did reveal that their meeting was ‘very exciting. You know I always speak about her an awful lot. I’m a huge fan of hers. My mum was with me, and she was just so amazing. I know they always say don’t meet the people you hold up high, but I have to say, she didn’t disappoint.’
Two years later, Holly revealed in an interview, ‘Kate would be my number one dream dinner party guest. She is living the princess dream; she is just a normal girl who fell in love, so I have got lots of questions for her.’
The pair also crossed paths when Holly interviewed Kate on This Morning back in 2020 to promote her lockdown photography exhibit. She’s also had links with other royals – working as an ambassador for The King’s Trust, set up by King Charles – as well as being a patron of Children’s Hospice UK.
And a source tells Closer, ‘Kate really likes Holly. They’ve worked together before and Kate thinks she’s a great figurehead as TV’s golden girl. Holly is a mum who’s juggled a family with working really hard. She’s always come out of the scandals with her head held high – she’s trustworthy, doesn’t gossip and Kate respects that. She’s got a great profile – respected by mums and everyone in the TV industry, despite obvious turbulence in recent years.
‘Kate thinks Holly would jump at the chance. She knows how enthusiastic she is about working for charity and using her position to do some good.’
But Holly isn’t the only celebrity that Kate has in mind for a role in the project. According to the source, the princess has a list of names in mind to give the campaign ‘a boost’ – another of which being Giovanna Fletcher, who worked with Kate when the pair recorded a special episode of her podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby back in 2020.
Speaking on the Invite Only podcast in March 2024, Giovanna revealed, ‘She’s just brilliant. From the first time I met her to now, I’m still blown away by her ability to connect with everyone. She cares about her legacy and I think that will only mean great things for future generations.’
The source confirms, ‘Kate loves Giovanna and the pair get on like a house on fire. She feels Holly and Giovanna are both inspirational mums and would be a fantastic pairing. Whoever she ends up working with, Kate wants to make a real difference and for this to be her legacy, now and going forward as Queen.’