Kate Middleton and Melania Trump’s Outing with Kids Included an ‘Unfiltered’ Question for First Lady 

Kate Middleton and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump spent a morning with young Scouts for their first joint public engagement.

The Princess of Wales, 43, hosted Trump, 55, for a walk in the gardens of Frogmore House at Windsor Estate on Thursday, Sept. 18, just hours after attending a royal banquet at Windsor Castle.

The two then joined Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and children ages 4 to 6—Squirrel Scouts from Lewisham in south-east London—for outdoor activities. The kids played parachute games, painted leaves, and built bug hotels. The morning focused on nature and outdoor learning, giving Princess Kate a chance to highlight the Scouts’ work and her own love for the outdoors.

Fields told PEOPLE, “The Princess of Wales is absolutely incredible with our young people. I’ve seen her work with them before — she interacts very personally, she loves to exchange stories and she loves to talk to them and hear the same.”

“The princess always mentions her young children,” he added, referring to Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. “It’s clear that as a mom, that’s something really special to her. Sharing stories about her own children with young people helps build a connection.”

Fields said Melania Trump was similarly engaged. “She asked lots of questions, and the young people were willing to talk to her. They even made some artwork together. She really enjoyed it and said some of the art reminded her of when she was younger.”

The children were working toward their “Go Wild” badges, learning about nature and the world around them. Fields shared a funny moment: “One child asked Mrs. Trump, ‘Are you the next princess?’ It shows how little they understood the situation.”

Fields added, “Being with young people is beautiful because they’re unfiltered. They’ll say what they think and ask questions. Encouraging them helps them grow into confident, strong young people.”

Kate is known for connecting with kids. “She shared a story about collecting conkers with her children, which matched what the kids were talking about,” Fields said. “It made her approachable and showed she’s a mom, just like Mrs. Trump.”

The two women were very warm with each other, Fields said. “They gave so much of themselves. Even though the kids might have been overwhelmed, they were calm and happy throughout the day.”

Both mothers sat down with the children to connect. “The princess didn’t stand over them; she sat on the grass and connected with them through eye contact,” Fields said. “Melania did something similar, sitting on a chair and asking lots of questions. It made the kids feel comfortable.”

At the end of the morning, the first lady and Princess Kate handed out badges to the children, and the Scouts gave each woman a ‘Squirrels’ patch. Fields also gave Melania a chief scout scarf as a special gift to take back to the U.S.

Fields said, “Today was amazing. Having the Princess of Wales, our first female joint president, with us is always special. Having the first lady of the U.S. join us, especially with our youngest Squirrel Scouts, made it even more memorable.”

He added, “The kids might not realize now how special today was, but when they look back at the pictures, they’ll understand. It’s wonderful to showcase scouting, and having both the Princess and the first lady here shines a big spotlight on the work we do.”