Kate Middleton Acted as a Museum Curator, and Princess Charlotte May Have Inspired One of Her Exhibit Picks

Kate Middleton has taken on a new creative role — this time, as a museum curator.

The Princess of Wales, 43, curated a special collection of artifacts for the V&A East Storehouse in London following her June visit to the new branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her display, titled “Makers and Creators,” is now on view as part of the museum’s free self-guided experience and will remain open to the public through early 2026.

Working alongside the museum’s curatorial team, Princess Kate selected pieces from across the V&A’s vast collection to reflect how individual objects can collectively tell stories about culture, creativity, and society. According to the museum, the display encourages visitors to explore the ways “our social and cultural experiences contribute to the wider tapestry of life.”

A standout piece in the princess’s curated collection is a costume designed by Oliver Messel for the Fairy of the Woodland Glades — worn in the Royal Ballet’s 1960 production of The Sleeping Beauty. The choice may have been inspired by her 10-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte, who has a well-documented love of ballet. The mother-daughter duo previously attended a performance of The Nutcracker together, where, according to one eyewitness, Charlotte “sat very still, completely enchanted.”

Other items in Kate’s display include a watercolor by beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter, a childhood photo album belonging to Potter’s father Rupert, a Qing dynasty porcelain vase (circa 1662–1722), and a hand-quilted Welsh bedcover from the early 1800s — a nod to Kate’s title and heritage. The collection also features a mid-20th-century sculpture by Clemence Dane and a Morris & Co. screen designed in the 1880s by J.H. Dearle, assistant to famed designer William Morris.

During her visit to the Storehouse, Kate was shown how museum items are selected, conserved, and made accessible to the public. She also met with members of the museum’s collections access team and previewed some of the items that made it into her final display. The V&A’s “Order an Object” service allows the public to request free access to any item in the collection, including those featured in the princess’s selection.

Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, praised Kate’s enthusiasm and curatorial instincts.

“She’s got both great passion and knowledge in material culture,” he told PEOPLE. “She was particularly excited about the textiles — the woven silks, William Morris wallpapers — and she was incredibly focused and energetic throughout the visit.”

Hunt also noted Kate’s keen interest in photography, adding that she was “strangely knowledgeable about camera types” and enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at how museum collections come together.

Princess Kate has served as Royal Patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum since 2018. Last year, she helped open the Young V&A, a children-focused museum featuring interactive exhibits designed to spark creativity in kids up to age 14.

Her Makers and Creators exhibit is one of more than 100 evolving displays at the V&A East Storehouse — offering a window into the museum’s national collection, which spans fashion, theater, design, and more.