Kate Middleton and Melinda French Gates have partnered up for a shared cause. The Princess of Wales and the billionaire philanthropist had a meeting earlier this month in London to explore a common interest: the health and performance of young people.
© PoolMiddleton and French Gates' meeting took place on October 8th, and it occurred behind closed doors. Today, it was discussed by Christian Guy, the executive director of The Royal Foundation, a charity shared by Middleton and Prince William. He revealed that The Royal Foundation was partnering with Pivotal, French Gates' organization, which she founded in 2015 to advance social progress for women and young people.
“What gave the session particular energy was a shared belief that while today’s children face considerable challenges, they also carry extraordinary potential,” wrote Guy on LinkedIn. “With supportive relationships, a sense of belonging and opportunities to discover who they are and what they might contribute, every young person can build the confidence, resilience and sense of purpose they need for the future.”
© GC Images"We are so grateful for the vision, ambition and commitment that both The Princess and Melinda bring to this work."
Middleton and French Gates have long dedicated their efforts to young people, working with their organizations to provide more opportunities for this demographic.
"Their leadership reflects a belief that change is possible, and that investing in the healthy development of children and young people is one of the most powerful investments we can make for our world today and tomorrow," concluded Guy.
Middleton and French Gates' history
© CAMERA PRESS/ROTAMiddleton and French Gates have met previously, including a visit from French Gates at Windsor Castle earlier this year. In 2025, French Gates met the Prince and Princess of Wales in that same setting, marking Middleton's return to public duties following her break due to her cancer treatment.
French Gates is the former wife of Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft. She addressed the notorious split in her book, "The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward."
She has called her divorce the "lowest moment" of her life. "That wasn't something I ever thought would happen to me," she said in an interview with USA Today. "It certainly wasn't what I thought on the day I got married, but I realized for myself, I needed to make a healthier choice, and that was just a very, very sad day."
© Kevin Mazur
