Prince William and Kate’s Former Staffer Shares Details About Their ‘Spooky’ Halloween Party
Every year, millions of people celebrate Halloween, including some members of the royal family.
It’s been reported that over the years Prince William and the Princess of Wales’ (formerly known as Kate Middleton) children have gone trick-or-treating, although they managed to keep what type of costumes Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis wore each year under wraps.
In 2019, Kate was spotted in a Norfolk supermarket not far from their Anmer Hall home shopping for Halloween costumes with her two eldest children. A woman named Kathy Whittaker told several media outlets: “I didn’t see what she actually bought … Kate was asking her children what they were going to be for Halloween.”
While we know King Charles and Queen Camilla aren’t giving out candy at the Palace gates, someone who used to work for the family was asked what the royals do on the spooky holiday. Here’s what they said.
What do the royals do for Halloween?
Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler from 2004 to 2011. During his time working for now-King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla (formerly known as Camilla Parker Bowles), his duties included those of valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver as well. He also looked after Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate whenever they stayed at Highgrove House.
The former royal employee explained that the holiday was just another day for some royals.
“From my experience, the senior royals — King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the late Queen Elizabeth II — didn’t celebrate it extensively. They wouldn’t experience trick-or-treaters for obvious reasons,” Harrold said per Slingo.
However, other members of the family enjoyed it and had some holiday traditions of their own.
“There were staff parties, and staff were encouraged to have fun and attend events,” Harrold remembered. “The younger royals — Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Harry — used to go off to Halloween parties or have one themselves with their friends.”
One of Prince William and Kate’s Halloween parties stands out
The former butler recalled one party the now-Prince and Princess of Wales threw several years back when he worked for them in Scotland.
Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins, Harrold shared with Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “The younger royals used to get away for Halloween most years, and I’d often go up to Scotland with Prince William and Catherine. One year that stands out was 2009, when they hosted a Halloween party at one of the remote cabins on the estate. It was a secluded spot, perfect for a private gathering.
“Another butler and I handled the decorations, decking the place out with cobwebs, fake spiders–plenty of spooky touches to set the mood. The meal itself wasn’t Halloween-themed, but we made sure the cabin looked the part. They invited a small group of close friends — about 12 people in total. It wasn’t a fancy-dress event; everyone came in smart casual clothes, jeans and shirts. I’m not sure if Prince Harry was there that night, but William usually made a point of inviting him to these kinds of things.”
