Princess Catherine SPOTTED On Rare Off-Duty Shopping Trip in Iconic Notting Hill, London!

She may be the future Queen, live in a palace, and be one of the most famous people on the planet, but it seems that the Princess of Wales is sometimes just like the rest of us. Of course, Catherine only became a member of the royal family when she married Prince William over 11 years ago in a huge ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Despite her now royal role, there have been many times the mum of three has mingled with the public and shown her relatable side.

Paparazzi in London yesterday captured Princess Catherine out shopping in Notting Hill to browse for spectacles at Finlay & Co. Opticians. It was a rare appearance from the royal mum of three, who is making a gradual return to royal duties while focusing on family as she adapts to life after treatment.

The account “Dooy” shared candid new photos of the royal in London’s Notting Hill neighborhood. She bundled up in a navy wrap coat and gray trousers. While it’s unclear exactly what she bought, the royal has worn the brand’s chic sunglasses on numerous occasions. In the pictures, Catherine can be seen through the shop’s windows, deep in thought while considering some glasses.

What really caught the eye was the taupe Smythson handbag she carried during her solo shopping outing. Although the Princess owns four items from the iconic British brand, her latest piece is a new-to-us crossbody design in the label’s mini style. This week’s surprising sighting brings an obvious question to mind: does the royal family do their own grocery shopping?

The answer is, on occasion—and it depends on the family member. It’s unlikely we’ll see more senior royals like the King and Queen frequenting their local grocery stores. Catherine, however, is known for being hands-on. Although the bag features a long strap, Catherine—more of a top-handle kind of girl—carried the leather piece by its handles as she left the shop, toting a Finlay carrier bag.

Although her bag was new, she paired her outfit with two older accessories: gold Kiki McDonough Lauren earrings and an old favorite plaid Aquascutum scarf she’s owned since at least 2011. She first wore it on her tour of Canada that year, making the cozy style older than her eldest child, Prince George, who was born in July 2013.

This isn’t the first time this month the royal has stepped out with a new bag. For her first engagement of 2025, the Princess debuted a cranberry-colored Smythson bag, carrying a bespoke version of the heritage brand’s Morgan style. Like Asprey, Smythson has a long history of creating British luxury goods, with the brand dating back to 1887.

Princess Catherine was once reportedly spotted grocery shopping while eight months pregnant at a Waitrose supermarket in Norfolk, England. A shopper saw the Duchess of Cambridge filling up her cart in one of the aisles. She was later spotted loading up her Range Rover with groceries, all consciously packed in reusable bags.

The pregnant Duchess, who sported a blush pink coat, turtleneck sweater, black skinny jeans, and wedge booties, was accompanied by a bodyguard for the errand run. Catherine has been seen in supermarket aisles before. She was photographed at the Waitrose in Anglesey a week after her royal wedding in 2011, and later at Tesco in North Wales that same year.

In 2022, the Duchess of Cambridge was spotted at the Peter Jones department store in Chelsea on a Friday morning. She dressed casually but stylishly for the excursion, pairing skinny jeans with a Ralph Lauren sweater, Massimo Dutti coat, and Blundstone boots. She wore her hair down, styled in her signature flowing waves.

Catherine was last photographed out shopping in March 2020. For the low-key errand, she donned a chic baby-blue Mulberry overcoat, matching knit turtleneck, dark-wash skinny jeans, black leather loafers, and a crossbody bag. She accessorized with dainty hoop earrings and styled her hair in her usual waves.

Reports stated the Duchess was visiting Waterstones, a bookstore near Kensington Palace, where she resides with Prince William and their children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Catherine was reportedly looking for history and military-themed books for children, presumably to take back home to her family. Her shopping excursion was a rare moment of downtime for the royal.