Kate Middleton meets very surprising guest during royal visit - and Charlotte would be jealous!

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge takes a tour of the Ulster University Magee Campus on September 29, 2021 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland
(Image credit: Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Kate Middleton has been introduced to an unusual guest during her and Prince William’s trip to Northern Ireland and Princess Charlotte might be jealous.

Kate Middleton and Prince William might have only just delighted royal fans with their appearance at the No Time To Die premiere in London, but they have now made the trip over to Northern Ireland. The royal couple are senior members of The Firm and have travelled to Derry-Londonderry to meet with young people and discover how organisations are working across communities.

During this trip they met, in person, the nursing students they previously spoke to via video call about their experiences studying and undertaking placements during the pandemic. 

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Taking to Twitter, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official account declared, ‘It’s great to be back in Northern Ireland for a day in Derry-Londonderry hearing from young people about how life has been during the pandemic and meeting organisations working across communities.

And it was during a tour of Ulster University's Magee Campus that Kate also got to meet a rather surprising guest - a tarantula named Charlotte. In a follow-up post, the Cambridges shared a snap of Kate holding Charlotte gently in her hand, as William looked on, appearing impressed. 

A surprise guest appearance from Charlotte the tarantula’, the caption explained, including a very appropriate spider emoji.

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Though the eight-legged creature might not be everyone’s favourite animal, there’s one person in particular who would likely have been delighted to hold Charlotte herself - none other than Kate and William’s 6-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte. 

The Queen’s great-grandchild has previously revealed her love of spiders during a video Q&A with Sir David Attenborough. And it’s understood that Kate and Charlotte shared the surprising lockdown hobby of searching for spiders outside. Royal fans were certainly delighted to see Kate interacting with Charlotte the tarantula and noticed the sweet link.

I am sure Charlotte will be jealous!’ one person wrote excitedly. 

How sweet that the tarantula is called Charlotte and Princess Charlotte’s favourite animals are spiders’, another fan shared. 

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge handles a tarantula called Charlotte

Meanwhile, a third person wrote, ‘Aww this is too sweet! I bet Princess Charlotte would be so happy to share her name with a spider’. 

And someone else agreed, commenting, ‘I’m sure Princess Charlotte will love to know that there’s a tarantula with her name and to see the pictures of her mother holding her! She loves spiders’. 

It’s not been confirmed how Charlotte the tarantula got her name. Though some fans speculated that she could’ve been named for the titular spider from E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web.

Either way, Princess Charlotte will likely be excited to hear all about this special guest when Prince William and Kate Middleton return home.

Emma Shacklock
Senior Lifestyle Writer

Emma is a Senior Lifestyle Writer with six years of experience working in digital publishing, ranging from book publishing to magazines. She currently looks after all things Lifestyle for Woman&Home, Goodto.com, and My Imperfect Life.