Kate Middleton is seen chatting to guests and enjoying a drink at 24-hour rave on Norfolk estate of her friend Rose Hanbury the Marchioness of Cholmondeley

Princess Kate was instantly taken aback with a drink that appears to have been taken at an exclusive 24-hour music festival in Norfolk last weekend.

In a photograph, believed to have been taken at the Houghton Festival, held on the land owned by Kate and William’s friends, the Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, the Princess of Wales was pictured enjoying the drink with two other guests.

Kate, 41, opted for casual wear but still looked chic. She wore a black long-sleeved top with a bardot neckline and black jeans with a belt around the waist.

She chose a familiar pair of Vejas, one of her favorite pairs of casual shoes, and wore her thick dark brown locks down and straight, hanging down her back. Rocking festival chic, she accessorized with gold statement earrings.

In the photo, which was shared on Twitter, the princess appears deep in conversation with her fellow festival-goers, carrying a short glass containing what appeared to be a cocktail.

The Princess’s visit to the high society event marked her first-ever festival – after she was reportedly convinced to attend by her friends, Rose and David Hambury, whose 1,000-acre estate hosted the event.

A source told the Daily Mail that the mother-of-three had been dining at Houghton Hall with the Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeley when a friend persuaded Princess Kate to attend.

“After dinner, one of the guests suggested that Catherine go to the festival,” the source said.

Catherine was nervous about the idea, but after much discussion with her security guards, she went with a lot of security. William wasn’t there.’

Billed as Britain’s only 24-hour music festival, it is the brainchild of DJ Craig Richards, who launched the event in 2017. Over 200 artists performed on 13 stages from last Thursday through Sunday, with music playing somewhere on the Houghton Estate grounds. time. More than 12,000 revelers were expected.

While Catherine is not known to have attended any festival before, she does enjoy dancing. Before she married into the royal family, she was pictured in 2008 attending a roller disco with friends, including the jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.

A Kensington Palace spokesman declined to comment, so it’s not clear why William didn’t join his wife. It was the Glorious Twelfth on Saturday, so the heir to the throne, a sharp shot, could have been grouse hunting with friends.

The Houghton Festival is held on the 400 acre Houghton Hall estate, owned by the Marchioness (right) and the Marquess of Cholmondeley

The Evening Standard also revealed this week that the Princess of Wales reportedly offered catering staff at the festival a £700 tip for the meal she ate during her visit.

On her night out, she is said to have avoided the festival’s food trucks, opting instead for the in-house restaurant Turntable & Napkin, where diners pay £60 each for a four-course meal.

“(Catherine) was in good spirits, ordering spicy margaritas, eating affogato (an Italian coffee-based dessert), and speaking graciously to the other members of her party,” the paper reported.

“Her companions apparently brought in a huge balthazar-sized bottle of AIX rosé and, along with Kate, tipped the festival restaurant staff £700.”

A balthazar is a 12 liter bottle and would cost around £500 in a wine shop.

Catherine’s lively night out is just the latest example of the warm friendship between the future King and Queen and the Cholmondeleys, nicknamed the ‘Turnip Toffs’, who live just a few miles from their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall.

Last September, the Marquess was replaced as Lord Great Chamberlain following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

However, King Charles made sure that the Marquis, aka filmmaker David Rocksavage, did not lose his intimate connection to the monarchy.

In March, I reported that the King had given the Marquess a new position that would see him and his wife, Bohemian former model Rose Hanbury, return to the heart of the royal court.

The King appointed the Marquess, 63, as his Lord-in-Waiting, a prestigious position that would see him attend important state and royal occasions, as well as being called upon to represent His Majesty at various events.

Rose married Rocksavage in 2009. He is 23 years her senior and friends had almost given up hope that he would ever get married.

Rose soon produced an heir and reserve, the twins Alexander and Oliver. Like Catherine, she has since given birth to a third child, Iris.