Princess Catherine is said to have celebrated her 44th birthday with a low-key outing at a small French bistro in England. Kate, who turned 44 last Friday, reportedly dined at The Funghi Club in Hungerford, Berkshire, an area close to her childhood home in Bucklebury.
She was joined by her mother, Carole, 70, and her younger sister, Pippa, 42, for the intimate celebration.
The Bistro’s Enthusiastic Reaction
The Funghi Club later shared their excitement about the royal visit on Facebook, describing it as a memorable moment for the team.
“Every now and then something happens that sends a little fizz of excitement through the whole place and this week delivered a corker,” the restaurant wrote.
“Last Friday, in our teeny Hungerford Bistro, we had the enormous pleasure of welcoming a rather extraordinary guest…
“None other than the Princess of Wales herself, Berkshire’s very own Kate Middleton, celebrating her 44th birthday, joined by her mother Carole and sister Pippa.
“No photos to share (you’ll understand why), but the entire team on duty reported the same thing: she was utterly charming, gracious and every bit as radiant in person as you’d imagine.”
The post concluded by calling Kate’s visit a “moment of magic” that the staff “won’t forget in a hurry.”
The Funghi Club is known for serving classic French dishes at relatively modest prices. Main courses such as boeuf bourguignon and steak and kidney pudding are listed at under $42, adding to the charm of the unpretentious setting.
Mixed Reactions Online
The bistro’s post quickly attracted attention online, with many people congratulating the team on hosting such a notable guest. However, others took issue with how the Princess was referred to.
“That is the HRH Princess of Wales, you would think you would have some respect,” one commenter complained.
“Catherine has been married over a decade. She no longer goes by Middleton. You should be more respectful,” another added.
“That’s great – but she is not Kate Middleton. Get it right,” said a third.
A fourth person went further, writing: “Well I hope she never visits again! How exceedingly rude to divulge a very private occasion! The royal family have so little chance to relax like the rest of us, but you just see it as an advertising opportunity! Not nice.”
Others Defend the Bistro
Not everyone agreed with the criticism, and several commenters came to the restaurant’s defence.