During the French state visit to the UK this week, Princess Catherine offered a brief, personal remark that quietly blended her academic past with her present-day role as a mother — and future queen.

On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron arrived at Windsor Castle, where they were greeted by senior members of the British royal family, including King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Catherine. It was the first French state visit to the UK in nearly two decades, and one that carried significant diplomatic symbolism.

While most attention focused on the formal proceedings — the speeches, the ceremonial welcomes, and the joint appearances — one offhand comment from the Princess of Wales offered a lighter, more personal moment.

While viewing an exhibit drawn from the Royal Collection, which featured historic portraits and items of state significance, Catherine paused in front of a painting of young King Louis XIV of France. Smiling, she reportedly quipped, “I should know.”

A quiet nod to art history and royal motherhood

Those three words were simple, but they carried layers of meaning. On one hand, the Princess of Wales holds a degree in art history from the University of St Andrews — the very institution where she met Prince William. On the other, she is also the mother of young Prince Louis, her third child with the future king.

In that moment, Catherine seemed to draw an unexpected bridge between 17th-century French royalty and her own 6-year-old son — a modern little prince whose cheeky expressions have become a fan favorite during public royal events.

It was a remark that underscored her personal connection to the art she was viewing, not only through formal study but through lived experience. The St Andrews curriculum covers everything from medieval religious iconography to Renaissance portraiture — precisely the type of works featured during the Macrons’ tour of Windsor Castle.