Kate meets with Melinda Gates just weeks after Meghan and Harry strike deal with Bill Gates' ex-assistant

The engagement marked Kate's first official activity in her capacity as patron of the Royal Foundation, the charitable organisation she leads alongside Prince William.

According to the Court Circular, which formally records royal engagements, the Prince of Wales accompanied his wife for the meeting with the former spouse of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

The private nature of the discussion meant the specific purpose of their meeting has not been disclosed.

The Royal Foundation serves as the primary charitable vehicle for the Prince and Princess of Wales, concentrating on initiatives related to early childhood development and mental health support.

Gates, who established Pivotal Ventures to promote gender equality across the United States, brings her own philanthropic expertise to the table.

The American philanthropist's organisation focuses specifically on advancing opportunities for women, though how this might align with the Royal Foundation's objectives remains unclear.

Both women share established track records in charitable endeavours, with their respective organisations addressing social issues through different approaches and geographical focuses.

Whilst it remains uncertain whether the Princess and Gates have collaborated previously, the philanthropist has crossed paths with Prince William before.

In 2014, William presented Gates with the prestigious Chatham House prize, establishing a connection between the American philanthropist and the royal family over a decade ago.

The timing of this meeting comes merely a month after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recruited Sarah Fosmo, Gates's former assistant, as a senior adviser to Meghan.

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Fosmo, who spent six years at Gates Ventures managing operations for the Microsoft founder, will oversee what has been described as a "dynamic period of growth" for the Duchess.

The Duchess of Sussex's new adviser will guide her through the launch of her Netflix series "With Love, Meghan", her As Ever product line and her podcast "Confessions of a Female Founder".

Fosmo, 45, describes herself as "an accomplished professional with an extensive, long-tenured career managing complex, high-stakes operations for ultra-high net worth individuals".

She previously worked for motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a senior executive assistant for seven years.

Prince Harry has also appointed Lianne Cashin, who previously served as executive assistant to his former chief of staff Josh Kettler.