Princess of Wales welcomes Bill Gates's ex-wife to Windsor Castle for confidential talks

The Princess of Wales welcomed American philanthropist Melinda French Gates to Windsor Castle on Tuesday morning for a confidential meeting between two of the world's most prominent charitable figures.

Catherine, 44, received the billionaire in her capacity as joint patron of the Royal Foundation, the primary charitable vehicle she oversees alongside Prince William.

Ms Gates, 61, attended representing Pivotal, the organisation she established in 2015 to advance social progress for women and young people globally.

The engagement was recorded in the Court Circular, though no photographs were released and the specific topics discussed remain undisclosed.

This marks their second consecutive annual meeting at the Berkshire residence.

Ms Gates departed the Gates Foundation, which she co-founded with her former husband, in 2024 to pursue independent philanthropic work.

Her continued access to royal circles stands in stark contrast to Bill Gates.

He was among several high-profile figures mentioned in the Epstein files, though inclusion in the files is not, in itself, evidence of criminal conduct.

Mr Gates, who voluntarily testified before Congress this month about his past dealings with Epstein, has denied involvement in any illegal activity and said he deeply regrets meeting him.

The 70-year-old tech billionaire appeared before the House Oversight Committee earlier this month as part of its investigation into Epstein and the US Government's handling of the scandal.

A transcript released this week revealed Mr Gates accused the paedophile financier of attempting to blackmail him over extramarital relationships.

Mr Gates acknowledged to Congress that he had affairs with two Russian women, one a bridge player and another a nuclear physicist, as well as a third liaison with a medical entrepreneur.

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He described meeting Epstein, who was imprisoned in 2008 for soliciting a child for prostitution, as "a grave error in judgment" while denying any wrongdoing or knowledge of the predator's abuse.

Bill and Melinda French Gates finalised their divorce on August 2, 2021, after 27 years of marriage.

They originally announced their separation a few months prior, on May 3, 2021.

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