Why Kate Middleton Isn’t With the Queen and Other Royals in Balmoral

While most members of Queen Elizabeth II’s immediate family traveled to Balmoral, Scotland to be with her amid news that she is under medical supervision, Kate Middleton stayed behind in Windsor—for a very understandable reason: to take care of her and Prince William’s three children.

This afternoon in the U.K., Kate was photographed leaving the Windsor Castle grounds, where her and William’s new residence Adelaide Cottage is located. She was spotted driving a car to pick up her kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis after their first day at Lambrook School. The family of five took photos together yesterday while settling in ahead of classes today.

Kate, in the photo taken today, appeared stoic at the wheel of the car, with her hair down straight.

Prince William traveled solo to Balmoral to be with the Queen, where he joined his father Prince Charles, his stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and his brother Prince Harry. It is unclear at this point whether Kate and the kids will travel to Balmoral later today or if they will remain in Windsor for now.

Kate and William recently relocated from London to Windsor. At the end of August, the couple shared the news through Kensington Palace and announced their children’s new schools amid the move.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have today announced that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will attend Lambrook School in Berkshire from September 2022,” Kensington Palace said in a statement. “Their Royal Highnesses are hugely grateful to Thomas’s Battersea where George and Charlotte have had a happy start to their education since 2017 and 2019 respectively and are pleased to have found a school for all three of their children which shares a similar ethos and values to Thomas’s.”