Since the Princess of Wales’s early 2024 cancer diagnosis, Prince William and Kate Middleton have reduced their travel, allowing for more time with their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, as senior royals, they will inevitably have to take more trips away from home.
During the pandemic, William and Kate enjoyed a year or two of being at home with their children without traveling. While Prince Louis is still waiting for his first trip, Prince George and Princess Charlotte have joined them on several excursions.
Although the Prince and Princess of Wales haven’t been away from their children for long, leaving them is always difficult for any parent. A royal expert noted that Kate Middleton struggled with similar feelings during a 2022 overseas tour.
As senior members of the Royal Family, Prince William and Kate Middleton represent the monarchy on both national and international stages. They have traveled abroad for official duties with their two oldest children, while Prince Louis is still looking forward to his first royal tour.
Thankfully, when the children aren’t traveling with their parents, William and Kate have ample support. Their nanny, Maria Borrallo, along with family members—especially from Kate’s side—are always ready to lend a hand.
Carole and Michael Middleton have been steadfast in their support of their daughter and her siblings, relishing their role as grandparents. They are actively involved in raising Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, along with Kate’s sister Pippa’s three children and brother James’s baby boy. The children frequently enjoy time with their grandparents in Berkshire, close to Adelaide Cottage.
During Kate’s recovery from cancer, Carole and Michael were essential in caring for George, Charlotte, and Louis.
“Her parents are a steady presence in their grandchildren’s lives,” a source shared with People magazine. “They will provide comfort when she returns to Windsor to heal.”
George, Charlotte, and Louis are truly lucky to have such a large and loving family to spend time with.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Kate Middleton at Trooping the Colour.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
James Middleton, Kate’s brother, shared with The Telegraph that George, Charlotte, and Louis frequently have playdates and keep their cousin Inigo entertained. He mentioned that the royal siblings all contribute to looking after Inigo.
Currently, James noted, there are seven cousins, and they seem to be quite amused by Inigo’s playful mess. “There’s a lot of laughter and giggles,” he added.
While Prince George understands that he will one day be king, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will have different roles within the Royal Family. Like Prince Harry, they are siblings to a future monarch. Royal analyst Jennie Bond noted that Prince William and Kate Middleton are aware of this dynamic and are working to ensure Charlotte and Louis don’t feel like “spares” like their uncle.
“They have already demonstrated a modern approach to raising royal children, and I’m sure they will do everything to make Charlotte and Louis feel just as special, loved, and valued as George,” Bond told the Mirror.
It’s likely they will encourage Louis to explore paths outside the royal family, whether it’s military service, charity work, or other interests he may have after school. They will probably also support him in attending university, which they both enjoyed and where they found love.
Prince Louis, Kate Middleton
WPA Pool/Getty Images // Daniel Leal
The royal expert remarked, “They will want him to lead a meaningful life befitting the son of a future king. Their aim is to help him feel that his life has significance, regardless of his position in the line of succession. This may include a focus on service, as they emphasize the importance of empathy—not just as a virtue, but as something that brings fulfillment.”
“William and Kate don’t want history to repeat itself.”
William and Kate may encourage Louis to explore new activities and interests outside of royal life, as Bond suggested. If he remains within the monarchy, he will undoubtedly be given prominent roles and titles.
Bond isn’t the only one predicting Louis’s future role outside of royal duties. Camilla Tominey, royal analyst and associate editor at The Telegraph, shared with OK! that Prince William and Kate Middleton will encourage Charlotte and Louis to pursue their own careers if they choose.
“[William and Kate] want to avoid history repeating itself and don’t want Prince Louis to be seen as just a royal hanger-on, following the Duke of York’s path,” she explained to The Telegraph.
“Many of the lesser-known royals have their own careers, so they aren’t solely reliant on taxpayer funding,” she added. “The Cambridges’ efforts to normalize their children’s lives suggest that while Prince George has a clear future ahead, Princess Charlotte and Louis are encouraged to forge their own paths.”
Tominey concluded: “They need to find the right balance between their children’s personal aspirations and their royal duties.”
The Real Reason Prince Louis Misses Royal Events
Prince Louis will join his parents and siblings for future trips, though William and Kate won’t always accompany them. They seem to understand the realities of public life.
According to royal expert Lizzie Robinson on True Royalty TV’s The Royal, Louis is seldom seen because the Prince and Princess of Wales are “careful” about introducing him to public engagements.
“They’ve been very thoughtful about how they manage this and the events they choose to attend,” Robinson explained. “They evaluate each occasion individually. Louis’s absence indicates they are considering what’s best for each child at the right time. His opportunity will come.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton have always enjoyed sports and exercise. However, Louis did not attend Euro 2024 or the Wimbledon final, where William brought Prince George and Kate brought Princess Charlotte.
GB News royal correspondent Svar Nanan-Sen noted that Louis is simply too young.
On The Royal Record Podcast, Nanan-Sen stated, “One royal child who wasn’t at England’s Euro 2024 match or Wimbledon was Prince Louis, which sparked quite a conversation online, as many wanted to see him there.”
Kate Middleton has described leaving her children as a “wrench,” especially since Louis is still just six years old. Charlotte made her Wimbledon debut at eight, meaning Louis will have to wait a couple more years. Last year, Kate mentioned that Louis was upset when George and Charlotte attended Wimbledon without him.
Despite having strong support from family and aides like their nanny, being away from their children must be challenging for William and Kate.
In 2022, during her trip to the Caribbean, this struggle became particularly evident. When Kate and William left their three children in the UK, the Princess of Wales found it difficult. Royal expert Katie Nicholl noted that Kate has a hard time being apart from her kids, something she has openly acknowledged.
“Even as the Princess of Wales, with access to 24/7 nannies, she preferred having her mum look after Prince George and Princess Charlotte. It seemed to bring her comfort and confidence in her role, but I believe leaving her children behind is always a challenge,” Kate shared.
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