Kate Middleton and Prince William have faced what many would consider to be the hardest in their marriage so far in the last seven months. It's true that the family has been blighted by bad news: after the King's bout of cancer came Kate's own devastating diagnosis, alongside Prince Harry's ongoing estrangement, the death of Thomas Kingston and Princess Anne's recent accident while riding, which was severe enough to leave her with no choice but to pull out of a trip to Canada. But while William and Kate have been battling untold stresses, their united front shows they are apparently stronger than ever before.
Now, the family are said to be looking forward to spending time together at Balmoral, with insiders detailing how the Prince and Princess of Wales will want a summer of ‘carefree fun’ for their young children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
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‘Both William and Kate are very hands-on parents – they take the kids to school, attend sports matches and concerts, and try to be home for bedtime as much as they can. While Kate [was] in hospital, William [was] at home keeping things as normal as possible, ’ royal editor Emily Nash told The Mirror.
Indeed, William has been spotted looking every inch the doting father: last weekend, he was seen zooming around on an electric scooter on the Windsor Estate. At the end of June, his ‘dad dancing’ at Taylor Swift's Era's Tour was described as ‘a joy to behold’ by one newspaper – and how many other fathers can say they've secured their children a coveted selfie with the princess of pop?
In another move that demonstrates his family solidarity, William has also been credited with taking on the role of disciplinarian from his late grandfather, steering The Firm into a brighter and hopefully more secure future. ‘There is a sense that William has stepped into the Prince Philip role,’ an insider explained to The Daily Beast. ‘Philip ruled the family with a rod of iron and you saw when he died, that discipline collapsed. Now, William is calling the shots.’ From the family's rift with Prince Harry to the ousting of Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge, William is reportedly stepping up to make difficult decisions – which ‘tells you everything you need to know about who is really in charge’.
This summer, the Wales family will most likely head to Balmoral, which will give them much-needed space and rest after a challenging first half of 2024. The place is particularly significant for William, who describes Scotland as ‘the source of some of his happiest memories, but also, his saddest.'
Speaking in 2022, he detailed, 'I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning. And in the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors. As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep.’
The family have the option to escape to Tam-Na-Ghar, a cottage on the estate frequently visited by Queen Victoria, and left to William by the Queen Mother after her death in 2002. It's expected they'll take up the chance with gusto, as William and Kate Middleton – and now, their children – have great affection for the place. ‘George, Charlotte and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us and they're starting to build their own happy memories here too,’ William has said.
‘It's been one heck of a year for the Royal Family so far and nothing would please the King more than to have his close family gathered together in the peace of Balmoral for a time to take stock together, mark the passing of an incredibly difficult few months and look to the future,’ ex-BBC royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, told The Mirror.
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She added that while it isn't confirmed whether Catherine will join the rest of the royals in Balmoral, the whole family will ‘want to surround her with love, support and renewed strength.’ Bond continued, 'The Princess will want to make the summer months as fun and carefree for the children as she possibly can after everything she's been through.’
If William and Kate do choose to head north, they can be certain of a relaxing, private and altogether normal break: the King is said to enjoy reading to his grandchildren, playing cards and enjoying picnics, as well as riding and walking in Prince George's Wood, the arboretum named after Charles' eldest grandson. After the turbulent few months they have endured, what more could the Wales family want?
