When Kate Middleton announced she had completed chemotherapy in September, supporters were overjoyed.
And their optimism reached new heights as Kate returned to her royal duties and began appearing in public once again.
So the news that Kate and Prince William would be breaking tradition by not attending King Charles’s annual pre-Christmas lunch caused some consternation.
Why did Kate Middleton skip the King’s holiday event?
Naturally, some people jumped to conclusions and assumed the worst.
Thankfully, it looks like Will and Kate’s decision to sit it out was motivated by mundane logistical concerns rather than anything catastrophic.
According to a new report from PeopleThe Prince and Princess of Wales have already decamped to Norfolk, where they will spend Christmas at Charles’s Sandringham estate.
And since Norfolk is about 100 miles from London, it wouldn’t make sense for Will and Kate to make the trip for a quick lunch.
People It is reported that “The Prince and Princess of Wales were never expected to attend the lunch at Buckingham Palace.”
Kate has been advised to reduce stress as she continues to recover, and it seems she and Will have simply decided to start their vacation early.
And the break is definitely well-deserved. Kate has been making up for lost time since returning to public life, most recently hosting her annual Together at Christmas concert with Will.
So it makes sense that after a very tough year, Wells decided to reward himself with a little extra time off.
Will and Kate’s vacation plans
As for what the coming weeks hold for the future King and Queen, Will has already revealed that 45 guests have been invited to Sandringham for Christmas Day.
But there are some notable omissions from that guest list.
For starters, Harry and Meghan won’t be attending this year’s festivities, but that’s no big surprise.
The couple have not spent Christmas at Sandringham since 2018, which was their first year of marriage.
Charles’ brother Prince Andrew will also be absent this year.
according to PeopleAfter another year surrounded by scandal, Andrew did not attend today’s lunch and will not be present at Sandringham next week.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the outlet that Kate likely advised Andrew and his two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, on how to handle the situation.
“Despite this [the Duchess’] Despite missteps in the past, she knows how things will go socially. She tells him that it is better to stay away. And Beatrice would have supported him in that,” Seward says.
So even after all these years, Kate is still an invaluable member of the royal family. She hasn’t been crowned yet, but in many ways, she’s already a queen.