It’s been a tumultuous year for Kate Middleton, as — after briefly becoming the most talked-about person on the internet — the Princess of Wales officially confirmed she had been diagnosed with cancer back in March. Since then, Catherine has made a few much-praised public appearances — most recently her surprise attendance at Wimbledon — but it should be stressed that she’s not out of the woods yet.
As happens in times like this, it seems this health crisis has brought Kate closer together with her family — but only those immediately around her. Veteran Royal commentator Jennie Bond has claimed that Prince William and Kate are “a tight and strong unit” after 13 years of marriage and the events of this year have only made them stronger. On the other hand, Catherine is said to have essentially erased brother-in-law Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle from her thoughts. Both for the moment and potentially forever more.
“I’m sure cancer has made Catherine take a look at her life and her priorities,” Bond alleged. “And I think those priorities are firmly with her family, her husband and her children. I don’t think she has any room in her head or her heart to worry about the dramas of the past or anything that Harry and Meghan might say or do now… or in the future.”
This is just one way in which Harry and Meghan are being excluded from the Royal family. Another? King Charles and Queen Camilla are whisking everyone but them off on a family vacation — including the still-ill Kate.
Kate Middleton to leave England despite ongoing cancer battle
Summer holidays are a fixture of every family’s year, but they’re extra extravagant when you happen to be a Royal. The Windsors, for instance, make an annual tradition of embarking on a summertime retreat to the king’s sprawling Balmoral estate in Scotland. With Kate’s illness, it was speculated that William and company might not have joined in the fun this year, but as it happens the Waleses are all on board.
Both William and Kate will be accompanying their children — Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (9), and Prince Louis (6) — on the Balmoral break, which Royal expert Angela Levin considers to be a sign of just how close Kate has become with her in-laws.
“She is going to Scotland to be with the family,” Levn said. “This is a huge move. Not only because she is obviously not well yet, but it shows she feels very comfortable with the Royal family.”
Levin went on to stress that Kate must feel entirely at ease with the king and queen consort if she’s willing to vacation with them while still suffering from her impacted health.
“She is very happy with the King and the Queen and she knows they will understand if she has to rest,” Levin continued. “She can say what she likes and be warmed. I think it’s wonderful she can do that. The children will be delighted also.”
Don’t expect the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their kids to hike around the Highlands with the Royals, though. Even so, Harry and Meghan probably aren’t too bummed, what with their own trip to Colombia coming up this August.
