KATE SOOTHED BY BALM OF BALMORAL

A royal expert talks exclusively to OK! as the Prince and Princess of Wales take 'surprise' trip to join King Charles and Queen Camilla in Scotland.

- REBECCA RUSSELL

The Princess of Wales marked the next stage of her return to royal duties last week when she and Prince William joined the King and Queen at Crathie Kirk in Balmoral while they continued their annual stay in Scotland. The decision to travel to their beloved retreat, which came after Kate, 42, revealed she had completed her chemotherapy treatment, was unexpected but ultimately an encouraging surprise, a leading royal expert says.

"I must admit, I was quite surprised to see William and Catherine back up in Balmoral so soon," former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells OK!

"We don't know whether they had the children with them, but their visit underlines how important they feel it is to spend time with Charles. It's been a few weeks since they've been together and I'm sure William in particular feels he wants to stay in close touch with his papa particularly as the King continues his cancer treatment." Of course, this close father-and-son relationship isn't the only one which will have been a balm to the monarch over the past nine months.