It's ‘the end of an era' for Kate

With her children back at school and a fresh furore over Harry and Meghan hitting the headlines, royal experts say the Duchess of Cambridge may be feeling the strain

- Anna Bailey

After months spent in a blissful bubble in the countryside during lockdown, the Duchess of Cambridge faced an emotional week as she waved her children back off to school and returned to her royal duties in the capital.

And a royal expert tells us the transition is bound to have been a “wrench” for Kate and Prince William, both 38, who are back in Kensington Palace after spending time at Anmer Hall in Norfolk with their children Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Prince Louis. With the eldest two starting the new term at Thomas’s Battersea after being homeschooled since March, royal commentator Katie Nicholl says it’s the end of an unprecedented era of family bonding for the Cambridges.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a time when they’ve spent such an intensive period of time together as a family,” she said.

“They don’t get to see as much of their children as they would like to, so I think it’s been a very special time they’ve both enjoyed and cherished.”

Kate made no secret of the fact she adored having her children at home, sharing insights into their family life and admitting, “You get to the end of the day, they’ve had a lovely time but it is amazing how much you can cram into one day, that’s for sure.”

Katie continued, “It was clear to everyone that, as challenging as lockdown was, they were enjoying being together as a family. William and Kate came across as being incredibly real.