One royal expert has revealed exactly why we did not see Princess Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, visiting her during her stay in hospital.
Princess Kate was discharged on Monday, January 29, after a 13-day stay at The London Clinic.
The Princess of Wales underwent “planned” abdominal surgery earlier this month and, according to a statement released on January 17, was expected to remain in hospital for up to a fortnight.
Prince William is said to have spent every day at his wife’s bedside. However, he was only pictured publicly on one occasion.
Carole and Michael Middleton were not spotted visiting their daughter, nor were Princess Kate’s two siblings, Pippa and James.
Speaking on Vanessa Feltz’s segment on TalkTV, royal editor Sarah Hewson was asked whether Kate’s parents did in fact visit.
Ms Hewson said: “We haven’t seen them, but we saw William on the first day and then we didn’t see him again.
“Now, there are multiple entrances where they are able to slip in and out but we do know Carole and Michael Middleton were on hand particularly to help out with the children where William is, perhaps, visiting his wife.
“They’d be doing a drop-off or pick-up [at school].”
Speaking of the Middletons, Ms Hewson said: “They’re a tight-knit family and they and close friends have been rallying round and will continue to do so because it’s going to be a long time before Kate is really back up on her feet.
“[It’s] major surgery that she’s been through and, you know, we’re not going to see her out on royal duties until April – so, more than two months.”
As well as Kate having a close relationship with her parents, Prince William is known to have a close bond with his in-laws.
Speaking previously to OK!, royal expert Rachael Andrew said that William “looks up to” Kate’s parents and finds himself able to “confide in” them.
Since Kate and William’s move to Windsor in 2022, the family-of-five are now about a 40-minute drive away from Carole and Michael Middleton.
Carole is very close to her eldest three grandchildren – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
Speaking previously to Good Housekeeping magazine, Carole shared what she loved to do with George, Charlotte and Louis.
She said: “I want to run down the hills, climb the trees, and go through the tunnel at the playground. As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing. I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides.”