How Kate Middleton and Prince William Plan to Give Their Kids a "Carefree" Summer liennhi

It’s been a whirlwind 2024 so far for the royal family, with both Kate Middleton and King Charles currently undergoing treatment for cancer, as well as navigating the overwhelming amount of public interest surrounding their health. As the Wales family heads into the summer months, Princess Kate and Prince William are reportedly prioritizing bringing as much normalcy as possible back into their kids’ lives, according to a royal reporter. Princess Kate and Prince William’s summer plans with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis include visiting the family’s traditional vacation retreat, which they hope will be a “carefree” escape.

According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the royal family is considering taking their annual trip to Balmoral–the royal family’s go-to vacation spot in the Scottish Highlands–this year, despite Princess Kate and King Charles’s health issues.

“It’s been one heck of a year for the royal family so far, and nothing would please the King more than to have his close family gathered together in the peace of Balmoral for a time to take stock together, mark the passing of an incredibly difficult few months, and look to the future,” the royal expert told OK!.

The royal family typically escapes to Balmoral in August, but “cancer treatment brings with it a large measure of uncertainty and that must extend to whether [Kate] is able to spend part of the summer holidays at Balmoral,” Bond told the publication. While the timing of their visit might depend on Kate's health as she undergoes chemotherapy, the princess’s focus is on making the “summer months as fun and carefree for the children” as she can.

"If she does go, I'm sure the whole family will want to surround her with love, support, and renewed strength,” the expert told the publication. “She, meanwhile, will want to make the summer months as fun and carefree for the children as she possibly can after everything she's been through."

Prince William has previously opened up about Balmoral being a place of healing for him. The royal and his brother Prince Harry were at the Scottish estate when they learned of Princess Diana's tragic death, and he called Scotland the “source of some of my happiest memories” as well as his saddest.

During an emotional speech at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2021, Prince William said, “In the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors. As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep."

He said this sentiment extends to his kids, who have also grown to love Balmoral.  "George, Charlotte, and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us and they're starting to build their own happy memories here too,” he said.