Kate Middleton and Prince William Announce First Public Outing in 2 Months

Kate Middleton and Prince William are set to step out for their first official outing in seven weeks as their children return to the classroom for a new school year.

Kensington Palace announced on Sept. 1 that the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, will visit the newly transformed gardens of the Natural History Museum in London on Thursday, Sept. 4. 

The couple will visit the museum the day after their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, return to the classroom at Lambrook School. The Prince and Princess of Wales’ children all attend the co-educational prep school near their home in Windsor, and the new school term starts on Wednesday, Sept. 3. 

Prince William and Princess Kate make a point of being present when their children start a new school year. In September 2022, William and other members of the royal family traveled to Scotland to see Queen Elizabeth after her doctors announced that they were “concerned” for her health before her death on Sept. 8. However, Kate stayed behind because it was George, Charlotte and Louis’ first day as new pupils at Lambrook. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales’ most recent official public appearance was when they attended the Wimbledon Championships on July 13, where they brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see the men’s singles finals. Avid tennis player Kate is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and the family had a front-row seat to the competition from the Royal Box.

The family was spotted — albeit more informally — again on Aug. 24, when they drove to church at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle. Crathie Kirk is the royal family’s go-to church during summer stays at Balmoral Castle, their private residence that’s been a summer retreat for generations, and William was seen driving with his wife and kids to a Sunday service.

After Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis get settled on Wednesday, their parents will appear at the Natural History Museum.

Princess Kate is patron of the museum, and the royal couple will visit to see the gallery’s newly refreshed gardens and meet young people participating in programs designed to connect them with nature and boost biodiversity in urban spaces.

Environmental innovation and instilling an appreciation for nature in the next generation are values close to both Prince William and Princess Kate’s hearts. 

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The Prince of Wales is the founder of the Earthshot Prize, a prestigious global environmental contest accelerating change through a 10-year campaign, while Princess Kate celebrates the outdoors through her ongoing “Mother Nature” video series, supports the Scouts and has spoken about how nature brought her solace while she was undergoing treatment for cancer.