Why Kate Middleton Didn't Have Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Visit Her in the Hospital

Mar. 15, 2025

Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William and Prince Louis on Christmas 2023.Photo:Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Kate Middletonthoughtfully chose not to have her three children,Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis, visit her at the hospital while she recovered fromabdominal surgery.

WhilePrince Williamvisited his wifeduring her 13-day stay at the privateLondon Clinicfollowing the surgery on Jan. 16, their three children didn’t make the trip to see their mom.

“I don’t think she wanted to make more of a big thing of it than it already was. They’ll be rallying ‘round in their own way and helping to look after her,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward exclusively tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.

Instead, Kate stayedconnected to her children via FaceTime, which she and William regularly do when they are away from the children on royal tours.

Children are generallynot allowedto visit the London Clinic without permission from the hospital for the safety of the patients and to keep infections at bay.

A patient who had abdominal surgery at the London Clinic last summer told PEOPLE hefelt regretaround having his son visit him as he found the experience “really scary.”

Upon quietly returning to Adelaide Cottage, the family’s private residence near Windsor Castle after beingdischarged from the hospitalon Monday, Princess Kate reunited with her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

“I’m sure she’s utterly exhausted, but she’ll recover well,” Seward says of the Princess of Wales, 42.

Kensington Palace says Princess Kate is “making good progress,” adding that she and Prince William are grateful to her medical team, “especially the dedicated nursing staff.”

The palace has not disclosed specifics about the nature of Princess Kate’s condition, but it is known to be noncancerous.

As the Princess of Wales embarks on her extended recovery, she’s not expected to resume public duties until at least Easter and will lean on her parents,CaroleandMichael Middleton, her sisterPippa Middletonand the children’s longtime nannyMaria Teresa Turrion Borrallofor support.

Prince William is looking after the children alongside Borrallo, helping with school pickups and drop-offs. A close family friend says the Prince and Princess of Walesdon’t have“a huge private staff,” and “as a result, William is really hands-on.”

“He doesn’t want any mistakes made with the next generation. He wants to give them a proper upbringing and lots of love. That is foremost in his mind,” the friend says.

Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour in June 2023.Neil Mockford/Getty

Neil Mockford/Getty

Their family dynamic is “more like one we can all recognize,” adds a source close to the royal household.

With family as her focus, Kensington Palace said Princess Kate desired to “maintain as much normalityfor her children as possible” in the Jan. 17 statement announcing that she had surgery the day prior. Within their broader circle of family friends, there had been no indication that anything was wrong, and the carefully guarded news about Kate’s situation came as a surprise even to those who work closely with the royal family, PEOPLE understands.

Princess Kate’s surgery came a week after her 42nd birthday, and shortly after her children returned to the classroom following a holiday break.

Kate Middleton at Sandringham on Christmas 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

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As she recuperates at Adelaide Cottage with her family around her, there is confidence in her resilience.

“It does sound serious with the length of time [she’s taking]. But she is in great hands and will have lots of care and support at home and is a fit young woman,” a source close to the royal householdtells PEOPLE. “I am sure she will bounce back.”

source: people.com