Why Kate Middleton Isn't With Royals After Queen's Death

Although Kate Middleton is a future queen consort and her oldest child Prince George is now second in line after William to be king, only Prince William traveled to Balmoral to be with his grandmother, who passed away peacefully this afternoon there. Kate remained in Windsor for a very understandable reason: to take care of her and William's three children.

While most members of Queen Elizabeth II's immediate family traveled to Balmoral, Scotland to be with her amid news that she was under medical supervision this morning, Kate stayed at the family's new Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor.

This afternoon in the U.K., Kate was photographed leaving the Windsor Castle grounds, where the cottage is located. She was spotted driving a car to pick up her kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis after their first day at Lambrook School. The family of five took photos together yesterday while settling in ahead of classes today.

Kate, in the photo taken today, appeared stoic at the wheel of the car, with her hair down straight.

Prince William traveled solo to Balmoral to be with the Queen, where he joined his father then-Prince Charles, his stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and his brother Prince Harry. Kate and the kids' travel plans now that the Queen has passed away have not been revealed, although they will likely end the day in Windsor. The Palace, in its announcement, shared only that King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla will remain in Balmoral this evening and return to London tomorrow.

Kate and William recently relocated from London to Windsor. At the end of August, the couple shared the news through Kensington Palace and announced their children's new schools amid the move.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have today announced that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will attend Lambrook School in Berkshire from September 2022,” Kensington Palace said in a statement. “Their Royal Highnesses are hugely grateful to Thomas’s Battersea where George and Charlotte have had a happy start to their education since 2017 and 2019 respectively and are pleased to have found a school for all three of their children which shares a similar ethos and values to Thomas’s.”

This post has been updated following news of the Queen's passing.