Why Kate Middleton Stayed Behind as Prince William Rushed to Balmoral During Queen Elizabeth’s Final Moments
Karwai Tang/WireImage
The reason why Kate Middleton didn’t accompany her husband, Prince William, to Balmoral when Queen Elizabeth passed away in 2022 has been revealed. At the time, there was widespread speculation that Kate stayed behind for the same reason Meghan Markle did, who was reportedly asked to remain in the UK while Prince Harry traveled to Scotland to see his grandmother.
However, royal biographer Robert Hardman has clarified that Kate’s decision to stay in Windsor with her children was her own choice, not a directive from King Charles III. In his new biography, “Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story”, Hardman shares that the Princess of Wales chose to remain at home to ensure a smooth transition for her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—who were starting at a new school.
While Prince William rushed to Scotland to be by his grandmother’s side in her final moments, Kate stayed behind to oversee her children’s important first day of school. This personal decision shed new light on the dynamics surrounding the royal family at that crucial time.
Hardman’s book, which is being serialized by the Daily Mail, also touches on the situation with Meghan Markle. An unnamed insider revealed that King Charles’ decision to bar Meghan from joining Harry at Balmoral was made easier by the fact that Kate wasn’t attending either. “It was by luck rather than judgment,” the insider said, adding that it made it easier to tell Harry he would be going alone.
According to Hardman, Prince Harry was with Meghan in the UK at the time and had texted Prince William about travel arrangements, but received no response. This left Harry feeling frustrated, as he revealed in his own memoir Spare. In Spare, Harry expressed his anger over the situation, recalling that he was upset by the exclusion of his wife.
In a delicate phone call, King Charles personally informed Harry that Meghan should not join him on the trip to Scotland. Charles reportedly explained that Kate wouldn’t be there either, which Harry later admitted made the decision easier to accept. “All you needed to say,” Harry is said to have told his father.
Hardman’s book highlights that Kate’s decision to stay behind was entirely her own. “She had certainly not been asked to stay away,” Hardman writes. “Rather, it was the start of a new term at a new school for George, Charlotte, and Louis, and she had decided that one parent should be with them on such an important day.”
As the royal family navigated a deeply emotional time, Kate’s decision to prioritize her children’s well-being and education over being physically present at Balmoral during the Queen’s final moments reflects the balancing act she faces between her roles as a mother and a senior member of the royal family.
