The Gist
Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children were photographed on August 23 in Scotland.
The Wales family arrived at Balmoral for their traditional late summer retreat on August 20, one day after news broke that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be moving back to the U.K. imminently.
On Sunday, the family headed to church at Crathie Kirk, the Princess of Wales looking sunkissed and blonder.
Summer vacation sure looks good on Kate Middleton.
On August 23, the Princess of Wales was photographed riding in a Range Rover driven by her husband Prince William, her children in the backseat. The Wales family headed to church at Crathie Kirk alongside other members of the royal family as their stay at Balmoral continued. Balmoral, nestled in the Scottish Highlands, has long been a favorite late summer retreat for members of the royal family.
While most of her outfit was obscured, the future queen’s sunkissed glow and blonder hair was on full display. She wore a high-necked white blouse, what appeared to be a tweed blazer, a dark hat atop her head, and statement gold earrings.
Kate Middleton and Prince George heading to church on August 23, 2026.
Credit: Getty
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, have been at Balmoral since August 20, the day after the shocking news broke on August 19 that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, would be moving back to the U.K. imminently for an unknown period of time. Archie and Lilibet are set to begin school in Harry’s home country in September. Harry and Meghan—who stepped back as working royals in 2020 and moved to the U.S.—are not expected to resume their working royal roles.
The royal family has put on a united front at Balmoral in the days following the announcement coming out last Wednesday. William has previously spoken about his family affection for the estate, saying that “George, Charlotte, and Louis are already aware of how dear Scotland is to both of us, and they’re beginning to create their own cherished memories there, too.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton riding to church on August 23, 2026.
Credit: Getty
In addition to retreating to Balmoral each summer, William and Kate also met in Scotland as first-year students at the University of St. Andrews 25 years ago.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be “very concerned” about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s impending return to the U.K., according to a source speaking to Vanity Fair.
“William is very concerned that Harry and Meghan will want to try and implement the ‘half in, half out’ model Queen Elizabeth vetoed at the Sandringham Summit [in 2020],” the royal insider said. “They are wary about the whole move back to Britain. [King] Charles is happy to see Harry come home, but for William, the breakdown of trust is a key issue.”
Prince William driving a Range Rover with Prince George in the backseat on August 23, 2026.
Credit: Getty
A source speaking to People said that having Harry back in the U.K. presents the “best opportunity” for the long-warring brothers to reconcile. “It would never happen with him in America,” the insider told the outlet. “This gives them opportunity to try and mend that bridge.”
That said, it will be a difficult hill to climb. William and Harry are not thought to have spoken in four years, since 2022. “I thought it would have perhaps eased a little bit by now, to be honest,” a close source told People in July. “But there has been no movement, especially on William’s side.”
A source told People that “Catherine may step into that breach and try to help, too, because she knows how important family is and how important Harry is to William. She would want to see that healed, as any wife would. This gives them opportunity to try and mend that bridge.”
Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry on June 12, 2016.
Credit: Getty
Emily Nash, royal editor at Hello!, said on a recent episode of the publication’s “A Right Royal Podcast” that William and Kate are “not delighted” about Harry and Meghan’s return.
“Well, what is intriguing about this is the complete radio silence coming from that end of the spectrum,” she said. Nash added, “It’s going to be a very, very difficult hill to climb, having them suddenly back in the U.K., popping up, doing things publicly, if that’s where they go with this. So much has been said and done that has damaged that relationship, almost beyond repair.”
“I can’t see a world in which they would be welcoming them back with open arms,” she continued. “But you would anticipate that the king will have spoken to William about this if he was made aware. We believe the Waleses were made aware beforehand. They didn’t find out at the same time as the rest of the world. So they’ve had time to process this.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton on May 20, 2025.
Credit: Getty
That said, the king is only said to have found out about Harry and Meghan’s plans on August 16, three days before the news broke. William in particular will feel additional “pressure” following Harry’s return, royal biographer Robert Jobson told Hello!, noting that the future king must “be feeling slightly aghast” at it all.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital on April 14, 2026.
Credit: Getty
“The prodigal son coming back will be difficult for him,” Jobson said. “Harry’s move puts pressure on him to act in a more pragmatic way.” He added, “Are they really going to have William and Harry sitting ’round a table with all that’s gone on?” It all remains to be seen.
Read the original article on InStyle