Why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge won't follow in Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla's footsteps

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will not be joining Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla in London anytime soon

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been staying at their Norfolk residency, Anmer Hall, since the beginning of lockdown in March
  • The couple will not be following in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, who made their return to London in June and were among the first royals to resume in-person duties
  • This follows the royal news that Princess Diana’s niece Lady Amelia Spencer is engaged to her long-term boyfriend

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, returned to London in June and were among the first royals to resume in-person duties. But it is thought that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will not be joining them anytime soon – instead choosing to stay at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, where they have been isolating since the beginning of March.

Charles and Camilla swapped Balmoral Castle in Scotland for Clarence House last month. They had been isolating at the Scottish royal residency for three months while Charles recovered from Covid-19.

Following their return to London, the couple swiftly resumed their royal duties, starting with welcoming French president Emmanuel Macron to mark the 80th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle’s Appel.

Why won't the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge be following in Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla's footsteps?

There are thought to be a number of reasons why Kate and William won't be rushing back to their Kensington Palace apartment any time soon.

Firstly, the children's school, Thomas's Battersea school, has broken up for the summer.

Like many parents, the couple had been homeschooling eldest children George and Charlotte amid the Coronavirus pandemic. And while the family might have been considering returning to London after lockdown, they now do not have to until school resumes in September.

The family usually reside in Norfolk for much of the summer anyway, and have done since 2017 when they made Kensington Palace their primary residence.

Anmer Hall boasts a wealth of green space for George, Charlotte and Louis to enjoy in the warmer weather. It had previously been reported that the grounds of the property housed a private swimming pool and tennis court, but Kate and William chose to replace them with an artificial lawn – so plenty of room for running and jumping.

The three-story Georgian house is also privately located on the Sandringham Estate, within two miles of Sandringham House, The Queen's private residence.

So sounds like George, Charlotte and Louis will be spending some quality time with their great-grandmother this summer.

Kate McCusker


Kate is a freelance contributor to woman&home, covering everything she loves most: fashion, fiction, and fancy face cream. If she’s not working, she’s probably reading, feeding her online shopping addiction, or judging the taste level of celebrity houses (10/10 for Dakota Johnson, 2/10 for Tan France).


She graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2020 with a BA in fashion journalism, and her byline has also appeared in British VogueThe Times, and Marie Claire.