A first term at boarding school, a charity visit and a few unguarded words that every parent will recognize. Every September, millions of parents go through the same small heartbreak. A child leaves for a new school, the house feels quieter, and the countdown to the first holiday begins almost immediately. Royal families are no exception.
This fall, the Princess of Wales has been living it too, and during a recent visit, she said so.
A New Chapter for Prince George
Prince George, 13, started at Eton College this fall, the school his father, Prince William, and his uncle, Prince Harry, also attended. It is his first experience as a full-time boarder. He had previously boarded part-time at Lambrook School, where his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, are still pupils.
Like every Eton pupil, he has his own study-bedroom, and the school is known for its strict routines. Half-term began at the end of October.
What Kate Said
On October 22, Kate visited Café 98, a charity shop in Hoveton run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, an organization she has supported as patron since 2012. The stop was part of a solo outing that also included a visit to the charity’s Treehouse hospice project.
Chatting with a young boy who told her it was his last day of school before the break, she replied: “My children break up tomorrow and I can’t wait to have them all home.”
Denise Ashton, 68, who met the Princess during the visit, later shared another part of their conversation. “She said she’s looking forward to George coming home, she’s missed him,” Ashton said, adding that the family might be going away during the holiday.
Why Her Words Resonate
There is nothing formal about the remark, and that is exactly why it struck a chord. Kate has often spoken about the importance of the early years and of family life, and she and William have made a point of keeping their children’s routines as normal as possible. Hearing her admit she misses her eldest is a reminder that, behind the titles, the emotions are familiar.
For many parents, the first long separation is one of the hardest milestones. It is a sign that a child is growing up and gaining independence, but it often leaves a gap at home that takes time to get used to.
How to Cope When a Child Leaves for School
If you are going through the same experience, a few simple habits can help. Keep regular, predictable contact, such as a weekly call, rather than constant messages, so your child can settle in. Plan small things to look forward to, like the first weekend home or a favorite meal.
Give yourself time, too. Missing a child is normal, and it often eases as new routines take shape. Many parents find it helps to reconnect with their own interests, friends or partner during this period.
And when the holidays come, resist the urge to overschedule. Often, the best reunion is simply time together at home.
Home for the Holidays
For the Wales family, half-term means the three children are back under one roof, at least for a few weeks. Kate’s words were simple, but they captured something universal.
Since Prince George left for Eton, Kate Middleton has been missing him, and for every mother counting the days until the next school break, that feeling needs no translation.
