The beloved Princess of Wales is finally home, reunited with her children. Her recovery from the planned abdominal surgery she had undergone recently would take some time, and according to the Palace she won’t return to her public duties until Easter. Instead, Kate would be working from home while resting and spending time with the kids.
Of course, she would be getting the much needed help both from her husband, who also took some time off from his royal duties while Kate was at the hospital, and from her parents and sister.
“The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress,” Kensington Palace said in a statement released Monday. “The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided.”
The statement continued, “The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”
“Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
According to Hello Magazine’s royal editor, Emily Nash, the Princess of Wales has used her phone to call her children via FaceTime while at the hospital. It had been reported that the children didn’t visit her there.
“Kate loves FaceTiming the children when she is working away overseas, so I’m sure they will be in regular contact while she’s in hospital, and the kids will be keen to see her as soon as she’s well enough,” Hello Royal Editor, Emily Nash said, as per Express.
“Both William and Kate are very hands-on parents – they take the kids to school, attend sports matches and concerts and try to be home for bedtime as much as they can. While Kate is in hospital, William will be at home keeping things as normal as possible.”
William and Kate would get help from their long-time nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo.
Borrallo has been with the family since Prince George was just 8 months old.
“She is not married and doesn’t have a boyfriend, as her life is totally dedicated to the family she is working with. She is known for being totally professional – married to the job,” an insider told Hello Magazine.
When the couple are away from home, the nanny makes all the decisions regarding the children.
Borallo was trained at the prestigious Norland College in Bath. “Maria is firm, but she never acts unilaterally with the children on discipline. Kate and William, along with Maria, are strict with the children but have this magic ability to appear not to be,” a royal insider said.
A royal insider previously said, “Maria is firm, but she never acts unilaterally with the children on discipline. Kate and William, along with Maria, are strict with the children but have this magic ability to appear not to be.”
When she was hired, Kensington Palace released a statement: “Maria is a full-time nanny who started work with us recently and will be accompanying the Duke and Duchess and Prince George to New Zealand and Australia. We will not be giving further details on Maria or her employment, except to say that the Duke and Duchess are, of course, delighted she has chosen to join them.”
Speaking with Hello Magazine, parenting expert Jo Frost explained that Maria is a very important person for William, Kate, and their children.
“The blessing of her nurturing ways and wonderful service to the family leave the children in good steady hands, affording William the flexibility to be present as a father, attend to his royal duties where he can at home and be the emotional support he will want to be for his wife,” she said.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams spoke to the Daily Mail and said, “There is going to be very considerable speculation as to when William is able to resume royal duties. Obviously, especially given the temporary incapacity of King Charles, the sooner the better. This makes Maria’s contribution at this difficult time all the more invaluable,” Fitzwilliams said.
As everyone hopes that Kate’s recovery would be a speedy one, there would be a long “convalescence,” as per Fitzwilliams.
“William will be with her and forgoing royal duties for as long as he feels it is necessary. He has always put his family first. Kate has been as hands-on a mother as her role permits, but she has said that having a nanny is indispensable.”
He once again highlighted the importance of having the help of the nanny.
“Maria Teresa is, according to reports, extremely popular with the children but her training at Norland has meant she is ideal for whatever this role requires. She is of course a background figure, who is seen at some important royal occasions and who is indispensable at a time like this. Her training at the prestigious Norland College in Bath where she learnt a huge variety of skills and to work long hours if needed, will be particularly useful during the pivotal weeks of Catherine’s recovery,” Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail.
“The coming weeks may be difficult and will be a test of this redoubtable figure, who is so trusted by the future King and Queen.”
As per royal editor Rebecca English, the media “have agreed not to have photographers [outside the hospital], not to have camera crews, not to have journalists, to allow [Kate] to recuperate from her operation in privacy and also to respect the privacy of the other patients.”
Expert Daniela Elser argued about the decision the children not to visit their mother at the hospital.
“One possible explanation for the young Waleses staying away came via the Sun, which reported that ‘William and Kate want her absence to feel as normal as possible for the youngsters’. And Monday to Friday, that’s entirely buyable and reasonable. But – and here we have a double, treble underlined ‘but’ in bold – what about the weekend just past?” Elser wrote for News.com.au.
“Still, they did not go, instead doing some (I’m assuming) bucolic gambolling about their “doting” Middleton grandparents’ $7 million place in Bucklebury, according to the Sun.”
“Which is sweet and all, and Carole and Michael can ‘dote’ all they want, proffering forth as many sticky buns, sweet treats, and gloriously gloopy ice creams as they can find, but is that better than getting a hug from their mother?” she continued.
Further, Elser argued that although no child wants to see their mother in a hospital, the children were robbed of the chance to spend time with her and be by her side.
“As a royal aide told the Sunday Times’ Roya Nikkhah last week, William and Kate’s new motto as they face her health situation is, ‘100 percent family first, day job second.’ Does that gel with the kids not be taken to see Kate?” Elser concluded.