The entire family gathered at the cottage of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

At the beginning of the week, Kate Middleton was discharged from the hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery. Following the surgical procedure, the princess was under medical observation for about two weeks. On Monday, Kate returned home to her family: her husband, Prince William, and their children, 10-year-old son George, 8-year-old daughter Charlotte, and 5-year-old son Louis. Middleton had to postpone all her work commitments. She is far from fully recovering, and experts say she won’t resume her duties until after Easter. However, she still manages to fulfill some tasks online.

Kate is not breaking any rules. She plans to follow the doctor’s advice, but she will be involved in the process to avoid feeling left behind. I don’t expect to see her in an official capacity until after Easter, but I suppose she will be working behind the scenes,» says a royal expert.

While Kate was in the hospital, the children were under the care of their father and also stayed at their grandparents’ house, the Middletons. Their estate is located in Bucklebury, Berkshire, not far from the residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

On the eve, the Middleton family visited Kate and William. The princess’s mother celebrated her 69th birthday surrounded by her closest family. Due to the princess’s bed rest prescription, the decision was made to gather at Adelaide Cottage, where Prince William and Kate Middleton live, not far from Windsor Castle. Also joining the Duchess were her sister Pippa and brother James with their families.

This year, Carol Middleton’s birthday celebration was relatively subdued for understandable reasons. Once, Kate’s mother celebrated her birthday on the Caribbean island of Mustique, where, of course, the prince and princess were present. Five years ago, Pippa Middleton threw a party at her home to mark her mom’s 64th birthday.