The Princess of Wales has delighted Italians on her trip to the European country, her first official overseas visit since her cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile, her husband the Prince of Wales will be holding fort at their family home, Forest Lodge, in Windsor. The Prince will be tasked with looking after their puppy Otto and ensuring he is sufficiently walked first thing.
Speaking at a Buckingham Palace garden party last week, it was Kate who revealed about the family's everyday responsibility related to their pet pooch. Speaking with a guest at the party, she revealed that the puppy had "chewed quite a lot the other day". The royal then added: "You have to keep them busy. The first thing we do in the morning is check, 'Has anyone taken Otto out?'"
William's wake-up call could even come from one of his two dogs, as they tend to share the bed with the royal couple. In 2024, William visited Duchy College Stoke Climsland, where he spoke to Louise Harland. After the meeting, she revealed: "[William] said that his little dog sleeps on the bed with them at night, with him and Kate."
Beloved dogs
When William and Kate shared a holiday snapshot of their family, lying together in the grass in the sunshine, to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, their two doggos featured too. The image, taken by photographer Matt Porteous, showed the two furry friends positioned by William as the family led together.
Business as usual
© Samir Hussein./WireImageAnother responsibility that will fall to William will be the school runs. The royal couple try and complete school drop off and pick up for their three children who attend Lambrook School as much as possible, if their royal schedule allows. They are happy being hands-on parents and enjoy providing as much of a "normal" life for their kids.
The Princess of Wales' Italy trip is only a two-day venture, so it won't be long before she's back at the helm of their eight-bedroom home, but we're sure Prince William will be able to run the show until her return. Although they no longer have live-in staff due to a conscious decision to have a more ordinary home, they still also use housekeepers, chefs and nannies.
What is Princess Kate doing in Italy?
© Samir Hussein/WireImageThis is a significant trip for Princess Kate for a couple of reasons - one being it is her first official overseas visit since 2022, and another being the fact that it is her chance to put childhood studies, her major passion, in the spotlight. The visit focuses on the city’s renowned philosophy around early childhood development, often referred to as the Reggio Emilia approach. Kate has long had an interest in early childhood studies, and this European trip has been described as a "gear change" for the royal as she strives to push the prominence of this topic.
