Much has been made of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to public life on Thursday. But it was business as usual for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Sussexes made their first joint appearance since returning to the UK in Nottingham - a full circle moment for the couple, who also chose the city for their very first joint official visit after announcing their engagement in December 2017.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, meanwhile, also made a public appearance, attending the ceremonial opening of the seventh Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff, Wales.
Now it has been revealed that Prince William and Princess Catherine were also out and about - but embarked on a far more low-key outing.
The circular from Kensington Palace has confirmed that the future King and Queen quietly spent the afternoon at Nansledan, an award-winning, sustainable urban extension to the seaside town of Newquay, Cornwall.
Nansledan is built on land owned and managed by the Duchy of Cornwall. The Duchy was founded by Edward III all the way back in 1337 "to provide independence" to his heir, also named Edward. The title and estate automatically pass to the eldest surviving son and heir of the British monarch.
© Kensington PalacePrince William is the current owner and steward of the Duchy of Cornwall, having automatically inherited the multi-million-pound estate in September 2022 following his father's accession to the throne.
The Duchy is an extensive property and land portfolio which extends across 21 counties in England and Wales and includes the Oval Cricket Ground and 67,000 acres of Dartmoor. It means that Prince William is the biggest private landowner in Britain, which brings in a hefty income of around £21.6 million to £23.6 million.
Private celebration for Princess Catherine
Thursday also marked a special day for the Princess. It was the eighth birthday of her nephew Arthur Michael William Matthews, the eldest son of Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews. Coincidentally, it was also the same day that Sarah Ferguson turned 67.
Princess Catherine, 44, is a doting auntie and also incredibly close to her parents and her younger siblings, Pippa, 43, and James, 39.
© Getty ImagesPrince William highlighted the Middletons' closeness in his 2010 engagement interview, saying: "Kate's got a very, very close family. I get on really well with them and I'm very lucky that they've been so supportive."
In contrast, the House of Windsor has spent the past several years navigating family fractures, scandal and the fallout from the Sussexes' interviews and Prince Harry's tell-all memoir, Spare. But the Middletons have built a reputation for steadfast loyalty with matriarch Carole Middleton once saying: "Over the years; it’s proved wise not to say anything."
Just like Catherine, Pippa is a proud mum of three children: Arthur Michael William, born on October 15, 2018, Grace Elizabeth Jane, born on March 15, 2021, and Rose Louise Victoria, who arrived on June 20, 2022.
Pippa, James and their children live a quiet life together at Barton Court, a 32-room Georgian mansion set on a large estate in Kintbury, Berkshire, close to her parents' family home in Bucklebury. The lavish property is said to have cost around £15 million when they bought it back in 2022, and boasts a swimming pool and a tennis court.
