The Princess of Wales shared a rare update on family life on Thursday as the half-term break approaches for her three children.
Catherine and Prince William will be welcoming Prince George, 13, home from Eton College on Friday, while Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, will be on half-term from Lambrook School.
During her visit to Cafe 98 in Norfolk, the Princess discussed how much she's looking forward to having them all home together again – a feeling that many parents will be able to relate to.
"My children break up tomorrow, and I can't wait to have them home," she said.
© Laura Lewis / Kensington PalaceShe also revealed that her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, are excited for the upcoming break, saying: "My kids are looking forward to it, and my parents as well. Half term is a good time, a chance to catch up again on family life."
George, who has been boarding at Eton, will be on a "long leave" for two weeks from Friday, while Charlotte and Louis also break up from school for a half term lasting a fortnight.
© Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesCatherine admits 'missing' George at Eton
The Princess revealed she has "missed" her eldest son George, while he's been away at Eton, but is looking forward to having him home for half term.
Catherine, 44, was quizzed about her children when she visited a charity shop run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), which she supports as patron, and declared to shoppers, "You never know what you’re going to find – that’s what’s so nice. It feels a bit more like a treasure hunt."
© Getty ImagesFriends Denise Ashton, 68, and Essie Landsborough, 75, were sitting in the charity shop’s cafe area, a unique venture for EACH, when Catherine came over for a chat.
Denise said afterwards: "She said she’s looking forward to George coming home – she’s missed him."
She added: "They may be going somewhere (during the break)."
The Princess of Wales's meaningful outing
On Thursday, the Princess visited The Treehouse, EACH's hospice in Ipswich, followed by Cafe 98, a joint charity shop and cafe.
The cafe is located within the charity's retail store, highlighting the important role of community fundraising in supporting hospice care.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe royal mother of three met locals enjoying cups of tea and browsing the rails, and admitted: "I love going round a charity shop. When I was up at university in St Andrews there were a lot of charity shops."
The Princess, wearing the "Katherine" suit by Victoria Beckham, was enthusiastic when shoppers asked if she wanted to see what they had bought, and helped volunteers sort through items.
Earlier on Thursday, the royal donned a hard hat and high-visibility jacket to tour a construction site at The Treehouse hospice in Ipswich to learn about plans for a new hydrotherapy pool, wellbeing and therapies suite at the EACH centre.
