Queen Camilla, King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton in July 2023.Photo:YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty

Britain’s Queen Camilla, Britain’s King Charles III, Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales and Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales pose for a photograph after watching a fly-past by the British Royal Air Force’s (RAF) aerobatic team, the “Red Arrows”, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh on July 5, 2023, following a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication. Scotland on Wednesday marked the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication where the The King was presented with the Honours of Scotland

YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty

WhileKing CharlesandQueen Camillaheaded to France for athree-day state visitthis week,Kate MiddletonandPrince Williamlargely stayed out of the public eye – and there’s a reason for the royal strategy.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 41, both had busy starts to their week. Prince William traveled to New York City for a two-day trip where he highlighted his Earthshot Prize environmental project and visited an FDNY firehouse to highlight the importance of first responders prioritizing their mental health. Meanwhile, Princess Kate made two outings in the U.K.: herdebut as the Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Armat the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton. The following day, she stepped out in London to visitStreets of Growth, a charity that works to transform the lives of young people.

King Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 76, began their visit to France on Wednesday, arriving in Paris before traveling to Bordeaux for the final leg of their tour on Friday. In those days, Prince William and Princess Kate have been out of the royal spotlight – likely a thought-out strategy to keep the focus on the work of the King and Queen during their tour.

While it is possible to avoid clashes in their schedules during short tours like the King and Queen’s three-day visit to France, Prince William and Princess Kate will likely have engagements scheduled if the monarch’s tour lasts a week or more.

The British royal family at Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force during Trooping the Colour

Chris Jackson/Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to France came six months after they originally planned to visit the nation on thefirst overseas tourof the King’s reign. However, that waspostponeddue to protests and riots over changes in pensions for French workers. Despite postponing the portion of their travel to France, the royal couple continued with their plans to tour Germany.

Chris Fitzgerald, the deputy private secretary to the King, said in a palace briefing that the program “remains very similar to that which was planned for March, meaning the themes of the visit are also, for the most part, unchanged."

On Wednesday, the royals were the guests of French PresidentEmmanuel Macronand his wife,Brigitte, at the historic Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris for astate banquet. Queen Camillawore French designer Diorpaired with the necklace and bracelet from the King George VI Sapphire Suite, a personal favorite of Queen Elizabeth’s.

Queen Camilla, King Charles, President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron arrive at the Palace of Versailles on September 20, 2023.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron arrive at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

While Prince William did sneak a morning workout into his packed schedule in New York City — he revealed hewent for a run in Central Park! — he likely headed home shortly after his engagement in the Big Apple wrapped.

While Prince William is not required to be in the U.K. when his father is traveling, he is one of the King’sCounsellors of State— one of the royals who can carry out constitutional duties for King Charles if he is abroad or unwell.

King Charles and Prince William in June 2019.Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Prince Charles, Prince Wales and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive in an open carriage to attend day one of Royal Ascot

Anwar Hussein/WireImage

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However, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew are no longer working members of the royal family — Harry, 39, stepped back as a senior working royal and relocated to California in 2020, while Andrew, 63, wasstrippedof his military titles and patronages in January 2022 due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Therefore, Parliament felt it was best to expand the cohort to include two additional people who could be called upon to stand in for King Charles.

King Charles' two other siblings —Princess AnneandPrince Edward— were tapped for the royal role, and they wereofficially made Counsellors of Statein December 2022. The role is a return for Princess Anne and Prince Edward as they were both previously Counsellors of State toQueen Elizabethbefore they moved down in theline of successionto the throne.

source: people.com