The couple want to enjoy a ‘last hurrah’ before duty calls
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They’ve been busier than become King and Queen, but until that day comes, heat has been told Prince William and Kate Middleton are vowing to put their marriage first. According to sources, the couple – who will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary in April – want to make the most of their freedom and spend as much quality time as possible with their three children in what they’re calling their ‘last hurrah’.
‘It’s not something William and Kate like to think about, but Charles is aging and with his health issues, everyone is hyper-aware that they will inherit the throne sooner rather than later,’ says heat’s royal insider.
‘There’s no denying that the day is looming, but both William and Kate are hoping to have a good amount of time before they have to step up. They have slowly been taking on more responsibilities – even when the late Queen was alive – so they have a very real idea of what’s coming, but once they do become King and Queen, the workload and time required will quadruple.’
The source continues, ‘They are resigned to that being the reality, especially during the handover, so the Prince and Princess want to make the most of this “before” time and put themselves first.
‘They’re looking at this as their final chance to really let loose – they’re planning on sneaking away for a few little weekend breaks to some of their favourite destinations. With their workloads, it can be easy to become like ships passing in the night, but Kate has promised William she won’t let that happen – she knows how vital it is to nurture their connection for the sake of their marriage.’
on duty: the future monarchs at a state banquet ©Getty Images: Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP
It’s been another stressful year for the royal family. Kate – who turns 44 this week – confirmed she was in remission from cancer in January 2025, but just a few months later, William’s father King Charles was rushed to hospital due to temporary side effects from his own ongoing cancer treatment. His Majesty recently shared that his treatment is set to be reduced this year, calling it a ‘personal blessing’.
On top of royal health woes, William’s strained relationship with his estranged brother Prince Harry continued to dominate headlines in 2025, along with the scandal surrounding his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his links to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Amid all the upset, the Waleses fitted in a move to their new ‘forever home’, Forest Lodge in Windsor, and throughout all of this, Kate and William, 43, have remained united.
‘Charles being ill at the same time as Kate, and all the extra responsibility that landed on William’s shoulders, was really tough,’ our insider says.
‘On top of that, there’s been the ongoing Harry situation, which has taken a huge toll on everyone. And, of course, the stress of the whole Andrew saga – the fact that William had to get involved in the talks about his uncle’s future and push so hard for him to be held accountable was not something he relished. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s been one of the hardest years of William’s life.’
The future King recently opened up about the strain of his wife and father’s health battles.
©Getty Images: Samir Hussein/WireImage
‘Stuff to do with family overwhelms me, quite a bit. You know, worry or stress around the family side of things – that does overwhelm me,’ William said on Apple TV+ show The Reluctant Traveller.
‘Life is sent to test us as well, and it definitely can be challenging at times, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.’
Our insider says, ‘Fortunately, William’s recent challenges have only strengthened his commitment to Kate. Her cancer diagnosis made him realise what his priorities were very quickly. Something like that changes everything and makes it so clear what really matters. And because he and Kate are so certain about what is important, they are better able to handle everything that’s been thrown at them.’
The source continues, ‘Both he and Kate say all the trauma has forced them to look at their marriage and decide what they want the next chapter to be like. One thing that they kept coming back to was that they wanted more quality time together, regardless of all the external pressure.’
Indeed, the Waleses are known for their love of holidays together. They reportedly kicked off 2025 with some well-deserved downtime on the tropical island of Mustique, a royal favourite, before hitting the slopes in Courchevel, France, in April. And in the summer, William and Kate are said to have enjoyed a peaceful break, sailing around the Greek islands on a luxury yacht with their children – George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven. Our source says the couple are hoping to keep their trips as low-key as possible – and it’s little wonder, after it was claimed William’s request to engage in fewer royal engagements back in 2024 was shot down by his father. According to a source, Charles told William he needed to ‘think again’.
they want more time like this ©Jonathan Brady – Pool/Getty Images
‘Kate and William have been advised that any indication of them regularly jetting off on lavish holidays is going to be frowned upon, so they will be discreet. They want to keep it very hush-hush,’ we’re told.
‘There are plenty of royal properties that can host them – they can pop over to Balmoral in Scotland any time. Date nights in London are great, but when they go on these little trips, it does wonders for them. They don’t have to go far – William’s favourite place in England is the Isles of Scilly, and they can be there with just a short flight. They spent a lot of time there at the start of their relationship, so there’s a real sense of nostalgia about it for them.’
Our source adds, ‘Sometimes, they will do normal things, like go to the pub for lunch. But most of the time, they hide away and spend quality time together. They play cards and read to each other, go for long walks, it’s all very low-key and as normal as it gets. That’s the way they are happiest.’
It’s thought that, for the time being, Kate and William are intent on continuing to enjoy life with their children before they ascend to the throne – and the foundation of it is their determination to not let their duties compromise their marriage.
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‘It’s not as though they can drop all their responsibilities, and Kate still has to follow doctors’ orders and take it quite easy, so these little escapes are perfect,’ says our insider.
‘They can spend a couple of nights and recharge and reconnect. They are also looking at a longer break with the kids again in Mustique. When Kate was deep in her illness, William promised her that when she recovered, he would never take her or their time together for granted again – and he’s sticking to that.’
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