The family vacation has sweet ties to Princess Diana.
After getting through the “toughest year of [her] life,” Kate Middleton spent a “chaotic” Sandringham Christmas celebrating while surrounded by 44 members of the royal family. While Kate’s holiday schedule was packed with longtime traditions, like the family’s annual Christmas morning walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church, she and the rest of the Wales family reportedly managed to slip away from the rest of the royals for a little rest and relaxation in the mountains. According to a new report, Kate Middleton and Prince William enjoyed a secret ski getaway with their kids shortly after the Christmas festivities, signaling a promising return to their favorite activities.
Shortly before announcing her cancer is in remission, Kate rang in the new year by heading to the French Alps with her family. Prince William and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were joined by some members of the Middleton family as they left Amner Hall for the popular skiing location once beloved by the late Princess Diana.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Kate, William, and their kids were spotted having morning hot drinks at a mountain-top restaurant–La Cave des Creux, in Courchevel– and then returning for a meal later in the day. “It was lovely to see Kate relaxing and enjoying herself. They looked like a normal English family, and a lot of people didn’t recognize them,” a member of the staff reportedly told the publication.
Meanwhile, an onlooker revealed that the Wales kids are already proficient on skis, as they told the publication, “[Kate’s brother] James was there with his wife and then Kate arrived with Charlotte and Louis. It seemed like a bit of a Middleton family knees-up. Everyone seemed to be really happy.”
The onlooker said that the Waleses seemed “like any normal family enjoying a ski break,” adding that there were “lots of laughs and the children were very polite.”
“The only reason you would have known that they were people of importance was because when Kate arrived, so did a group of security guards,” they continued. “Kate looked like she was having a lovely time.”
While Kate and William’s official royal accounts stayed mum on the trip, James shared an Instagram carousel of the family getaway on January 9. Alongside a caption referring to a “different type of January blues,” he shared photos of his wife Alizee, their 1-year-old son Inigo, and their dogs enjoying the Alps snow.
It appears that Kate and William are following in Princess Diana’s footsteps by creating a skiing tradition for their kids, as the employee added, “It was not the first time we had seen them. They have been coming here for years. I think they love the area. We often see Kate’s sister Pippa as well.” It’s no secret that Kate and William enjoy skiing together, as they were photographed on ski trips even during their early days as a couple.
Their ski trip, which is a promising sign for Kate’s health, comes amid the princess’s update on her cancer battle.
“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery,” Kate shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter), signing it “C” to denote it was a personal message from her. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”
