United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ Prince William and Princess Catherine are planning overseas travel in the year ahead.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have finalized many of their plans for the first part of the coming year. But before they dive into their royal work, there will be New Year’s celebrations which will contain a catch-up with Princess Catherine’s family, including her new nephew Inigo, brother James Middleton and wife Alizee Thevenet’ son, and settling their children back into school. For George it means that a major milestone may be on the horizon: He will most likely attend boarding school, possibly William’s alma mater Eton College or Marlborough, which Princess Catherine attended and recently visited with the family.
In the year ahead there is international travel in sight for the Royal couple, with Rome, Italy, being reported as their destination. Princess Catherine did not travel abroad last year in an official capacity, while Prince William went to Poland for a few days to visit the British troops on the border with Ukraine and to show support for refugees. He also traveled to Singapore for his third Earthshot Prize awards.
The royal couple will also forge ahead in the new year, with their ongoing campaigns – Prince William’s Homewards initiative, which combats homelessness and Princess Catherine’s “Shaping Us” program, which supports early childhood development. Later in the year, Prince William will promote the fourth year of his Earthshot Prize.
“They’re extremely supportive of each other and each other’s work. Prince William takes huge pride in what Princess Catherine is achieving from an early years perspective and likewise, she is a huge follower in what the prince has done this year on Homewards and Earthshot,” a palace source tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
They will also continue to support King Charles, and Queen Camilla, both at home and abroad. Their supporting role was evident when the couple helped welcome the South Korean president in October as he visited the U.K. and when they helped host the diplomatic corps at the annual Buckingham Palace reception. Princess Catherine glittered as she worked the state rooms at the palace in the Lover’s Knot tiara.
A royal source adds that she knows the important role the family plays in building relationships globally on behalf of the U.K.”
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Princess Catherine’s focus on her “Shaping Us” initiative will see a shift towards how businesses can help families with young children. The royal launched her business task force earlier this year and there will be more emphasis on that in early 2024.
Although Shaping Us kicked off almost a year ago, it was a decade “in the making” for Princess Catherine, her staff says.
The source explains that she was studious and really took her time to understand the topic and really think about how she could take early years and awareness of the early years to the next level across all of society.
“That will take her on through 2024 and continue to bang that drum,” the source adds. “She is unequivocal about that continuing way, way into the future.”
While the couple operates in “clear lanes,” as their palace spokesman calls it, they make a real impact in their joint outings, like their regular visits to Wales and their visit to Birmingham for World Mental Health Day in October. Outings like those — and official appearances alongside the King and Queen — will very much be part of their calendar, as most likely will be the wedding of Prince George’s godfather the Duke of Westminster in June.
